HGLB vs IVV
Highland Global Allocation Fund vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, HGLB or IVV?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 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 | HGLB | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.67% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $259M | $882.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.03% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 57 | 508 |
| YTD Return | -17.01% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -23.49% | +16.32%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.40% | +23.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.38% | +14.03%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.5% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.1% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,995 | $19,279Best |
| Fund Family | NexPoint | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 5, 1998 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 19, 2019 to Oct 2, 2026 (7.6 years).
HGLB 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 7.6 years both funds cover.
HGLB vs IVV Performance
Highland Global Allocation Fund (HGLB) is an ETF from NexPoint and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year HGLB returned -23.49% while IVV returned +16.32%. Year to date, HGLB is down 17.01% versus a gain of 13.60% for IVV.
Over three years, HGLB compounded at +8.40% per year against +23.81% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +5.38% and +14.03% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +15.49% annualized vs -2.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HGLB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.5% compared with 16.3% 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 -74.1% for HGLB 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HGLB charges 2.67% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $267 vs $3 annually, a gap of $264 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HGLB currently yields 9.03% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings HGLB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HGLB, our book for it covers 51.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 73 days apart, HGLB as of Jun 30, 2026 and IVV as of Sep 11, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in HGLB and 505 in IVV, against full books of 57 and 508.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HGLB 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, HGLB or IVV?
HGLB has an expense ratio of 2.67% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $264 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HGLB or IVV?
Over the past year HGLB returned -23.49% vs +16.32% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), HGLB annualized -2.02% vs +15.49% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HGLB or IVV?
HGLB has been the more volatile fund at 31.5% annualized versus 16.3% for IVV. Worst drawdown: HGLB -74.1% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both HGLB and IVV?
HGLB and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, HGLB or IVV?
HGLB yields 9.03% while IVV yields 1.06%, so HGLB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than HGLB?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.