ISMF vs IVV
iShares Managed Futures Active ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ISMF or IVV?
Managed Futures against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. ISMF led over 1Y, IVV over 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 | ISMF | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $64M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.55% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 177 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +8.97% | +12.39%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.58%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.0%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.2%Best | -13.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,247 | $14,046Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Managed Futures | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 2025 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 13, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
ISMF 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
ISMF vs IVV Performance
iShares Managed Futures Active ETF (ISMF) 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 ISMF returned +18.58% while IVV returned +16.61%. Year to date, ISMF is up 8.97% versus a gain of 12.39% for IVV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 6.0% for ISMF. 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 -4.2% for ISMF and -13.7% 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 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISMF charges 0.80% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $3 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISMF currently yields 2.55% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings ISMF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ISMF, our book for it covers 1.1% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1 positions we hold weights for in ISMF and 490 in IVV, against full books of 177 and 508.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ISMF | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 1.10% | 0.15% | 0.95% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISMF 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, ISMF or IVV?
ISMF has an expense ratio of 0.80% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISMF or IVV?
Over the past year ISMF returned +18.58% vs +16.61% for IVV, so ISMF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ISMF annualized +14.47% vs +25.42% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISMF or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 6.0% for ISMF. Worst drawdown: ISMF -4.2% vs IVV -13.7%.
Should I hold both ISMF and IVV?
ISMF and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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, ISMF or IVV?
ISMF yields 2.55% while IVV yields 1.06%, so ISMF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than ISMF?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. ISMF led over 1Y, IVV over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.