DGS vs IVV
WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DGS or IVV?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DGS is less concentrated, with 9.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | DGS | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.93% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,009 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +14.39%Best | +12.24% |
| 1Y Return | +16.93% | +18.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.03% | +20.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.20% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.9% | -56.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,157 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.5%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 30, 2007 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 30, 2007 to Sep 9, 2026 (18.9 years).
DGS 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 18.9 years both funds cover.
DGS vs IVV Performance
WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund (DGS) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year DGS returned +16.93% while IVV returned +18.61%. Year to date, DGS is up 14.39% versus a gain of 12.24% for IVV.
Over three years, DGS compounded at +14.03% per year against +20.98% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +7.20% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.35% annualized vs +2.36%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DGS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 15.7% 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 -61.9% for DGS and -56.0% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DGS charges 0.58% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $3 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DGS currently yields 3.93% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of DGS's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings DGS also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, DGS as of Mar 31, 2026 and IVV as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 955 positions we hold weights for in DGS and 505 in IVV, against full books of 1,009 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for DGS (99.2% of the fund), and 6 for DGS that do not appear in IVV (0.9%).
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 DGS | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DALDelta Air Lines Inc. | 0.05% | 0.09% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DGS and IVV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DGS or IVV?
DGS has an expense ratio of 0.58% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DGS or IVV?
Over the past year DGS returned +16.93% vs +18.61% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), DGS annualized +2.36% vs +9.35% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DGS or IVV?
DGS has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 15.7% for IVV. Worst drawdown: DGS -61.9% vs IVV -56.0%.
Should I hold both DGS and IVV?
DGS and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DGS or IVV?
DGS yields 3.93% while IVV yields 1.06%, so DGS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than DGS?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DGS is less concentrated, with 9.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.