IVV vs RW
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Rainwater Equity ETF
Which is better, IVV or RW?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.9%.
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 | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $17M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.10% |
| Holdings | 508 | 33 |
| YTD Return | +13.32%Best | -1.29% |
| 1Y Return | +17.08%Best | -3.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.72% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.20% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -17.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $13,173Best | $9,877 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 51.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Rainwater ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jun 17, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.3 years).
IVV vs RW 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs RW Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Rainwater Equity ETF (RW) is an ETF from Rainwater ETFs. Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% while RW returned -3.59%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.32% versus a loss of 1.29% for RW.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 11.9% 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 -8.9% for IVV and -17.0% for RW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RW charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $95 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.10% for RW.
Holdings Overlap
28.7% of IVV's money is in holdings RW also owns. 48.7% of RW's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
19 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 35 in RW, against full books of 508 and 33.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for RW that do not appear in our book for IVV (36.2% of the fund), and 463 for IVV that do not appear in RW (69.9%).
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 RW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.02% | 4.64% | 2.38% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.07% | 1.02% | 7.05% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.69% | 1.53% | 4.16% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.39% | 5.47% | 4.08% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.00% | 3.19% | 0.19% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.72% | 3.24% | 2.52% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 0.53% | 3.21% | 2.68% |
| AMEAmetek Inc | 0.08% | 3.39% | 3.31% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 0.14% | 2.76% | 2.62% |
| APDAir Products & Chemicals Inc. | 0.10% | 2.64% | 2.54% |
48.7% of RW is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or RW?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RW charges 0.95%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RW?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.08% vs -3.59% for RW, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +23.61% vs -0.95% for RW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RW?
RW has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 11.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs RW -17.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and RW?
IVV and RW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 RW?
48.7% of RW's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 48.7% of RW's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 35 in RW.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or RW?
IVV yields 1.06% while RW yields 0.10%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RW better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.