IYF vs VOO
iShares US Financials ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IYF or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IYF led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%.
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 | IYF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 147 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +5.39% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.56% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.21%Best | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.90% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,545 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.7% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 22, 2000 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
IYF vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
IYF vs VOO Performance
iShares US Financials ETF (IYF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IYF returned +8.56% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, IYF is up 5.39% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, IYF compounded at +22.21% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.90% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.41% annualized vs +11.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -42.6% for IYF and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYF charges 0.38% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYF currently yields 1.40% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
86.7% of IYF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 9.1% of VOO's money is in holdings IYF also owns.
Most of IYF is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, IYF as of Aug 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
61 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in IYF and 505 in VOO, against full books of 147 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 435 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IYF (90.3% of the fund), and 76 for IYF that do not appear in VOO (11.4%).
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 IYF | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway B | 11.09% | 1.42% | 9.67% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 11.22% | 1.26% | 9.96% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 4.34% | 0.58% | 3.76% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc. | 3.96% | 0.44% | 3.52% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 3.79% | 0.39% | 3.40% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 3.60% | 0.39% | 3.21% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 3.37% | 0.36% | 3.01% |
| SCHWCharles Schwab Corp. | 2.70% | 0.23% | 2.47% |
| BLKBlackrock Inc. | 2.66% | 0.22% | 2.44% |
| SPGIS&p Global Inc | 1.94% | 0.19% | 1.75% |
86.7% of IYF is already inside VOO.
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, IYF or VOO?
IYF has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYF or VOO?
Over the past year IYF returned +8.56% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IYF annualized +11.46% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYF or VOO?
IYF has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IYF -42.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IYF and VOO?
IYF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 IYF and VOO?
86.7% of IYF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 9.1% of VOO's is in holdings IYF also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in IYF and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYF or VOO?
IYF yields 1.40% while VOO yields 1.04%, so IYF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IYF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IYF led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.