IVV vs PFN
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II
Which is better, IVV or PFN?
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 | PFN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.29% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $686M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 12.61% |
| Holdings | 508 | 513 |
| YTD Return | +13.32%Best | -8.68% |
| 1Y Return | +17.08%Best | -6.77% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.72%Best | +10.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.20%Best | +1.65% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 18.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -83.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,588Best | $10,853 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | PIMCO (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Oct 29, 2004 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2004 to Sep 23, 2026 (21.9 years).
IVV vs PFN 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 PFN Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II (PFN) is an ETF from PIMCO (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% while PFN returned -6.77%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.32% versus a loss of 8.68% for PFN.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +22.72% per year against +10.63% for PFN; over five years the annualized figures are +13.20% and +1.65% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.56% annualized vs -2.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PFN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% 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 -83.4% for PFN. 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 PFN 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 12.61% for PFN.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 23 in PFN, totalling 99.3% and 9.7% of the two funds. That is not enough of PFN 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 PFN 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 PFN, against full books of 508 and 513.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in PFN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 0.04% | 0.42% | 0.38% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and PFN 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 PFN?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PFN charges 1.29%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $126 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PFN?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% vs -6.77% for PFN, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), IVV annualized +9.56% vs -2.39% for PFN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PFN?
PFN has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 14.8% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs PFN -83.4%.
Should I hold both IVV and PFN?
IVV and PFN 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or PFN?
IVV yields 1.06% while PFN yields 12.61%, so PFN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PFN 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.