IVV vs UYG
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs ProShares Ultra Financials
Which is better, IVV or UYG?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, UYG over 3Y.
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 | UYG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.94% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $813M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 10.91% |
| Holdings | 508 | 89 |
| YTD Return | +11.03%Best | -0.24% |
| 1Y Return | +15.62%Best | +3.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.81% | +29.06%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.61%Best | +12.10% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 41.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -98.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,109Best | $17,702 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jan 30, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.6 years).
IVV vs UYG 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
IVV vs UYG Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and ProShares Ultra Financials (UYG) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year IVV returned +15.62% while UYG returned +3.99%. Year to date, IVV is up 11.03% versus a loss of 0.24% for UYG.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +20.81% per year against +29.06% for UYG; over five years the annualized figures are +12.61% and +12.10% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.22% annualized vs -0.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.1% 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 -98.0% for UYG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while UYG charges 0.94%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $94 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 10.91% for UYG.
Holdings Overlap
At least 11.6% of IVV's money is in holdings UYG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UYG, our book for it covers 62.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and UYG share little of their money.
73 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 76 in UYG, against full books of 508 and 89.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in UYG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.44% | 6.76% | 5.32% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.39% | 6.55% | 5.16% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.95% | 4.46% | 3.51% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.72% | 3.37% | 2.65% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.46% | 2.14% | 1.68% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.40% | 1.87% | 1.47% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 0.39% | 1.81% | 1.42% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.34% | 1.59% | 1.25% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.27% | 1.27% | 1.00% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 0.27% | 1.25% | 0.98% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and UYG 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 UYG?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while UYG charges 0.94%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or UYG?
Over the past year IVV returned +15.62% vs +3.99% for UYG, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IVV annualized +9.22% vs -0.16% for UYG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or UYG?
UYG has been the more volatile fund at 41.1% annualized versus 15.5% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs UYG -98.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and UYG?
IVV and UYG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 UYG?
At least 11.6% of IVV's money is in holdings UYG also owns. Our book for UYG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 73 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 76 in UYG.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or UYG?
IVV yields 1.06% while UYG yields 10.91%, so UYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UYG better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, UYG over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.