IVV vs QEFA
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs State Street SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF
Which is better, IVV or QEFA?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QEFA is less concentrated, with 14.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | QEFA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 2.75% |
| Holdings | 508 | 659 |
| YTD Return | +12.70%Best | +12.24% |
| 1Y Return | +19.36%Best | +18.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.16%Best | +16.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.75%Best | +8.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 13.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9% | -32.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,221Best | $14,892 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 14.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jun 4, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2014 to Sep 8, 2026 (12.3 years).
IVV vs QEFA 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 12.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs QEFA Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF (QEFA) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year IVV returned +19.36% while QEFA returned +18.53%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.70% versus a gain of 12.24% for QEFA.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.16% per year against +16.99% for QEFA; over five years the annualized figures are +12.75% and +8.29% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.52% annualized vs +5.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 13.3% for QEFA. 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 -33.9% for IVV and -32.7% for QEFA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while QEFA charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $30 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 2.75% for QEFA.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings QEFA also owns. 0.3% of QEFA's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 635 in QEFA, against full books of 508 and 659.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for QEFA that do not appear in our book for IVV (3.5% of the fund), and 492 for IVV that do not appear in QEFA (99.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and QEFA 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 QEFA?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while QEFA charges 0.30%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or QEFA?
Over the past year IVV returned +19.36% vs +18.53% for QEFA, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IVV annualized +12.52% vs +5.69% for QEFA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or QEFA?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 13.3% for QEFA. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs QEFA -32.7%.
Should I hold both IVV and QEFA?
IVV and QEFA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 QEFA?
IVV yields 1.10% while QEFA yields 2.75%, so QEFA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QEFA better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QEFA is less concentrated, with 14.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.