IVV vs RSBA
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF
Which is better, IVV or RSBA?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y 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 | RSBA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.01% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $52M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 2.88% |
| Holdings | 508 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | -1.96% |
| 1Y Return | +20.08%Best | -3.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.6% | 4.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -6.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,393Best | $10,203 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Return Stacked ETF |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 17, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 18, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.7 years).
IVV vs RSBA 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
IVV vs RSBA Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF (RSBA) is an ETF from Return Stacked ETF. Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% while RSBA returned -3.99%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.39% versus a loss of 1.96% for RSBA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 4.8% for RSBA. 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 -18.8% for IVV and -6.3% for RSBA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.10. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RSBA charges 1.01%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $101 annually, a gap of $98 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 2.88% for RSBA.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings RSBA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RSBA, our book for it covers 90.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
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 11 in RSBA, against full books of 508 and 16.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in RSBA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSXBoston Scientific Corp. | 0.11% | -2.00% | 2.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and RSBA 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 RSBA?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RSBA charges 1.01%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $98 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RSBA?
Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% vs -3.99% for RSBA, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +18.75% vs +1.19% for RSBA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RSBA?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 4.8% for RSBA. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs RSBA -6.3%.
Should I hold both IVV and RSBA?
IVV and RSBA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.10, 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 RSBA?
IVV yields 1.10% while RSBA yields 2.88%, so RSBA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RSBA better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.