IVV vs PFL
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs PIMCO Income Strategy Fund
Which is better, IVV or PFL?
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 | PFL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.37% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $381M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 13.06% |
| Holdings | 508 | 401 |
| YTD Return | +14.15%Best | -7.73% |
| 1Y Return | +17.31%Best | -5.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17%Best | +9.79% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.85%Best | +1.71% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 19.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -82.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,128Best | $10,885 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | PIMCO (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Aug 26, 2003 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 27, 2003 to Sep 21, 2026 (23.1 years).
IVV vs PFL 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 PFL Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (PFL) is an ETF from PIMCO (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% while PFL returned -5.25%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.15% versus a loss of 7.73% for PFL.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.17% per year against +9.79% for PFL; over five years the annualized figures are +13.85% and +1.71% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.66% annualized vs -1.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PFL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 14.6% 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 -82.2% for PFL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while PFL charges 1.37%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $137 annually, a gap of $134 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 13.06% for PFL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 21 in PFL, totalling 99.3% and 7.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of PFL 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 PFL 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 21 in PFL, against full books of 508 and 401.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in PFL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 0.04% | 0.40% | 0.36% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and PFL 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 PFL?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PFL charges 1.37%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $134 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PFL?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% vs -5.25% for PFL, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), IVV annualized +9.66% vs -1.74% for PFL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PFL?
PFL has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 14.6% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs PFL -82.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and PFL?
IVV and PFL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 PFL?
IVV yields 1.06% while PFL yields 13.06%, so PFL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PFL 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.