IVV vs WDEF
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, IVV or WDEF?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.4%.
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 | WDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $886.7B | $100M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 0.07% |
| Holdings | 508 | 49 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | -1.46% |
| 1Y Return | +20.08%Best | +0.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3%Best | 31.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,334Best | $9,791 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9%Best | 64.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jul 17, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.1 years).
IVV vs WDEF 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 WDEF Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF (WDEF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% while WDEF returned +0.73%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.39% versus a loss of 1.46% for WDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.3% 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 -23.9% for WDEF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.22. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while WDEF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $45 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 0.07% for WDEF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in IVV and 42 in WDEF, totalling 100.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 42 in WDEF, against full books of 508 and 49.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for WDEF that do not appear in our book for IVV (0.1% of the fund), and 497 for IVV that do not appear in WDEF (99.3%).
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 WDEF 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 WDEF?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WDEF charges 0.45%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or WDEF?
Over the past year IVV returned +20.08% vs +0.73% for WDEF, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +21.01% vs -1.90% for WDEF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or WDEF?
WDEF has been the more volatile fund at 31.3% annualized versus 12.3% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs WDEF -23.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and WDEF?
IVV and WDEF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.22, 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 WDEF?
IVV yields 1.10% while WDEF yields 0.07%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDEF better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.