IVV vs SAA
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs ProShares Ultra SmallCap600
Which is better, IVV or SAA?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SAA over 1Y.
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 | SAA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $28M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.79% |
| Holdings | 508 | 607 |
| YTD Return | +14.15% | +26.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.31% | +28.21%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17%Best | +20.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.85%Best | +3.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 41.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -88.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,128Best | $12,056 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jan 23, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2007 to Sep 21, 2026 (19.7 years).
IVV vs SAA 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 19.7 years both funds cover.
IVV vs SAA Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and ProShares Ultra SmallCap600 (SAA) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% while SAA returned +28.21%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.15% versus a gain of 26.37% for SAA.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.17% per year against +20.72% for SAA; over five years the annualized figures are +13.85% and +3.81% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.45% annualized vs +8.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.1% compared with 15.5% 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 -88.1% for SAA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SAA 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 0.79% for SAA.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of IVV's money is in holdings SAA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SAA, our book for it covers 74.0% 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 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 595 in SAA, against full books of 508 and 607.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in SAA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 0.20% | 0.03% | 0.17% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and SAA 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 SAA?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SAA charges 0.95%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SAA?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% vs +28.21% for SAA, so SAA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IVV annualized +9.45% vs +8.34% for SAA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SAA?
SAA has been the more volatile fund at 41.1% annualized versus 15.5% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs SAA -88.1%.
Should I hold both IVV and SAA?
IVV and SAA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 SAA?
IVV yields 1.06% while SAA yields 0.79%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SAA better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SAA over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.