EMB vs IVV
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EMB or IVV?
Emerging Markets Bond 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 | EMB | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $14.8B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.14% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 615 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +0.82% | +14.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.67% | +17.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.41% | +23.17%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.44% | +13.85%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.4%Best | -54.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,741 | $19,128Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Emerging Markets Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 17, 2007 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2007 to Sep 21, 2026 (18.8 years).
EMB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
EMB vs IVV Performance
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year EMB returned +3.67% while IVV returned +17.31%. Year to date, EMB is up 0.82% versus a gain of 14.15% for IVV.
Over three years, EMB compounded at +9.41% per year against +23.17% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +1.44% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.78% annualized vs +1.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 11.2% for EMB. 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 -36.4% for EMB and -54.7% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMB charges 0.39% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMB currently yields 5.14% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings EMB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for EMB, our book for it covers 39.0% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 238 positions we hold weights for in EMB and 490 in IVV, against full books of 615 and 508.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMB | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 1.47% | 0.15% | 1.32% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMB 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, EMB or IVV?
EMB has an expense ratio of 0.39% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMB or IVV?
Over the past year EMB returned +3.67% vs +17.31% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), EMB annualized +1.07% vs +9.78% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMB or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 11.2% for EMB. Worst drawdown: EMB -36.4% vs IVV -54.7%.
Should I hold both EMB and IVV?
EMB and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, EMB or IVV?
EMB yields 5.14% while IVV yields 1.06%, so EMB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than EMB?
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.