IVV vs RIV
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs RiverNorth Opportunities Fund Inc.
Which is better, IVV or RIV?
Large Cap Blend against Allocation/Balanced.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | RIV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 5.11% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $330M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 11.76% |
| Holdings | 508 | 442 |
| YTD Return | +12.39%Best | -0.35% |
| 1Y Return | +16.61%Best | +0.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38%Best | +11.65% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.51%Best | +2.75% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -55.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,844Best | $11,453 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | RiverNorth |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 23, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 24, 2015 to Sep 18, 2026 (10.7 years).
IVV vs RIV 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
IVV vs RIV Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and RiverNorth Opportunities Fund Inc. (RIV) is an ETF from RiverNorth. Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% while RIV returned +0.89%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.39% versus a loss of 0.35% for RIV.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.38% per year against +11.65% for RIV; over five years the annualized figures are +13.51% and +2.75% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.80% annualized vs +0.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RIV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% 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 -55.6% for RIV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RIV charges 5.11%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $511 annually, a gap of $508 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 11.76% for RIV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.3% of IVV's money is in holdings RIV also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for RIV, our book for it lists positions totalling 126.1% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
IVV and RIV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 243 days apart, IVV as of Aug 31, 2026 and RIV as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 259 in RIV, against full books of 508 and 442.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and RIV 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 RIV?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RIV charges 5.11%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $508 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RIV?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% vs +0.89% for RIV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IVV annualized +13.80% vs +0.86% for RIV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RIV?
RIV has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs RIV -55.6%.
Should I hold both IVV and RIV?
IVV and RIV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 RIV?
At least 3.3% of IVV's money is in holdings RIV also owns. Our book for RIV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 259 in RIV.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or RIV?
IVV yields 1.06% while RIV yields 11.76%, so RIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RIV better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.