IVV vs SABA
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II
Which is better, IVV or SABA?
IVV has been ahead.
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 | SABA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.71% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $254M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 8.33% |
| Holdings | 508 | 740 |
| YTD Return | +12.70%Best | +4.61% |
| 1Y Return | +19.36%Best | -2.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.16%Best | +10.85% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.75%Best | +3.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -62.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,221Best | $11,763 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Saba Capital |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 17, 1988 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 8, 2026 (26.3 years).
IVV vs SABA 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs SABA Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II (SABA) is an ETF from Saba Capital. Over the past year IVV returned +19.36% while SABA returned -2.60%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.70% versus a gain of 4.61% for SABA.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.16% per year against +10.85% for SABA; over five years the annualized figures are +12.75% and +3.30% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +6.98% annualized vs +0.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.4% for SABA. 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 -62.0% for SABA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SABA charges 0.71%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $71 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 8.33% for SABA.
Holdings Overlap
At least 27.1% of IVV's money is in holdings SABA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SABA, our book for it covers 38.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and SABA share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 370 days apart, IVV as of Aug 5, 2026 and SABA as of Jul 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
75 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 379 in SABA, against full books of 508 and 740.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in SABA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.98% | -0.14% | 8.12% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.01% | -0.45% | 4.46% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.39% | -0.05% | 1.44% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.94% | -0.61% | 2.55% |
| V'visa Inc., Class 'a'' | 0.92% | -0.08% | 1.00% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 0.62% | -0.02% | 0.64% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group | 0.56% | -0.03% | 0.59% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.53% | -0.02% | 0.55% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.69% | -0.19% | 0.88% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 0.44% | -0.02% | 0.46% |
27.1% of IVV is already inside SABA.
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 SABA?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SABA charges 0.71%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SABA?
Over the past year IVV returned +19.36% vs -2.60% for SABA, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IVV annualized +6.98% vs +0.71% for SABA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SABA?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.4% for SABA. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs SABA -62.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and SABA?
IVV and SABA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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 SABA?
At least 27.1% of IVV's money is in holdings SABA also owns. Our book for SABA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 75 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 379 in SABA.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or SABA?
IVV yields 1.10% while SABA yields 8.33%, so SABA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SABA 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.