IVV vs MFSB
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs MFS Active Core Plus Bond ETF
Which is better, IVV or MFSB?
Large Cap Blend against Investment Grade 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 | MFSB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.34% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $550M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 4.65% |
| Holdings | 508 | 462 |
| YTD Return | +13.32%Best | -1.07% |
| 1Y Return | +17.08%Best | -0.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.72% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.20% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.6% | 3.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -3.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,965Best | $10,416 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | MFS Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Investment Grade Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 5, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.8 years).
IVV vs MFSB 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
IVV vs MFSB Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and MFS Active Core Plus Bond ETF (MFSB) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management. Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% while MFSB returned -0.17%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.32% versus a loss of 1.07% for MFSB.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 3.5% for MFSB. 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 -3.2% for MFSB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MFSB charges 0.34%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $34 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 4.65% for MFSB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of IVV's money is in holdings MFSB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for MFSB, our book for it covers 42.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 182 in MFSB, against full books of 508 and 462.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in MFSB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc 6.875 11/73 6.88 2173-11-15 | 0.34% | 0.02% | 0.32% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and MFSB 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 MFSB?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MFSB charges 0.34%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or MFSB?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% vs -0.17% for MFSB, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +15.52% vs +2.29% for MFSB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or MFSB?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 3.5% for MFSB. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs MFSB -3.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and MFSB?
IVV and MFSB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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 MFSB?
IVV yields 1.06% while MFSB yields 4.65%, so MFSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MFSB 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.