IVV vs PFF
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF
Which is better, IVV or PFF?
Large Cap Blend against Preferred Stock.
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 | PFF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $13.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 5.51% |
| Holdings | 508 | 464 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | +0.48% |
| 1Y Return | +20.08%Best | +1.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29%Best | +6.39% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | +0.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -70.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $10,448 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Preferred Stock |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 26, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 30, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.4 years).
IVV vs PFF 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 PFF Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% while PFF returned +1.63%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.39% versus a gain of 0.48% for PFF.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.29% per year against +6.39% for PFF; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +0.88% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.54% annualized vs -0.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 15.3% for PFF. 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 -70.2% for PFF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while PFF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $45 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 5.51% for PFF.
Holdings Overlap
At least 11.8% of IVV's money is in holdings PFF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFF, our book for it covers 59.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and PFF share little of their money.
60 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 211 in PFF, against full books of 508 and 464.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in PFF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 3.19% | 2.35% | 0.84% |
| BABoeing Co | 0.28% | 3.84% | 3.56% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.41% | 2.16% | 1.75% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.37% | 2.04% | 1.67% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.45% | 0.87% | 0.58% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.62% | 1.40% | 0.78% |
| SMCISuper Micro Computer Inc Common Stock USD.001 | 0.03% | 1.68% | 1.65% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 0.11% | 1.56% | 1.45% |
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 0.18% | 1.46% | 1.28% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.35% | 1.22% | 0.87% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and PFF 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 PFF?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PFF charges 0.45%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PFF?
Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% vs +1.63% for PFF, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IVV annualized +9.54% vs -0.86% for PFF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PFF?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 15.3% for PFF. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs PFF -70.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and PFF?
IVV and PFF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 PFF?
At least 11.8% of IVV's money is in holdings PFF also owns. Our book for PFF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 60 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 211 in PFF.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or PFF?
IVV yields 1.10% while PFF yields 5.51%, so PFF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PFF 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.