IVV vs PCN
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund
Which is better, IVV or PCN?
Large Cap Blend against Diversified Sectoral Bond.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | PCN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.29% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $870M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 11.90% |
| Holdings | 508 | 526 |
| YTD Return | +14.14%Best | -6.47% |
| 1Y Return | +17.30%Best | -8.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.04%Best | +4.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.63%Best | -0.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 21.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -66.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,944Best | $9,910 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | PIMCO (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 21, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2001 to Sep 22, 2026 (24.8 years).
IVV vs PCN 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 24.8 years both funds cover.
IVV vs PCN Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund (PCN) is an ETF from PIMCO (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.30% while PCN returned -8.72%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.14% versus a loss of 6.47% for PCN.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.04% per year against +4.44% for PCN; over five years the annualized figures are +13.63% and -0.18% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +8.36% annualized vs +1.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 14.8% 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 -56.5% for IVV and -66.7% for PCN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while PCN charges 1.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $129 annually, a gap of $126 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 11.90% for PCN.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 23 in PCN, totalling 99.3% and 7.0% of the two funds. That is not enough of PCN to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 335 days apart, IVV as of Aug 31, 2026 and PCN as of Sep 30, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 23 in PCN, against full books of 508 and 526.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in PCN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 0.04% | 0.30% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and PCN 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 PCN?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PCN charges 1.29%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $126 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PCN?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.30% vs -8.72% for PCN, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IVV annualized +8.36% vs +1.02% for PCN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PCN?
PCN has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 14.8% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs PCN -66.7%.
Should I hold both IVV and PCN?
IVV and PCN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 PCN?
IVV yields 1.06% while PCN yields 11.90%, so PCN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PCN better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.