IVV vs SMDX
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF
Which is better, IVV or SMDX?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%.
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 | SMDX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $882.6B | $125M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.52% |
| Holdings | 508 | 1,117 |
| YTD Return | +13.60%Best | +12.18% |
| 1Y Return | +16.32%Best | +15.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.81% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.03% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Tie | 12.8%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $13,245Best | $12,983 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.1% | 9.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Intech ETF |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.6 years).
IVV vs SMDX 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
IVV vs SMDX Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF (SMDX) is an ETF from Intech ETF. Over the past year IVV returned +16.32% while SMDX returned +15.08%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.60% versus a gain of 12.18% for SMDX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV and SMDX have been equally volatile, both at 12.8% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -16.2% for IVV and -14.5% for SMDX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SMDX 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 0.52% for SMDX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in IVV and 558 in SMDX, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 558 in SMDX, against full books of 508 and 1,117.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 544 positions for SMDX that do not appear in our book for IVV (96.9% of the fund), and 497 for IVV that do not appear in SMDX (99.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and SMDX 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 SMDX?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SMDX charges 0.35%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SMDX?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.32% vs +15.08% for SMDX, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +19.20% vs +17.72% for SMDX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SMDX?
IVV and SMDX have been equally volatile, both at 12.8% annualized. Worst drawdown: IVV -16.2% vs SMDX -14.5%.
Should I hold both IVV and SMDX?
IVV and SMDX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 SMDX?
IVV yields 1.06% while SMDX yields 0.52%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMDX better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.