IVV vs NLR
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF
Which is better, IVV or NLR?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Growth.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, NLR over 5Y. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%.
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 | NLR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.52% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $3.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.66% |
| Holdings | 508 | 26 |
| YTD Return | +14.14%Best | -15.85% |
| 1Y Return | +17.30%Best | -18.06% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.04%Best | +18.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.63% | +18.33%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6%Best | 23.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -65.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,944 | $23,199Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 60.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | VanEck |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Aug 13, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2007 to Sep 22, 2026 (19.1 years).
IVV vs NLR 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 19.1 years both funds cover.
IVV vs NLR Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF (NLR) is an ETF from VanEck. Over the past year IVV returned +17.30% while NLR returned -18.06%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.14% versus a loss of 15.85% for NLR.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.04% per year against +18.08% for NLR; over five years the annualized figures are +13.63% and +18.33% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.79% annualized vs +3.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.7% compared with 15.6% 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 -65.0% for NLR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while NLR charges 0.52%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $52 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 2.66% for NLR.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of IVV's money is in holdings NLR also owns. 15.4% of NLR's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
NLR and IVV share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 25 in NLR, against full books of 508 and 26.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for NLR that do not appear in our book for IVV (28.9% of the fund), and 480 for IVV that do not appear in NLR (98.5%).
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 NLR 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 NLR?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while NLR charges 0.52%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or NLR?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.30% vs -18.06% for NLR, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IVV annualized +9.79% vs +3.55% for NLR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or NLR?
NLR has been the more volatile fund at 23.7% annualized versus 15.6% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs NLR -65.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and NLR?
IVV and NLR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 NLR?
15.4% of NLR's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 15.4% of NLR's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 25 in NLR.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or NLR?
IVV yields 1.06% while NLR yields 2.66%, so NLR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NLR better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, NLR over 5Y. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.