IVV vs WEA
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Western Asset Premier Bond Fund
Which is better, IVV or WEA?
Large Cap Blend against Long Term Low Quality.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | WEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.22% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $131M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 7.57% |
| Holdings | 508 | 386 |
| YTD Return | +11.51%Best | -4.54% |
| 1Y Return | +15.96%Best | -4.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.01%Best | +6.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.66%Best | +0.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -64.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,149Best | $10,080 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Long Term Low Quality |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 28, 2002 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2002 to Sep 15, 2026 (24.5 years).
IVV vs WEA 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 WEA Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (WEA) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year IVV returned +15.96% while WEA returned -4.34%. Year to date, IVV is up 11.51% versus a loss of 4.54% for WEA.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.01% per year against +6.33% for WEA; over five years the annualized figures are +12.66% and +0.16% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +8.41% annualized vs +0.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 14.9% 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 -64.9% for WEA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while WEA charges 1.22%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $122 annually, a gap of $119 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 7.57% for WEA.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of IVV's money is in holdings WEA also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for WEA, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.5% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, IVV as of Aug 31, 2026 and WEA as of Mar 31, 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 246 in WEA, against full books of 508 and 386.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in WEA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc 6.875 11/73 6.88 2173-11-15 | 0.34% | 0.14% | 0.20% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and WEA 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 WEA?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WEA charges 1.22%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $119 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or WEA?
Over the past year IVV returned +15.96% vs -4.34% for WEA, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IVV annualized +8.41% vs +0.04% for WEA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or WEA?
WEA has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 14.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs WEA -64.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and WEA?
IVV and WEA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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 WEA?
IVV yields 1.06% while WEA yields 7.57%, so WEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WEA better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.