GDXJ vs IVV
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GDXJ or IVV?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, IVV over the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | GDXJ | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 120 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +10.79% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +42.54%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +55.45%Best | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +25.62%Best | +12.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.2% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.7% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $31,282Best | $18,384 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 37.9%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2009 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 11, 2009 to Sep 11, 2026 (16.8 years).
GDXJ 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 16.8 years both funds cover.
GDXJ vs IVV Performance
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) is an ETF from VanEck and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year GDXJ returned +42.54% while IVV returned +17.57%. Year to date, GDXJ is up 10.79% versus a gain of 12.51% for IVV.
Over three years, GDXJ compounded at +55.45% per year against +21.27% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +25.62% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.72% annualized vs +3.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 42.2% compared with 14.4% 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 -88.7% for GDXJ 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDXJ charges 0.52% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $3 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDXJ currently yields 2.00% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of GDXJ's money is in holdings IVV 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 112 positions we hold weights for in GDXJ and 505 in IVV, against full books of 120 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for GDXJ (99.3% of the fund), and 10 for GDXJ that do not appear in IVV (10.3%).
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 GDXJ | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNRPentair Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.12% | 0.02% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDXJ 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, GDXJ or IVV?
GDXJ has an expense ratio of 0.52% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDXJ or IVV?
Over the past year GDXJ returned +42.54% vs +17.57% for IVV, so GDXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), GDXJ annualized +3.21% vs +12.72% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDXJ or IVV?
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund at 42.2% annualized versus 14.4% for IVV. Worst drawdown: GDXJ -88.7% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both GDXJ and IVV?
GDXJ and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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, GDXJ or IVV?
GDXJ yields 2.00% while IVV yields 1.06%, so GDXJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than GDXJ?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, IVV over the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.