IDEF vs IVV
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IDEF or IVV?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.6%.
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 | IDEF | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.5B | $886.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 131 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +2.11% | +13.39%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.22% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.5% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $12,932 | $13,446Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.6% | 37.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 19, 2025 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.3 years).
IDEF 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
IDEF vs IVV Performance
iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year IDEF returned +11.22% while IVV returned +20.08%. Year to date, IDEF is up 2.11% versus a gain of 13.39% for IVV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.5% compared with 11.9% 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 -15.8% for IDEF and -8.9% 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IDEF charges 0.55% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IDEF currently yields 0.33% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
35.0% of IDEF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 3.2% of IVV's money is in holdings IDEF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 116 positions we hold weights for in IDEF and 505 in IVV, against full books of 131 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 479 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for IDEF (96.1% of the fund), and 45 for IDEF that do not appear in IVV (18.3%).
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 IDEF | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 6.86% | 0.18% | 6.68% |
| BABoeing Co | 5.12% | 0.28% | 4.84% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 4.49% | 0.15% | 4.34% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 3.36% | 0.15% | 3.21% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 3.38% | 0.11% | 3.27% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 2.48% | 0.60% | 1.88% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. | 2.16% | 0.18% | 1.98% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.31% | 0.55% | 0.76% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 1.40% | 0.08% | 1.32% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 1.02% | 0.02% | 1.00% |
35.0% of IDEF is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IDEF or IVV?
IDEF has an expense ratio of 0.55% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IDEF or IVV?
Over the past year IDEF returned +11.22% vs +20.08% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IDEF annualized +21.87% vs +25.58% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IDEF or IVV?
IDEF has been the more volatile fund at 20.5% annualized versus 11.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IDEF -15.8% vs IVV -8.9%.
Should I hold both IDEF and IVV?
IDEF and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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 IDEF and IVV?
35.0% of IDEF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 3.2% of IVV's is in holdings IDEF also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 116 positions we hold weights for in IDEF and 505 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, IDEF or IVV?
IDEF yields 0.33% while IVV yields 1.10%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than IDEF?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.