IVV vs VGS: which ETF is better?
iShares S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) compared on fees, holdings overlap, dividend yield, returns and risk, using the latest data.
- IVV and VGS have very high overlap: 71% of each fund by weight sits in the same holdings.
- IVV is cheaper at 0.04% a year against 0.18% for VGS, about A$14 less in fees per A$10,000 invested each year.
- Over the last 10 years, IVV returned an average of 16.1% a year against 14.2% for VGS, with dividends reinvested.
- VGS is more diversified, with 1,201 holdings against 503 in IVV.
- Overlap by weight
- 70.8%
- Shared holdings
- 440
| IVV | VGS | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | iShares S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF |
| Issuer | IShares | Vanguard |
| Listed on | ASX · AUD | ASX · AUD |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.18% |
| Assets (AUM) | A$14.5B | A$18.5B |
| Launched | May 15, 2000 | Nov 20, 2014 |
| Holdings | 503 | 1,201 |
| Dividend yield (12m) | 1.05% · quarterly | 1.23% · quarterly |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Annualised return | IVV | VGS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +2.9% | +3.8% |
| 3 years | +17.9% | +17.4% |
| 5 years | +12.5% | +11.2% |
| 10 years | +16.1% | +14.2% |
| Volatility | 12.8% | 11.3% |
| Max drawdown | -23.9% | -23.4% |
Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of daily returns over 3 years. Max drawdown is the largest fall from a peak over the last 10 years, or since launch.
| Holding | IVV | VGS |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA | 6.92% | 5.90% |
| AAPLAPPLE | 7.91% | 5.50% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT | 6.27% | 4.07% |
| AMZNAMAZON.COM INC | 4.02% | 2.71% |
| GOOGLALPHABET CLASS A | 2.61% | 2.28% |
| METAMETA PLATFORMS CLASS A | 2.10% | 1.79% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 2.18% | 1.78% |
| GOOGALPHABET CLASS C | 2.11% | 1.78% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY | 1.17% | 1.35% |
| TSLATESLA INC | 1.52% | 1.14% |
Pull each fund's details, full price history and holdings into Google Sheets or Excel, so your comparison updates itself.
=SF("IVV.AX","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("IVV.AX","2016-10-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")=SF("VGS.AX","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("VGS.AX","2016-10-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")Prices to Nov 6, 2026; holdings last checked Nov 6, 2026. Returns are in each fund's trading currency (AUD). Past performance doesn't predict future returns. For information only, not investment advice.
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IVV vs VGS: frequently asked questions
How much do IVV and VGS overlap?
70.8% by weight. They share 440 holdings, and that share of each fund is invested in exactly the same positions. That's very high, so holding both adds little diversification.
Is IVV or VGS cheaper?
IVV is cheaper. IVV's expense ratio is 0.04% a year and VGS's is 0.18%, so on A$10,000 you'd pay about A$4 and A$18 a year.
Which has performed better, IVV or VGS?
Over the last 10 years, IVV has. IVV returned 16.1% and VGS 14.2% a year on average, including reinvested dividends, as of Nov 6, 2026. Past returns don't predict future ones.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or VGS?
VGS does. Over the last 12 months IVV yielded 1.05%, paid quarterly, and VGS 1.23%, paid quarterly.
Should I hold both IVV and VGS?
Holding both mostly doubles up on the same stocks, since 71% of each fund is in the same positions. Most investors pick one, often the cheaper one. This is general information, not advice.
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