ASG vs IVV
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Inc. vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ASG or IVV?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ASG is less concentrated, with 21.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ASG | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.12% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $374M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.94% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 125 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +0.15% | +11.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.45% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.55% | +12.66%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.5% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.5% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,788 | $18,149Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Liberty All Star Funds | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 14, 1986 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026 (26.3 years).
ASG vs IVV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 26.3 years both funds cover.
ASG vs IVV Performance
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Inc. (ASG) is an ETF from Liberty All Star Funds and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year ASG returned -3.45% while IVV returned +15.96%. Year to date, ASG is up 0.15% versus a gain of 11.51% for IVV.
Over three years, ASG compounded at +8.54% per year against +21.01% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are -2.55% and +12.66% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +6.93% annualized vs -0.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.5% compared with 15.1% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -84.5% for ASG and -56.5% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASG charges 1.12% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $112 vs $3 annually, a gap of $109 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASG currently yields 7.94% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
42.3% of ASG's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 44.3% of IVV's money is in holdings ASG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, ASG as of Jun 30, 2026 and IVV as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
47 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in ASG and 490 in IVV, against full books of 125 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 435 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for ASG (54.4% of the fund), and 59 for ASG that do not appear in IVV (48.6%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ASG | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.82% | 8.07% | 4.25% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.46% | 7.02% | 5.56% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.18% | 5.69% | 4.51% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.71% | 3.00% | 0.71% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.44% | 3.84% | 3.40% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.09% | 2.65% | 1.56% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.28% | 1.90% | 0.62% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.19% | 1.38% | 0.19% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.68% | 1.63% | 0.95% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.54% | 1.16% | 0.62% |
44.3% of IVV is already inside ASG.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ASG or IVV?
ASG has an expense ratio of 1.12% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $109 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASG or IVV?
Over the past year ASG returned -3.45% vs +15.96% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), ASG annualized -0.97% vs +6.93% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASG or IVV?
ASG has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: ASG -84.5% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both ASG and IVV?
ASG and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ASG and IVV?
44.3% of IVV's money is in holdings ASG also owns. 44.3% of IVV's is in holdings ASG also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in ASG and 490 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASG or IVV?
ASG yields 7.94% while IVV yields 1.06%, so ASG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than ASG?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ASG is less concentrated, with 21.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.