IVV vs NPFD
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund
Which is better, IVV or NPFD?
Large Cap Blend against Preferred Stock.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
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 | NPFD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.83% |
| AUM | $876.4B | - |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 9.88% |
| Holdings | 508 | 189 |
| YTD Return | +12.24%Best | +3.27% |
| 1Y Return | +18.61%Best | +3.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.98%Best | +15.14% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.76% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8%Best | 16.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -39.2% |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $17,424Best | $11,077 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Nuveen |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Preferred Stock |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 15, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 16, 2021 to Sep 9, 2026 (4.7 years).
IVV vs NPFD 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
IVV vs NPFD Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NPFD) is an ETF from Nuveen. Over the past year IVV returned +18.61% while NPFD returned +3.60%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.24% versus a gain of 3.27% for NPFD.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +20.98% per year against +15.14% for NPFD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NPFD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 15.8% 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 -24.5% for IVV and -39.2% for NPFD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while NPFD charges 0.83%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $83 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 9.88% for NPFD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of IVV's money is in holdings NPFD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NPFD, our book for it covers 78.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 142 in NPFD, against full books of 508 and 189.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and NPFD 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 NPFD?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while NPFD charges 0.83%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or NPFD?
Over the past year IVV returned +18.61% vs +3.60% for NPFD, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or NPFD?
NPFD has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 15.8% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -24.5% vs NPFD -39.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and NPFD?
IVV and NPFD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 NPFD?
IVV yields 1.06% while NPFD yields 9.88%, so NPFD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NPFD better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.