iShares Core S&P 500 ETF’s $733B AUM vs SPDR Portfolio’s $97B, 0.01% Fee Difference
IVV manages $733 billion with a 0.03% expense ratio versus the SPDR Portfolio ETF’s $97 billion AUM and 0.02% fee. Both funds delivered 16.8% returns over the past year, yield 1.13%, and mirror S&P 500 sector allocations, making expense and liquidity the primary differentiators.
1. IVV Fund Overview
The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is a flagship fund managed by BlackRock that seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P 500 Index by holding 503 large-cap U.S. equities. With over 25 years in operation, IVV offers investors broad, diversified exposure across all 11 GICS sectors, making it one of the most established and widely held index products on the market.
2. Cost Structure and Asset Base
IVV charges an annual expense ratio of 0.03%, translating to $3 in fees for every $10,000 invested—marginally higher than some competitors but still among the lowest for a large-cap index product. The fund’s assets under management exceed $730 billion, providing deep liquidity and narrow bid-ask spreads even during periods of heightened market volatility, which benefits both retail and institutional participants.
3. Performance Metrics and Portfolio Composition
Over the five years to January 2025, IVV delivered a total return of approximately 82.8%, closely mirroring the benchmark’s performance. Its maximum drawdown over this period was just over 24%, reflecting market corrections in 2020 and early 2022. Sector allocations are led by Technology (around 35% of AUM), followed by Financials (13%) and Communication Services (11%). The fund’s top three holdings—NVIDIA, Apple and Microsoft—together represent roughly 15% of the portfolio, underscoring the weight of mega-cap innovators in driving index returns.