IVV vs PPH
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF
Which is better, IVV or PPH?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, PPH over 1Y. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.5%.
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 | PPH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.36% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $985M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 1.92% |
| Holdings | 508 | 26 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | +11.65% |
| 1Y Return | +20.08% | +31.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29%Best | +14.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | +10.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $16,549 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9%Best | 72.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | VanEck |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 4, 2026 (26.3 years).
IVV vs PPH 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs PPH Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) is an ETF from VanEck. Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% while PPH returned +31.03%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.39% versus a gain of 11.65% for PPH.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.29% per year against +14.38% for PPH; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +10.60% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +7.01% annualized vs +3.63%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.6% for PPH. 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 -56.6% for PPH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while PPH charges 0.36%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $36 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 1.92% for PPH.
Holdings Overlap
4.2% of IVV's money is in holdings PPH also owns. 59.9% of PPH's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 25 in PPH, against full books of 508 and 26.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 7 positions for PPH that do not appear in our book for IVV (6.1% of the fund), and 487 for IVV that do not appear in PPH (95.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in PPH | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.39% | 19.65% | 18.26% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.48% | 9.79% | 9.31% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.93% | 4.40% | 3.47% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.65% | 4.46% | 3.81% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.20% | 4.91% | 4.71% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 0.22% | 4.81% | 4.59% |
| MCKMckesson Corp. | 0.16% | 4.77% | 4.61% |
| CORCencora Inc | 0.09% | 3.75% | 3.66% |
| ZTSZoetis Inc, Class A | 0.05% | 2.16% | 2.11% |
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 0.03% | 1.21% | 1.18% |
59.9% of PPH is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or PPH?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PPH charges 0.36%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PPH?
Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% vs +31.03% for PPH, so PPH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IVV annualized +7.01% vs +3.63% for PPH. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PPH?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.6% for PPH. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs PPH -56.6%.
Should I hold both IVV and PPH?
IVV and PPH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 PPH?
59.9% of PPH's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 59.9% of PPH's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 25 in PPH.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or PPH?
IVV yields 1.10% while PPH yields 1.92%, so PPH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PPH better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, PPH over 1Y. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.