IVV vs MCR
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs MFS Charter Income Trust
Which is better, IVV or MCR?
Large Cap Blend against Diversified Sectoral Bond.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y 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 | MCR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.02% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $270M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 8.17% |
| Holdings | 508 | 1,076 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 10.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -45.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 26.1 years | $57,618Best | $11,997 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | MFS Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jul 20, 1989 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 85 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IVV has data through Sep 11, 2026 and MCR through Jun 18, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 26.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Jun 18, 2026 (26.1 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 10.0% for MCR. 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 -56.5% for IVV and -45.2% for MCR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MCR charges 1.02%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $102 annually, a gap of $99 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 8.17% for MCR.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings MCR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for MCR, our book for it covers 90.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 158 days apart, IVV as of Aug 5, 2026 and MCR as of Feb 28, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 549 in MCR, against full books of 508 and 1,076.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in MCR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.12% | 0.02% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and MCR 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 MCR?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MCR charges 1.02%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $99 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, IVV or MCR?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 10.0% for MCR. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs MCR -45.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and MCR?
IVV and MCR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 MCR?
IVV yields 1.06% while MCR yields 8.17%, so MCR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MCR better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.