IVV vs RFEM
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF
Which is better, IVV or RFEM?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, RFEM over 1Y. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.4%.
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 | RFEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.99% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $84M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 508 | 119 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -45.6% |
| $10,000 over 10.2 years | $39,511Best | $24,312 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 38.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jun 14, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 14 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IVV has data through Sep 25, 2026 and RFEM through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 15, 2016 to Sep 11, 2026 (10.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.3% 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 -33.9% for IVV and -45.6% for RFEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RFEM charges 0.99%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $99 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 2.51% for RFEM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 111 in RFEM, totalling 99.3% and 97.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 111 in RFEM, against full books of 508 and 119.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for RFEM that do not appear in our book for IVV (6.8% of the fund), and 482 for IVV that do not appear in RFEM (98.6%).
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 RFEM 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 RFEM?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RFEM charges 0.99%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, IVV or RFEM?
RFEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.3% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs RFEM -45.6%.
Should I hold both IVV and RFEM?
IVV and RFEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 RFEM?
IVV yields 1.06% while RFEM yields 2.51%, so RFEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFEM better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, RFEM over 1Y. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.