IVV vs MSLC
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, IVV or MSLC?
Nearly the same fund. IVV costs less.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. MSLC is less concentrated, with 34.4% 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 | MSLC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $4.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.92% |
| Holdings | 508 | 789 |
| YTD Return | +12.51%Best | +10.58% |
| 1Y Return | +17.57%Best | +14.07% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.27% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.6% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -17.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,998Best | $12,465 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 34.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Morgan Stanley |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 9, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.8 years).
IVV vs MSLC 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 MSLC Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF (MSLC) is an ETF from Morgan Stanley. Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% while MSLC returned +14.07%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.51% versus a gain of 10.58% for MSLC.
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 12.2% for MSLC. 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 -17.9% for MSLC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while MSLC charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $39 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 1.92% for MSLC.
Holdings Overlap
97.6% of IVV's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 92.1% of MSLC's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
Most of IVV is already inside MSLC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
450 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 785 in MSLC, against full books of 508 and 789.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 242 positions for MSLC that do not appear in our book for IVV (4.8% of the fund), and 47 for IVV that do not appear in MSLC (1.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in MSLC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.98% | 6.79% | 1.19% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.86% | 5.23% | 1.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.44% | 5.51% | 0.07% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.01% | 4.05% | 0.04% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.19% | 3.26% | 0.07% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.98% | 2.47% | 0.51% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.56% | 1.97% | 0.59% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.94% | 1.94% | 0.00% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 1.56% | 0.05% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.45% | 1.58% | 0.13% |
97.6% of IVV is already inside MSLC.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or MSLC?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while MSLC charges 0.39%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or MSLC?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% vs +14.07% for MSLC, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +15.68% vs +13.02% for MSLC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or MSLC?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 12.2% for MSLC. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs MSLC -17.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and MSLC?
IVV and MSLC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IVV and MSLC?
97.6% of IVV's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 92.1% of MSLC's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 450 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 785 in MSLC.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or MSLC?
IVV yields 1.06% while MSLC yields 1.92%, so MSLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MSLC better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. MSLC is less concentrated, with 34.4% 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.