IVV vs LCAP

IVV vs LCAP

Which is better, IVV or LCAP?

Nearly the same fund. IVV costs less.

IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, LCAP over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.3%.

Lower Fees: IVVHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: IVV

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

MetricIVVLCAP
Expense Ratio0.03%Best0.29%
AUM$876.4B$1.9B
Dividend Yield1.06%0.09%
Holdings50856
YTD Return+12.39%+12.58%Best
1Y Return+16.61%+16.68%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+21.38%-
5Y Return (annualized)+13.51%-
Volatility (annualized)12.0%10.7%Best
Max Drawdown-12.7%-11.3%Best
$10,000 over 1.5 years$13,681Best$13,419
Top 10 Weight37.8%Best43.3%
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Principal Funds
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 15, 2000Mar 25, 2025

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).

IVV vs LCAP 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.

IVV vs LCAP Performance

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF (LCAP) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% while LCAP returned +16.68%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.39% versus a gain of 12.58% for LCAP.

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 10.7% for LCAP. 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 -12.7% for IVV and -11.3% for LCAP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IVV charges 0.03% per year while LCAP charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $29 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.09% for LCAP.

Holdings Overlap

IVV already in LCAP51.5%
LCAP already in IVV88.5%

51.5% of IVV's money is in holdings LCAP also owns. 88.5% of LCAP's money is in holdings IVV also owns.

Most of LCAP is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

46 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 56 in LCAP, against full books of 508 and 56.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 7 positions for LCAP that do not appear in our book for IVV (7.8% of the fund), and 436 for IVV that do not appear in LCAP (47.1%).

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.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in IVVWeight in LCAPDifference
NVDANvidia Corp8.07%7.59%0.48%
AAPLApple, Inc7.02%6.41%0.61%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.69%5.21%0.48%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc3.84%4.48%0.64%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A3.00%5.06%2.06%
AVGOBroadcom Inc2.65%3.07%0.42%
JPMJpmorgan Chase1.44%3.03%1.59%
VVisa Inc Class A0.95%3.34%2.39%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.1.38%2.41%1.03%
METAMeta Platforms Inc1.90%1.71%0.19%

88.5% of LCAP is already inside IVV.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

IVVLCAP

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IVV or LCAP?

IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while LCAP charges 0.29%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, IVV or LCAP?

Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% vs +16.68% for LCAP, so LCAP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +23.24% vs +21.66% for LCAP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, IVV or LCAP?

IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 10.7% for LCAP. Worst drawdown: IVV -12.7% vs LCAP -11.3%.

Should I hold both IVV and LCAP?

IVV and LCAP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between IVV and LCAP?

88.5% of LCAP's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 88.5% of LCAP's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 56 in LCAP.

Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or LCAP?

IVV yields 1.06% while LCAP yields 0.09%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is LCAP better than IVV?

IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, LCAP over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.