IVV vs MCOW
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Pacer S&P MidCap 400 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF
Which is better, IVV or MCOW?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. MCOW is less concentrated, with 34.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%.
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 | MCOW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $882.6B | $1M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.21% |
| Holdings | 508 | 158 |
| YTD Return | +14.98%Best | +13.77% |
| 1Y Return | +17.32%Best | +9.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.33% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.95% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 13.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -15.1% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,165Best | $11,011 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.1% | 34.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Aug 27, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 28, 2025 to Oct 6, 2026 (1.1 years).
IVV vs MCOW 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
IVV vs MCOW Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Pacer S&P MidCap 400 Quality FCF Aristocrats ETF (MCOW) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs. Over the past year IVV returned +17.32% while MCOW returned +9.89%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.98% versus a gain of 13.77% for MCOW.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MCOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 12.4% 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 -15.1% for MCOW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MCOW charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $49 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.21% for MCOW.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in IVV and 78 in MCOW, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 78 in MCOW, against full books of 508 and 158.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 74 positions for MCOW that do not appear in our book for IVV (94.8% of the fund), and 497 for IVV that do not appear in MCOW (99.3%).
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 MCOW 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 MCOW?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MCOW charges 0.49%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or MCOW?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.32% vs +9.89% for MCOW, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +19.50% vs +9.15% for MCOW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or MCOW?
MCOW has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 12.4% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs MCOW -15.1%.
Should I hold both IVV and MCOW?
IVV and MCOW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 MCOW?
IVV yields 1.06% while MCOW yields 0.21%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MCOW better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. MCOW is less concentrated, with 34.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.