IYW vs VGT
iShares US Technology ETF vs Vanguard Information Technology ETF
Which is better, IYW or VGT?
Nearly the same fund. VGT costs less.
VGT has a lower expense ratio. IYW led over 3Y and 5Y, VGT over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. VGT is less concentrated, with 59.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.7%.
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 | IYW | VGT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $24.7B | $160.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 0.36% |
| Holdings | 153 | 324 |
| YTD Return | +26.78% | +28.41%Best |
| 1Y Return | +34.94% | +35.35%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.83%Best | +31.79% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.26%Best | +18.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 19.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.1% | -54.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,125Best | $23,813 |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.7% | 59.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jan 26, 2004 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2004 to Sep 11, 2026 (22.6 years).
IYW vs VGT 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 22.6 years both funds cover.
IYW vs VGT Performance
iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IYW returned +34.94% while VGT returned +35.35%. Year to date, IYW is up 26.78% versus a gain of 28.41% for VGT.
Over three years, IYW compounded at +32.83% per year against +31.79% for VGT; over five years the annualized figures are +19.26% and +18.95% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VGT has the edge at +14.28% annualized vs +14.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 19.5% for VGT. 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 -55.1% for IYW and -54.8% for VGT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYW charges 0.38% per year while VGT charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYW currently yields 0.10% against 0.36% for VGT.
Holdings Overlap
83.6% of IYW's money is in holdings VGT also owns. 87.0% of VGT's money is in holdings IYW also owns.
Most of VGT is already inside IYW. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
122 positions in common, counted across the 150 positions we hold weights for in IYW and 322 in VGT, against full books of 153 and 324.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 140 positions for VGT that do not appear in our book for IYW (12.4% of the fund), and 27 for IYW that do not appear in VGT (16.4%).
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 IYW | Weight in VGT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 14.12% | 16.09% | 1.97% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 12.54% | 14.32% | 1.78% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 10.61% | 8.28% | 2.33% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.71% | 3.84% | 0.87% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.05% | 5.04% | 1.99% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 2.93% | 3.64% | 0.71% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 2.19% | 2.41% | 0.22% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.09% | 2.26% | 0.17% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.90% | 2.14% | 0.24% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 1.25% | 1.59% | 0.34% |
87.0% of VGT is already inside IYW.
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, IYW or VGT?
IYW has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VGT charges 0.09%. VGT is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYW or VGT?
Over the past year IYW returned +34.94% vs +35.35% for VGT, so VGT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), IYW annualized +14.27% vs +14.28% for VGT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYW or VGT?
IYW has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 19.5% for VGT. Worst drawdown: IYW -55.1% vs VGT -54.8%.
Should I hold both IYW and VGT?
IYW and VGT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IYW and VGT?
87.0% of VGT's money is in holdings IYW also owns. 87.0% of VGT's is in holdings IYW also owns. They hold 122 positions in common, counted across the 150 positions we hold weights for in IYW and 322 in VGT.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYW or VGT?
IYW yields 0.10% while VGT yields 0.36%, so VGT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGT better than IYW?
VGT has a lower expense ratio. IYW led over 3Y and 5Y, VGT over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. VGT is less concentrated, with 59.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.