CSTK vs IVV
Invesco Comstock Contrarian Equity ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, CSTK or IVV?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. CSTK led over 1Y, IVV over the full window. CSTK is less concentrated, with 30.5% 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 | CSTK | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $180M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.14% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 55 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +12.19% | +13.32%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.80%Best | +17.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.20% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.0%Best | 11.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,331 | $13,994Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 7, 2025 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.4 years).
CSTK 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
CSTK vs IVV Performance
Invesco Comstock Contrarian Equity ETF (CSTK) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year CSTK returned +17.80% while IVV returned +17.08%. Year to date, CSTK is up 12.19% versus a gain of 13.32% for IVV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 11.0% for CSTK. 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 -9.3% for CSTK and -8.9% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSTK charges 0.35% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSTK currently yields 2.14% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
90.0% of CSTK's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 23.4% of IVV's money is in holdings CSTK also owns.
Most of CSTK is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
51 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in CSTK and 490 in IVV, against full books of 55 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 431 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for CSTK (75.3% of the fund), and 5 for CSTK that do not appear in IVV (8.8%).
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 CSTK | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.30% | 5.69% | 2.39% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.81% | 3.00% | 0.81% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 3.36% | 0.66% | 2.70% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 3.12% | 0.61% | 2.51% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 3.03% | 0.55% | 2.48% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 3.02% | 0.40% | 2.62% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.83% | 0.58% | 2.25% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.50% | 1.90% | 0.40% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.55% | 1.63% | 0.08% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 2.62% | 0.44% | 2.18% |
90.0% of CSTK is already inside IVV.
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, CSTK or IVV?
CSTK has an expense ratio of 0.35% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSTK or IVV?
Over the past year CSTK returned +17.80% vs +17.08% for IVV, so CSTK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CSTK annualized +22.80% vs +27.13% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSTK or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 11.0% for CSTK. Worst drawdown: CSTK -9.3% vs IVV -8.9%.
Should I hold both CSTK and IVV?
CSTK and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 CSTK and IVV?
90.0% of CSTK's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 23.4% of IVV's is in holdings CSTK also owns. They hold 51 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in CSTK and 490 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, CSTK or IVV?
CSTK yields 2.14% while IVV yields 1.06%, so CSTK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than CSTK?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. CSTK led over 1Y, IVV over the full window. CSTK is less concentrated, with 30.5% 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.