FEP vs IVV
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FEP or IVV?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. FEP led over 1Y and 3Y, IVV over 5Y and the full window. FEP is less concentrated, with 9.8% 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 | FEP | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $534M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.65% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 414 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +10.90% | +11.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.26%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.68%Best | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.19% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,245 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.8%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2011 to Sep 10, 2026 (15.4 years).
FEP 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FEP vs IVV Performance
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year FEP returned +22.26% while IVV returned +17.57%. Year to date, FEP is up 10.90% versus a gain of 11.57% for IVV.
Over three years, FEP compounded at +24.68% per year against +20.71% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +10.19% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.46% annualized vs +5.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FEP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 14.3% 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 -48.6% for FEP and -33.9% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FEP charges 0.80% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $3 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FEP currently yields 2.65% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of FEP's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.5% of IVV's money is in holdings FEP also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 200 positions we hold weights for in FEP and 505 in IVV, against full books of 414 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for FEP (98.9% of the fund), and 4 for FEP that do not appear in IVV (1.4%).
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 FEP | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 0.41% | 0.48% | 0.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FEP 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, FEP or IVV?
FEP has an expense ratio of 0.80% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FEP or IVV?
Over the past year FEP returned +22.26% vs +17.57% for IVV, so FEP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FEP annualized +5.64% vs +12.46% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FEP or IVV?
FEP has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 14.3% for IVV. Worst drawdown: FEP -48.6% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both FEP and IVV?
FEP and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, FEP or IVV?
FEP yields 2.65% while IVV yields 1.06%, so FEP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than FEP?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. FEP led over 1Y and 3Y, IVV over 5Y and the full window. FEP is less concentrated, with 9.8% 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.