IVV vs SPEM
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF
Which is better, IVV or SPEM?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SPEM over 1Y. SPEM is less concentrated, with 24.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | SPEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $17.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 2.54% |
| Holdings | 508 | 3,044 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | +12.88% |
| 1Y Return | +20.08% | +23.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29%Best | +18.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | +6.47% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 20.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -65.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $13,682 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 24.2%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 19, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 23, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.5 years).
IVV vs SPEM 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 19.5 years both funds cover.
IVV vs SPEM Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% while SPEM returned +23.86%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.39% versus a gain of 12.88% for SPEM.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.29% per year against +18.36% for SPEM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +6.47% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.47% annualized vs +4.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 15.5% for IVV. 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 -65.1% for SPEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SPEM charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $7 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 2.54% for SPEM.
Holdings Overlap
1.4% of IVV's money is in holdings SPEM also owns.
IVV and SPEM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, IVV as of Aug 5, 2026 and SPEM as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 2,855 in SPEM, against full books of 508 and 3,044.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 52 positions for SPEM that do not appear in our book for IVV (5.3% of the fund), and 489 for IVV that do not appear in SPEM (97.8%).
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 SPEM 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 SPEM?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPEM charges 0.07%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or SPEM?
Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% vs +23.86% for SPEM, so SPEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IVV annualized +9.47% vs +4.01% for SPEM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or SPEM?
SPEM has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 15.5% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs SPEM -65.1%.
Should I hold both IVV and SPEM?
IVV and SPEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 SPEM?
1.4% of IVV's money is in holdings SPEM also owns. 0.0% of SPEM's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 2,855 in SPEM.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or SPEM?
IVV yields 1.10% while SPEM yields 2.54%, so SPEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPEM better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SPEM over 1Y. SPEM is less concentrated, with 24.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.