IVV vs XLF
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, IVV or XLF?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | XLF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.08% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $54.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.40% |
| Holdings | 508 | 80 |
| YTD Return | +14.15%Best | +2.65% |
| 1Y Return | +17.31%Best | +4.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17%Best | +20.15% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.85%Best | +10.71% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 21.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -83.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,128Best | $16,632 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 56.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 21, 2026 (26.3 years).
IVV vs XLF 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs XLF Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% while XLF returned +4.78%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.15% versus a gain of 2.65% for XLF.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.17% per year against +20.15% for XLF; over five years the annualized figures are +13.85% and +10.71% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +7.02% annualized vs +3.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 15.1% 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 -56.5% for IVV and -83.8% for XLF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while XLF charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $8 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 1.40% for XLF.
Holdings Overlap
11.6% of IVV's money is in holdings XLF also owns. 94.4% of XLF's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
Most of XLF is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
74 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 77 in XLF, against full books of 508 and 80.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for XLF that do not appear in our book for IVV (5.3% of the fund), and 408 for IVV that do not appear in XLF (87.0%).
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 XLF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.44% | 11.78% | 10.34% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.39% | 11.41% | 10.02% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.95% | 7.66% | 6.71% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.72% | 5.81% | 5.09% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.46% | 3.66% | 3.20% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.40% | 3.30% | 2.90% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 0.39% | 3.13% | 2.74% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.34% | 2.80% | 2.46% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.27% | 2.19% | 1.92% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 0.27% | 2.14% | 1.87% |
94.4% of XLF 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 XLF?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XLF charges 0.08%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or XLF?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.31% vs +4.78% for XLF, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IVV annualized +7.02% vs +3.60% for XLF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or XLF?
XLF has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs XLF -83.8%.
Should I hold both IVV and XLF?
IVV and XLF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 XLF?
94.4% of XLF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 94.4% of XLF's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 74 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 77 in XLF.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or XLF?
IVV yields 1.06% while XLF yields 1.40%, so XLF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLF better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.