IVV vs LALT
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF
Which is better, IVV or LALT?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y and 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 | IVV | LALT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.18% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $345M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 3.70% |
| Holdings | 508 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +14.15%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +17.31%Best | +14.09% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17%Best | +10.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.85% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3% | 4.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -7.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $19,668Best | $13,534 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | - |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jan 31, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2023 to Sep 21, 2026 (3.6 years).
IVV vs LALT 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
IVV vs LALT Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF (LALT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% while LALT returned +14.09%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.15% versus a gain of 11.52% for LALT.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.17% per year against +10.08% for LALT. Across the full 4-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +20.67% annualized vs +8.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 4.7% for LALT. 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 -7.0% for LALT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while LALT charges 1.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $118 annually, a gap of $115 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 3.70% for LALT.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 7 in LALT, totalling 99.3% and 99.9% 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 7 in LALT, against full books of 508 and 16.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 7 positions for LALT that do not appear in our book for IVV (99.9% of the fund), and 482 for IVV that do not appear in LALT (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 LALT 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 LALT?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while LALT charges 1.18%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $115 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or LALT?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% vs +14.09% for LALT, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), IVV annualized +20.67% vs +8.77% for LALT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or LALT?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 4.7% for LALT. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs LALT -7.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and LALT?
IVV and LALT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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 LALT?
IVV yields 1.06% while LALT yields 3.70%, so LALT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is LALT better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.