IVV vs PBW
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF
Which is better, IVV or PBW?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Growth.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBW is less concentrated, with 21.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | PBW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.64% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $380M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.49% |
| Holdings | 508 | 70 |
| YTD Return | +12.39%Best | -4.70% |
| 1Y Return | +16.61%Best | +11.11% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38%Best | -1.80% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.51%Best | -15.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 35.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -89.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,844Best | $4,419 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 21.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 3, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 3, 2005 to Sep 18, 2026 (21.5 years).
IVV vs PBW 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 21.5 years both funds cover.
IVV vs PBW Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% while PBW returned +11.11%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.39% versus a loss of 4.70% for PBW.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.38% per year against -1.80% for PBW; over five years the annualized figures are +13.51% and -15.07% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.32% annualized vs -3.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PBW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.4% 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 -89.7% for PBW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while PBW charges 0.64%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $64 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 1.49% for PBW.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of IVV's money is in holdings PBW also owns. 7.8% of PBW's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
PBW and IVV share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 71 in PBW, against full books of 508 and 70.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 55 positions for PBW that do not appear in our book for IVV (76.1% of the fund), and 477 for IVV that do not appear in PBW (96.8%).
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 PBW 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 PBW?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PBW charges 0.64%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PBW?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% vs +11.11% for PBW, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), IVV annualized +9.32% vs -3.75% for PBW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PBW?
PBW has been the more volatile fund at 35.4% annualized versus 14.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs PBW -89.7%.
Should I hold both IVV and PBW?
IVV and PBW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 PBW?
7.8% of PBW's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 7.8% of PBW's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 71 in PBW.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or PBW?
IVV yields 1.06% while PBW yields 1.49%, so PBW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PBW better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBW is less concentrated, with 21.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.