FFA vs IVV
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FFA or IVV?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.7%.
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 | FFA | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.13% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $514M | $886.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.19% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 86 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +10.34% | +13.39%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.22% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.82% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.12% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -67.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,471 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.7% | 37.9%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2004 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 4, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (21.9 years).
FFA 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 21.9 years both funds cover.
FFA vs IVV Performance
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund (FFA) 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 FFA returned +17.22% while IVV returned +20.08%. Year to date, FFA is up 10.34% versus a gain of 13.39% for IVV.
Over three years, FFA compounded at +16.82% per year against +21.29% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +9.12% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.52% annualized vs +2.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FFA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.8% 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 -67.6% for FFA 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFA charges 1.13% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $113 vs $3 annually, a gap of $110 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FFA currently yields 6.19% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
91.8% of FFA's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 48.3% of IVV's money is in holdings FFA also owns.
Most of FFA is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
54 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in FFA and 505 in IVV, against full books of 86 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 443 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for FFA (51.0% of the fund), and 6 for FFA that do not appear in IVV (5.2%).
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 FFA | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 9.34% | 6.86% | 2.48% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.31% | 7.98% | 0.67% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.67% | 5.44% | 1.23% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 7.17% | 2.56% | 4.61% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.95% | 2.98% | 0.97% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.66% | 4.01% | 1.35% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 4.05% | 1.45% | 2.60% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.19% | 1.39% | 0.80% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.01% | 1.94% | 0.93% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.41% | 1.51% | 0.10% |
91.8% of FFA 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, FFA or IVV?
FFA has an expense ratio of 1.13% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $110 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FFA or IVV?
Over the past year FFA returned +17.22% vs +20.08% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), FFA annualized +2.49% vs +9.52% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFA or IVV?
FFA has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.8% for IVV. Worst drawdown: FFA -67.6% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both FFA and IVV?
FFA and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 FFA and IVV?
91.8% of FFA's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 48.3% of IVV's is in holdings FFA also owns. They hold 54 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in FFA and 505 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, FFA or IVV?
FFA yields 6.19% while IVV yields 1.10%, so FFA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than FFA?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.