FYT vs IVV
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FYT or IVV?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. FYT led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYT is less concentrated, with 9.1% 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 | FYT | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.44% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 526 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +24.90%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +25.49%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.66% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.90% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.3% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.7% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,316 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.1%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2011 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2011 to Sep 11, 2026 (15.4 years).
FYT 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.
FYT vs IVV Performance
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FYT) 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 FYT returned +25.49% while IVV returned +17.57%. Year to date, FYT is up 24.90% versus a gain of 12.51% for IVV.
Over three years, FYT compounded at +15.66% per year against +21.27% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +8.90% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.59% annualized vs +9.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FYT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.3% 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 -51.7% for FYT 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FYT charges 0.70% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FYT currently yields 1.44% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 257 holdings in FYT and 505 in IVV, totalling 99.3% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 257 positions we hold weights for in FYT and 505 in IVV, against full books of 526 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for FYT (99.3% of the fund), and 246 for FYT that do not appear in IVV (94.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FYT 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, FYT or IVV?
FYT has an expense ratio of 0.70% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FYT or IVV?
Over the past year FYT returned +25.49% vs +17.57% for IVV, so FYT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FYT annualized +9.04% vs +12.59% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FYT or IVV?
FYT has been the more volatile fund at 22.3% annualized versus 14.3% for IVV. Worst drawdown: FYT -51.7% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both FYT and IVV?
FYT and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, FYT or IVV?
FYT yields 1.44% while IVV yields 1.06%, so FYT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than FYT?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. FYT led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYT is less concentrated, with 9.1% 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.