IVV vs MEDX
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF
Which is better, IVV or MEDX?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y and the full window, MEDX over 1Y.
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 | MEDX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $17M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.12% |
| Holdings | 508 | 34 |
| YTD Return | +13.23%Best | +7.10% |
| 1Y Return | +17.38% | +22.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.67%Best | +10.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.13% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 14.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -21.6% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $19,674Best | $12,613 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Horizon Kinetics LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jan 27, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 31, 2023 to Sep 24, 2026 (3.6 years).
IVV vs MEDX 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 MEDX Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF (MEDX) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC. Over the past year IVV returned +17.38% while MEDX returned +22.34%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.23% versus a gain of 7.10% for MEDX.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +22.67% per year against +10.27% for MEDX. Across the full 4-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +20.68% annualized vs +6.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MEDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% 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 -18.8% for IVV and -21.6% for MEDX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MEDX charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $85 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 1.12% for MEDX.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.6% of IVV's money is in holdings MEDX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for MEDX, our book for it covers 91.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and MEDX share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 31 in MEDX, against full books of 508 and 34.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in MEDX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.38% | 18.03% | 16.65% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.68% | 9.20% | 8.52% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.97% | 6.13% | 5.16% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.55% | 4.73% | 4.18% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.21% | 4.65% | 4.44% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.35% | 4.41% | 4.06% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 0.24% | 3.44% | 3.20% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 0.05% | 3.14% | 3.09% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.12% | 2.78% | 2.66% |
| GEHCGe Healthcare Technologies Inc | 0.05% | 0.30% | 0.25% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and MEDX 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 MEDX?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MEDX charges 0.85%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or MEDX?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.38% vs +22.34% for MEDX, so MEDX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), IVV annualized +20.68% vs +6.66% for MEDX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or MEDX?
MEDX has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 12.4% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs MEDX -21.6%.
Should I hold both IVV and MEDX?
IVV and MEDX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IVV and MEDX?
At least 4.6% of IVV's money is in holdings MEDX also owns. Our book for MEDX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 31 in MEDX.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or MEDX?
IVV yields 1.06% while MEDX yields 1.12%, so MEDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MEDX better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y and the full window, MEDX over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.