DSU vs IVV
Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc. vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DSU or IVV?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | DSU | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.72% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $619M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.39% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,281 | 508 |
| YTD Return | -2.04% | +12.39%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.33% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.47% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.52% | +13.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,082 | $18,844Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 27, 1998 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 18, 2026 (26.3 years).
DSU 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.
DSU vs IVV Performance
Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc. (DSU) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year DSU returned -2.33% while IVV returned +16.61%. Year to date, DSU is down 2.04% versus a gain of 12.39% for IVV.
Over three years, DSU compounded at +7.47% per year against +21.38% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +5.52% and +13.51% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +6.96% annualized vs -1.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DSU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% 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 -78.6% for DSU 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DSU charges 1.72% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $172 vs $3 annually, a gap of $169 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DSU currently yields 12.39% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of IVV's money is in holdings DSU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DSU, our book for it covers 76.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 243 days apart, DSU as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 898 positions we hold weights for in DSU and 490 in IVV, against full books of 1,281 and 508.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DSU | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.01% | 0.34% | 0.33% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DSU 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, DSU or IVV?
DSU has an expense ratio of 1.72% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $169 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DSU or IVV?
Over the past year DSU returned -2.33% vs +16.61% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), DSU annualized -1.06% vs +6.96% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DSU or IVV?
DSU has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: DSU -78.6% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both DSU and IVV?
DSU and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, DSU or IVV?
DSU yields 12.39% while IVV yields 1.06%, so DSU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than DSU?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.