IVV vs RFG
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Invesco S&P Midcap 400 Pure Growth ETF
Which is better, IVV or RFG?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Growth.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFG is less concentrated, with 20.2% 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 | RFG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $339M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.15% |
| Holdings | 508 | 100 |
| YTD Return | +11.57%Best | +11.45% |
| 1Y Return | +17.57%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.71%Best | +14.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80%Best | +6.11% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2%Best | 19.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -52.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,262Best | $13,452 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 20.2%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 1, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 7, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (20.5 years).
IVV vs RFG 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 20.5 years both funds cover.
IVV vs RFG Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco S&P Midcap 400 Pure Growth ETF (RFG) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% while RFG returned +17.48%. Year to date, IVV is up 11.57% versus a gain of 11.45% for RFG.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +20.71% per year against +14.50% for RFG; over five years the annualized figures are +12.80% and +6.11% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.49% annualized vs +9.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 15.2% 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 -52.0% for RFG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RFG charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $35 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.15% for RFG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in IVV and 101 in RFG, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% 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 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 101 in RFG, against full books of 508 and 100.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 98 positions for RFG that do not appear in our book for IVV (96.0% of the fund), and 495 for IVV that do not appear in RFG (99.3%).
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 RFG 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 RFG?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RFG charges 0.35%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RFG?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% vs +17.48% for RFG, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), IVV annualized +9.49% vs +9.13% for RFG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RFG?
RFG has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 15.2% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs RFG -52.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and RFG?
IVV and RFG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 RFG?
IVV yields 1.06% while RFG yields 0.15%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFG better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFG is less concentrated, with 20.2% 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.