IVV vs KDEF
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF
Which is better, IVV or KDEF?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, KDEF over the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.2%.
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 | KDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $110M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 5.86% |
| Holdings | 508 | 21 |
| YTD Return | +14.15%Best | -5.51% |
| 1Y Return | +17.31%Best | -8.12% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.85% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0%Best | 54.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -48.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $13,016 | $21,196Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 70.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | PLUS ETF |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Feb 5, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.6 years).
IVV vs KDEF 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
IVV vs KDEF Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) is an ETF from PLUS ETF. Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% while KDEF returned -8.12%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.15% versus a loss of 5.51% for KDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 54.6% compared with 13.0% 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 -18.8% for IVV and -48.6% for KDEF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while KDEF charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $65 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 5.86% for KDEF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 20 in KDEF, totalling 99.3% and 99.8% 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 20 in KDEF, against full books of 508 and 21.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for KDEF that do not appear in our book for IVV (0.0% of the fund), and 482 for IVV that do not appear in KDEF (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 KDEF 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 KDEF?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while KDEF charges 0.65%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or KDEF?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% vs -8.12% for KDEF, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +17.91% vs +59.92% for KDEF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or KDEF?
KDEF has been the more volatile fund at 54.6% annualized versus 13.0% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs KDEF -48.6%.
Should I hold both IVV and KDEF?
IVV and KDEF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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 KDEF?
IVV yields 1.06% while KDEF yields 5.86%, so KDEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is KDEF better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, KDEF over the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.