GAA vs IVV
Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GAA or IVV?
Debt-oriented balanced 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 57.7%.
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 | GAA | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $76M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.39% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 31 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +11.30% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.24% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.71% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.47% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.5%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -26.6%Best | -33.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,682 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.7% | 37.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Cambria Investment Management | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2014 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 10, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.8 years).
GAA 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
GAA vs IVV Performance
Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF (GAA) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year GAA returned +14.24% while IVV returned +17.57%. Year to date, GAA is up 11.30% versus a gain of 12.51% for IVV.
Over three years, GAA compounded at +13.71% per year against +21.27% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +6.47% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.64% annualized vs +6.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 9.5% for GAA. 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 -26.6% for GAA 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAA charges 0.40% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAA currently yields 3.39% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in GAA and 505 in IVV, totalling 99.8% 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 30 positions we hold weights for in GAA and 505 in IVV, against full books of 31 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for GAA (99.3% of the fund), and 29 for GAA that do not appear in IVV (92.5%).
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 GAA 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, GAA or IVV?
GAA has an expense ratio of 0.40% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GAA or IVV?
Over the past year GAA returned +14.24% vs +17.57% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), GAA annualized +6.64% vs +12.64% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GAA or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 9.5% for GAA. Worst drawdown: GAA -26.6% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both GAA and IVV?
GAA and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, GAA or IVV?
GAA yields 3.39% while IVV yields 1.06%, so GAA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than GAA?
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 57.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.