IVV vs XLK
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, IVV or XLK?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. XLK 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 61.2%.
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 | XLK |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.08% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $119.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.43% |
| Holdings | 508 | 77 |
| YTD Return | +12.01% | +28.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.48% | +35.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.21% | +30.59%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +19.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 22.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -79.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,384 | $24,461Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 61.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 14, 2026 (26.3 years).
IVV vs XLK 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 XLK Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year IVV returned +16.48% while XLK returned +35.55%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.01% versus a gain of 28.02% for XLK.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.21% per year against +30.59% for XLK; over five years the annualized figures are +12.95% and +19.59% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, XLK has the edge at +8.17% annualized vs +6.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.8% 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 -79.8% for XLK. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while XLK 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 0.43% for XLK.
Holdings Overlap
37.8% of IVV's money is in holdings XLK also owns. 100.0% of XLK's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
Most of XLK is already inside IVV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
73 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 74 in XLK, against full books of 508 and 77.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for XLK that do not appear in our book for IVV (0.0% of the fund), and 410 for IVV that do not appear in XLK (61.0%).
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 XLK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.07% | 14.37% | 6.30% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.02% | 13.03% | 6.01% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.69% | 10.15% | 4.46% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.65% | 4.78% | 2.13% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.63% | 3.95% | 2.32% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.16% | 3.90% | 2.74% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 0.67% | 2.93% | 2.26% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.66% | 2.89% | 2.23% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.65% | 2.75% | 2.10% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 0.57% | 2.42% | 1.85% |
100.0% of XLK 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 XLK?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XLK charges 0.08%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or XLK?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.48% vs +35.55% for XLK, so XLK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IVV annualized +6.95% vs +8.17% for XLK. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or XLK?
XLK has been the more volatile fund at 22.8% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs XLK -79.8%.
Should I hold both IVV and XLK?
IVV and XLK have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 XLK?
100.0% of XLK's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 100.0% of XLK's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 73 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 74 in XLK.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or XLK?
IVV yields 1.06% while XLK yields 0.43%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLK better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. XLK 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 61.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.