IVV vs VSTL
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Defiance Daily Target 2X Long VST ETF
Which is better, IVV or VSTL?
Large Cap Blend against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y 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 | VSTL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.29% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $9M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 508 | 11 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | -39.99% |
| 1Y Return | +20.08%Best | -59.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3%Best | 49.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -74.1% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,350Best | $3,968 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Defiance ETFs, LLC |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jul 21, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 22, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.1 years).
IVV vs VSTL 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
IVV vs VSTL Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Defiance Daily Target 2X Long VST ETF (VSTL) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC. Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% while VSTL returned -59.92%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.39% versus a loss of 39.99% for VSTL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VSTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 49.0% compared with 12.3% 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 -8.9% for IVV and -74.1% for VSTL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while VSTL charges 1.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $129 annually, a gap of $126 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 0.00% for VSTL.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings VSTL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VSTL, our book for it covers 41.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 2 in VSTL, against full books of 508 and 11.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in VSTL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSTVistra Energy Corp. | 0.07% | 24.36% | 24.29% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and VSTL 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 VSTL?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VSTL charges 1.29%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $126 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or VSTL?
Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% vs -59.92% for VSTL, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +21.15% vs -56.84% for VSTL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or VSTL?
VSTL has been the more volatile fund at 49.0% annualized versus 12.3% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs VSTL -74.1%.
Should I hold both IVV and VSTL?
IVV and VSTL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 VSTL?
IVV yields 1.10% while VSTL yields 0.00%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSTL better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.