IVV vs IWC
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs iShares Microcap ETF
Which is better, IVV or IWC?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, IWC over 1Y and 3Y. IWC is less concentrated, with 5.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | IVV | IWC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $1.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 508 | 1,380 |
| YTD Return | +12.24% | +21.77%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.61% | +35.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.98% | +23.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.76%Best | +6.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 21.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -65.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,230Best | $13,843 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 5.2%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Aug 12, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 16, 2005 to Sep 9, 2026 (21.1 years).
IVV vs IWC 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 21.1 years both funds cover.
IVV vs IWC Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Microcap ETF (IWC) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year IVV returned +18.61% while IWC returned +35.19%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.24% versus a gain of 21.77% for IWC.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +20.98% per year against +23.89% for IWC; over five years the annualized figures are +12.76% and +6.72% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.51% annualized vs +6.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 15.0% 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 -56.5% for IVV and -65.2% for IWC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while IWC charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $60 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 1.00% for IWC.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of IVV's money is in holdings IWC also owns. 0.2% of IWC's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 1,353 in IWC, against full books of 508 and 1,380.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,216 positions for IWC that do not appear in our book for IVV (96.3% of the fund), and 494 for IVV that do not appear in IWC (99.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and IWC 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, IVV or IWC?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while IWC charges 0.60%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or IWC?
Over the past year IVV returned +18.61% vs +35.19% for IWC, so IWC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), IVV annualized +9.51% vs +6.93% for IWC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or IWC?
IWC has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 15.0% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs IWC -65.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and IWC?
IVV and IWC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, IVV or IWC?
IVV yields 1.06% while IWC yields 1.00%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IWC better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, IWC over 1Y and 3Y. IWC is less concentrated, with 5.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.