IVV vs RFEU
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF
Which is better, IVV or RFEU?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, RFEU over 1Y. RFEU is less concentrated, with 27.5% 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 | RFEU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.83% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $8M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 4.64% |
| Holdings | 508 | 91 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 16.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -42.9% |
| $10,000 over 9.8 years | $35,650Best | $20,500 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 27.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Apr 14, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 228 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 8, 2026 and RFEU through Jan 23, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 9.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 14, 2016 to Jan 23, 2026 (9.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFEU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 15.1% 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 -42.9% for RFEU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RFEU charges 0.83%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $83 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 4.64% for RFEU.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in IVV and 86 in RFEU, totalling 100.0% and 96.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 278 days apart, IVV as of Aug 5, 2026 and RFEU as of Oct 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 86 in RFEU, against full books of 508 and 91.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 3 positions for RFEU that do not appear in our book for IVV (5.3% of the fund), and 493 for IVV that do not appear in RFEU (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 RFEU 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 RFEU?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RFEU charges 0.83%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, IVV or RFEU?
RFEU has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs RFEU -42.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and RFEU?
IVV and RFEU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 RFEU?
IVV yields 1.10% while RFEU yields 4.64%, so RFEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFEU better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, RFEU over 1Y. RFEU is less concentrated, with 27.5% 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.