IVV vs RMT
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Royce Micro-Cap Trust Inc.
Which is better, IVV or RMT?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, RMT over 1Y and 3Y. RMT is less concentrated, with 14.9% 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 | RMT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.35% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $477M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 5.27% |
| Holdings | 508 | 171 |
| YTD Return | +12.51% | +31.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.57% | +38.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.27% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95%Best | +11.45% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 23.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -80.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,384Best | $17,195 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 14.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 14, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 1, 2003 to Sep 11, 2026 (22.8 years).
IVV vs RMT 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 22.8 years both funds cover.
IVV vs RMT Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Royce Micro-Cap Trust Inc. (RMT) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% while RMT returned +38.57%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.51% versus a gain of 31.65% for RMT.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.27% per year against +24.98% for RMT; over five years the annualized figures are +12.95% and +11.45% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.38% annualized vs +2.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RMT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.4% compared with 14.6% 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 -80.4% for RMT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RMT charges 1.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $135 annually, a gap of $132 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 5.27% for RMT.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings RMT also owns. 0.1% of RMT's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 169 in RMT, against full books of 508 and 171.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 147 positions for RMT that do not appear in our book for IVV (91.8% of the fund), and 494 for IVV that do not appear in RMT (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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in RMT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMGComputer Modelling Group | 0.07% | 0.06% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and RMT 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 RMT?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RMT charges 1.35%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $132 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RMT?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% vs +38.57% for RMT, so RMT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), IVV annualized +9.38% vs +2.05% for RMT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RMT?
RMT has been the more volatile fund at 23.4% annualized versus 14.6% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs RMT -80.4%.
Should I hold both IVV and RMT?
IVV and RMT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 RMT?
IVV yields 1.06% while RMT yields 5.27%, so RMT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RMT better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, RMT over 1Y and 3Y. RMT is less concentrated, with 14.9% 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.