IVV vs SDY
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF
Which is better, IVV or SDY?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDY is less concentrated, with 20.6% 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 | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $21.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.39% |
| Holdings | 508 | 158 |
| YTD Return | +11.51%Best | +10.87% |
| 1Y Return | +15.96%Best | +12.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.01%Best | +11.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.66%Best | +7.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -58.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,149Best | $14,390 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 20.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Nov 8, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2005 to Sep 15, 2026 (20.8 years).
IVV vs SDY 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 20.8 years both funds cover.
IVV vs SDY Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IVV returned +15.96% while SDY returned +12.59%. Year to date, IVV is up 11.51% versus a gain of 10.87% for SDY.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.01% per year against +11.30% for SDY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.66% and +7.55% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.54% annualized vs +5.89%.
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 14.9% for SDY. 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 -58.6% for SDY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SDY charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $35 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 2.39% for SDY.
Holdings Overlap
20.1% of IVV's money is in holdings SDY also owns. 80.0% of SDY's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
Most of SDY is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
97 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 156 in SDY, against full books of 508 and 158.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 58 positions for SDY that do not appear in our book for IVV (19.7% of the fund), and 386 for IVV that do not appear in SDY (78.6%).
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 SDY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.69% | 0.54% | 5.15% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.32% | 3.28% | 2.96% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.58% | 2.03% | 1.45% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.01% | 1.39% | 0.38% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.29% | 1.94% | 1.65% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 0.09% | 2.14% | 2.05% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.18% | 1.79% | 1.61% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.97% | 0.97% | 0.00% |
| TGTTarget Corp Common Stock Usd.0833 | 0.11% | 1.79% | 1.68% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.68% | 1.22% | 0.54% |
80.0% of SDY 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 SDY?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SDY charges 0.35%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SDY?
Over the past year IVV returned +15.96% vs +12.59% for SDY, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), IVV annualized +9.54% vs +5.89% for SDY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SDY?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.9% for SDY. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs SDY -58.6%.
Should I hold both IVV and SDY?
IVV and SDY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 SDY?
80.0% of SDY's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 80.0% of SDY's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 97 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 156 in SDY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or SDY?
IVV yields 1.06% while SDY yields 2.39%, so SDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDY better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDY is less concentrated, with 20.6% 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.