IVV vs JAPN
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF
Which is better, IVV or JAPN?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | JAPN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $26M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.24% |
| Holdings | 508 | 36 |
| YTD Return | +12.39%Best | -0.31% |
| 1Y Return | +16.61%Best | -10.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.51% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 16.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $13,066Best | $10,263 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Horizon Kinetics LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | May 12, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
IVV vs JAPN 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.
IVV vs JAPN Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF (JAPN) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC. Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% while JAPN returned -10.04%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.39% versus a loss of 0.31% for JAPN.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JAPN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 12.0% 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 -8.9% for IVV and -23.9% for JAPN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while JAPN charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $85 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.24% for JAPN.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 33 in JAPN, totalling 99.3% and 96.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 33 in JAPN, against full books of 508 and 36.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for JAPN that do not appear in our book for IVV (0.0% of the fund), and 482 for IVV that do not appear in JAPN (98.6%).
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 JAPN 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 JAPN?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while JAPN charges 0.85%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or JAPN?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% vs -10.04% for JAPN, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +22.84% vs +2.02% for JAPN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or JAPN?
JAPN has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 12.0% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs JAPN -23.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and JAPN?
IVV and JAPN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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 JAPN?
IVV yields 1.06% while JAPN yields 0.24%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is JAPN better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.