IVV vs VGI
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund
Which is better, IVV or VGI?
Large Cap Blend against Diversified Sectoral Bond.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% 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 | VGI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.74% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $88M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 12.32% |
| Holdings | 508 | 646 |
| YTD Return | +13.23%Best | -4.82% |
| 1Y Return | +17.38%Best | -3.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.67%Best | +10.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.13%Best | +0.66% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 14.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -63.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,531Best | $10,334 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 11.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Feb 23, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2012 to Sep 24, 2026 (14.6 years).
IVV vs VGI 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
IVV vs VGI Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (VGI) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year IVV returned +17.38% while VGI returned -3.23%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.23% versus a loss of 4.82% for VGI.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +22.67% per year against +10.12% for VGI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.13% and +0.66% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.17% annualized vs -2.79%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 14.1% 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 -33.9% for IVV and -63.3% for VGI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while VGI charges 1.74%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $174 annually, a gap of $171 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 12.32% for VGI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings VGI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 94 days apart, IVV as of Aug 31, 2026 and VGI as of May 29, 2026, 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 472 in VGI, against full books of 508 and 646.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 465 positions for VGI that do not appear in our book for IVV (99.8% of the fund), and 481 for IVV that do not appear in VGI (98.6%).
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 VGI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARESAres Management Corp Preferred Stock 10/27 6.75 | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and VGI 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 VGI?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VGI charges 1.74%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $171 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or VGI?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.38% vs -3.23% for VGI, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), IVV annualized +13.17% vs -2.79% for VGI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or VGI?
VGI has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 14.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs VGI -63.3%.
Should I hold both IVV and VGI?
IVV and VGI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 VGI?
IVV yields 1.06% while VGI yields 12.32%, so VGI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGI better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% 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.