CTIF vs IVV
Castellan Targeted Income ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, CTIF or IVV?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.7%.
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 | CTIF | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $196M | $886.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.76% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 45 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +5.80% | +13.39%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.91% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.9%Best | 11.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.6% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $10,992 | $12,856Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.7% | 37.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Castellan ETFs | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2025 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
CTIF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
CTIF vs IVV Performance
Castellan Targeted Income ETF (CTIF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year CTIF returned +5.91% while IVV returned +20.08%. Year to date, CTIF is up 5.80% versus a gain of 13.39% 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 10.9% for CTIF. 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 -10.6% for CTIF 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CTIF charges 0.45% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $3 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CTIF currently yields 4.76% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
85.1% of CTIF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 10.9% of IVV's money is in holdings CTIF also owns.
Most of CTIF is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
18 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTIF and 504 in IVV, against full books of 45 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 475 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for CTIF (88.4% of the fund), and 4 for CTIF that do not appear in IVV (10.8%).
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 CTIF | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.99% | 5.44% | 0.45% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.85% | 2.98% | 1.87% |
| PHParker-Hannifin Corp. | 6.21% | 0.19% | 6.02% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc. | 4.93% | 0.47% | 4.46% |
| AMPAmeriprise Financial Inc. | 5.10% | 0.08% | 5.02% |
| GWWW W Grainger Inc - Common | 5.09% | 0.08% | 5.01% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 4.90% | 0.15% | 4.75% |
| ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc. | 4.87% | 0.12% | 4.75% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 4.82% | 0.16% | 4.66% |
| XYLXylem Inc./ NY | 4.89% | 0.04% | 4.85% |
85.1% of CTIF 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, CTIF or IVV?
CTIF has an expense ratio of 0.45% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CTIF or IVV?
Over the past year CTIF returned +5.91% vs +20.08% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTIF annualized +8.20% vs +23.29% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CTIF or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 10.9% for CTIF. Worst drawdown: CTIF -10.6% vs IVV -8.9%.
Should I hold both CTIF and IVV?
CTIF and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 CTIF and IVV?
85.1% of CTIF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 10.9% of IVV's is in holdings CTIF also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTIF and 504 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, CTIF or IVV?
CTIF yields 4.76% while IVV yields 1.10%, so CTIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than CTIF?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.