IVV vs MJ
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF
Which is better, IVV or MJ?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.9%.
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 | MJ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.75% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $115M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.21% |
| Holdings | 508 | 9 |
| YTD Return | +13.85%Best | -11.14% |
| 1Y Return | +18.57%Best | -12.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.50%Best | -12.34% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.34%Best | -29.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 50.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -95.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,703Best | $1,798 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 99.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Amplify ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 3, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2015 to Sep 25, 2026 (10.8 years).
IVV vs MJ 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 10.8 years both funds cover.
IVV vs MJ Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs. Over the past year IVV returned +18.57% while MJ returned -12.84%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.85% versus a loss of 11.14% for MJ.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.50% per year against -12.34% for MJ; over five years the annualized figures are +13.34% and -29.05% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.83% annualized vs -16.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 50.5% compared with 15.1% 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 -33.9% for IVV and -95.8% for MJ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MJ charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $75 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 2.21% for MJ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 10 in MJ, totalling 99.3% and 99.9% 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 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 10 in MJ, against full books of 508 and 9.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 3 positions for MJ that do not appear in our book for IVV (60.9% of the fund), and 482 for IVV that do not appear in MJ (98.6%).
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 MJ 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 MJ?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MJ charges 0.75%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or MJ?
Over the past year IVV returned +18.57% vs -12.84% for MJ, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IVV annualized +13.83% vs -16.51% for MJ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or MJ?
MJ has been the more volatile fund at 50.5% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs MJ -95.8%.
Should I hold both IVV and MJ?
IVV and MJ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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 MJ?
IVV yields 1.06% while MJ yields 2.21%, so MJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MJ better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.