GCV vs IVV
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GCV or IVV?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 1Y, IVV over 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 | GCV | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $93M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.61% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 124 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +12.80%Best | +11.51% |
| 1Y Return | +19.15%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.98% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.72% | +12.66%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,004 | $18,149Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 1995 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026 (26.3 years).
GCV 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
GCV vs IVV Performance
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year GCV returned +19.15% while IVV returned +15.96%. Year to date, GCV is up 12.80% versus a gain of 11.51% for IVV.
Over three years, GCV compounded at +18.98% per year against +21.01% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +3.72% and +12.66% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +6.93% annualized vs -0.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.1% 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 -70.6% for GCV 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCV charges 3.20% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $3 annually, a gap of $317 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCV currently yields 10.61% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.2% of IVV's money is in holdings GCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GCV, our book for it covers 50.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and GCV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, GCV as of Mar 31, 2026 and IVV as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
24 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 490 in IVV, against full books of 124 and 508.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GCV | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 2.52% | 0.26% | 2.26% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.05% | 0.06% | 1.99% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 2.01% | 0.10% | 1.91% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.11% | 1.44% | 1.33% |
| BABoeing Co | 1.12% | 0.25% | 0.87% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.09% | 0.97% | 0.88% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 0.34% | 0.53% | 0.19% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 0.64% | 0.17% | 0.47% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.18% | 0.63% | 0.45% |
| CCICrown Castle International Corp | 0.70% | 0.05% | 0.65% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCV 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, GCV or IVV?
GCV has an expense ratio of 3.20% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $317 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCV or IVV?
Over the past year GCV returned +19.15% vs +15.96% for IVV, so GCV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), GCV annualized -0.54% vs +6.93% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCV or IVV?
GCV has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: GCV -70.6% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both GCV and IVV?
GCV and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 GCV and IVV?
At least 7.2% of IVV's money is in holdings GCV also owns. Our book for GCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 490 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCV or IVV?
GCV yields 10.61% while IVV yields 1.06%, so GCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than GCV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.