IVV vs NFJ
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
Which is better, IVV or NFJ?
Large Cap Blend against Allocation/Balanced.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, NFJ 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 | NFJ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.96% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 7.39% |
| Holdings | 508 | 182 |
| YTD Return | +13.32% | +23.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.08% | +26.75%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.72%Best | +19.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.20%Best | +8.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -70.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,588Best | $15,106 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Feb 28, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2005 to Sep 23, 2026 (21.6 years).
IVV vs NFJ 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
IVV vs NFJ Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NFJ) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% while NFJ returned +26.75%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.32% versus a gain of 23.75% for NFJ.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +22.72% per year against +19.50% for NFJ; over five years the annualized figures are +13.20% and +8.60% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.39% annualized vs -0.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NFJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 14.9% 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 -56.5% for IVV and -70.3% for NFJ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while NFJ charges 0.96%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $96 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 7.39% for NFJ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 39.3% of IVV's money is in holdings NFJ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NFJ, our book for it covers 86.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
54 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 107 in NFJ, against full books of 508 and 182.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in NFJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.02% | 4.40% | 2.62% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.69% | 3.87% | 1.82% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.84% | 5.23% | 1.39% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.00% | 1.53% | 1.47% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.38% | 2.93% | 1.55% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.44% | 2.15% | 0.71% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.27% | 3.23% | 2.96% |
| GEVGE Vernova Inc. CDR (CAD Hedged) | 0.36% | 2.62% | 2.26% |
| HSYHershey Co. | 0.04% | 2.74% | 2.70% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 0.20% | 2.28% | 2.08% |
39.3% of IVV is already inside NFJ.
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 NFJ?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while NFJ charges 0.96%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or NFJ?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% vs +26.75% for NFJ, so NFJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), IVV annualized +9.39% vs -0.18% for NFJ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or NFJ?
NFJ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 14.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs NFJ -70.3%.
Should I hold both IVV and NFJ?
IVV and NFJ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 NFJ?
At least 39.3% of IVV's money is in holdings NFJ also owns. Our book for NFJ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 54 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 107 in NFJ.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or NFJ?
IVV yields 1.06% while NFJ yields 7.39%, so NFJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NFJ better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, NFJ over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.