IVV vs SPE
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Special Opportunities Fund Inc
Which is better, IVV or SPE?
Large Cap Blend against Allocation/Balanced.
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 | SPE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 4.89% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $171M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 8.33% |
| Holdings | 508 | 158 |
| YTD Return | +12.39%Best | -5.40% |
| 1Y Return | +16.61%Best | -8.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38%Best | +14.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.51%Best | +6.84% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -58.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,844Best | $13,921 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Special Opportunities Fund |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jun 8, 1993 |
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 18, 2026 (26.3 years).
IVV vs SPE 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 SPE Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Special Opportunities Fund Inc (SPE) is an ETF from Special Opportunities Fund. Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% while SPE returned -8.60%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.39% versus a loss of 5.40% for SPE.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.38% per year against +14.87% for SPE; over five years the annualized figures are +13.51% and +6.84% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +6.96% annualized vs +2.55%.
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 14.4% for SPE. 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 -58.5% for SPE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SPE charges 4.89%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $489 annually, a gap of $486 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 8.33% for SPE.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in IVV and 104 in SPE, totalling 99.3% and 132.7% of the two funds. That is not enough of SPE to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 243 days apart, IVV as of Aug 31, 2026 and SPE as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 104 in SPE, against full books of 508 and 158.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in SPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPLTexas Pacific Land Trust | 0.03% | 3.98% | 3.95% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and SPE 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 SPE?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPE charges 4.89%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $486 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SPE?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% vs -8.60% for SPE, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IVV annualized +6.96% vs +2.55% for SPE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SPE?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.4% for SPE. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs SPE -58.5%.
Should I hold both IVV and SPE?
IVV and SPE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 SPE?
IVV yields 1.06% while SPE yields 8.33%, so SPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPE 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.