IVV vs WAR
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs US Global Technology And Aerospace & Defense ETF
Which is better, IVV or WAR?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. WAR led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.0%.
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 | WAR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $36M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 10.22% |
| Holdings | 508 | 31 |
| YTD Return | +12.24% | +31.74%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.61% | +45.71%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.98% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.76% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 31.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -25.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,217 | $17,581Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9%Best | 61.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 30, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 30, 2024 to Sep 9, 2026 (1.7 years).
IVV vs WAR 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
IVV vs WAR Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and US Global Technology And Aerospace & Defense ETF (WAR) is an ETF from U.S. Global Investors, Inc.. Over the past year IVV returned +18.61% while WAR returned +45.71%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.24% versus a gain of 31.74% for WAR.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WAR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.0% compared with 12.7% 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 -18.8% for IVV and -25.0% for WAR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while WAR charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $60 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 10.22% for WAR.
Holdings Overlap
11.3% of IVV's money is in holdings WAR also owns. 40.5% of WAR's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 29 in WAR, against full books of 508 and 31.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for WAR that do not appear in our book for IVV (28.8% of the fund), and 486 for IVV that do not appear in WAR (88.0%).
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 WAR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.98% | 4.23% | 3.75% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 0.07% | 10.71% | 10.64% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 7.40% | 5.89% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.55% | 5.09% | 4.54% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.09% | 4.13% | 4.04% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc. Class A | 0.32% | 3.75% | 3.43% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.30% | 2.19% | 1.89% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 0.32% | 1.10% | 0.78% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.10% | 1.00% | 0.90% |
| SMCISuper Micro Computer Inc Common Stock USD.001 | 0.03% | 0.92% | 0.89% |
40.5% of WAR is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or WAR?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WAR charges 0.60%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or WAR?
Over the past year IVV returned +18.61% vs +45.71% for WAR, so WAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +17.83% vs +39.36% for WAR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or WAR?
WAR has been the more volatile fund at 31.0% annualized versus 12.7% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs WAR -25.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and WAR?
IVV and WAR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 WAR?
40.5% of WAR's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 40.5% of WAR's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 29 in WAR.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or WAR?
IVV yields 1.06% while WAR yields 10.22%, so WAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WAR better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. WAR led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.