IVV vs MFSI
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs MFS Active International ETF
Which is better, IVV or MFSI?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, MFSI over the full window. MFSI is less concentrated, with 26.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | MFSI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $1.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.75% |
| Holdings | 508 | 99 |
| YTD Return | +11.57%Best | +6.55% |
| 1Y Return | +17.57%Best | +14.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.71% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7% | 10.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -13.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,828 | $13,160Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 26.7%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | MFS Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 5, 2024 |
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 10, 2026 (1.8 years).
IVV vs MFSI 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 MFSI Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and MFS Active International ETF (MFSI) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management. Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% while MFSI returned +14.01%. Year to date, IVV is up 11.57% versus a gain of 6.55% for MFSI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 10.2% for MFSI. 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 -13.7% for MFSI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MFSI charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $59 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.75% for MFSI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in IVV and 89 in MFSI, totalling 100.0% and 97.1% 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 89 in MFSI, against full books of 508 and 99.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for MFSI that do not appear in our book for IVV (4.0% of the fund), and 495 for IVV that do not appear in MFSI (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 MFSI 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 MFSI?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MFSI charges 0.59%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or MFSI?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% vs +14.01% for MFSI, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +14.84% vs +16.48% for MFSI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or MFSI?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 10.2% for MFSI. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs MFSI -13.7%.
Should I hold both IVV and MFSI?
IVV and MFSI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 MFSI?
IVV yields 1.06% while MFSI yields 0.75%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MFSI better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, MFSI over the full window. MFSI is less concentrated, with 26.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.