IVV vs SCJ
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, IVV or SCJ?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCJ over 1Y. SCJ is less concentrated, with 5.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | SCJ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $261M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.67% |
| Holdings | 508 | 794 |
| YTD Return | +14.15% | +19.84%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.31% | +21.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17%Best | +19.35% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.85%Best | +7.15% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.7% | -43.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,128Best | $14,124 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 5.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 20, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 21, 2007 to Sep 21, 2026 (18.8 years).
IVV vs SCJ 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
IVV vs SCJ Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% while SCJ returned +21.17%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.15% versus a gain of 19.84% for SCJ.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.17% per year against +19.35% for SCJ; over five years the annualized figures are +13.85% and +7.15% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.67% annualized vs +4.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 15.0% for SCJ. 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 -54.7% for IVV and -43.7% for SCJ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SCJ charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $50 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 2.67% for SCJ.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings SCJ 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 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 725 in SCJ, against full books of 508 and 794.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for SCJ that do not appear in our book for IVV (0.0% of the fund), and 481 for IVV that do not appear in SCJ (98.5%).
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 SCJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 0.15% | 0.03% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and SCJ 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 SCJ?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SCJ charges 0.50%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SCJ?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% vs +21.17% for SCJ, so SCJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IVV annualized +9.67% vs +4.90% for SCJ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SCJ?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 15.0% for SCJ. Worst drawdown: IVV -54.7% vs SCJ -43.7%.
Should I hold both IVV and SCJ?
IVV and SCJ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 SCJ?
IVV yields 1.06% while SCJ yields 2.67%, so SCJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCJ better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SCJ over 1Y. SCJ is less concentrated, with 5.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.