Dividend comparison

IVV vs VUG: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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IVV vs VUG: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. Both charge about 0.03% a year, so cost is not what separates them.
  • Income. IVV pays more income, yielding 1.09% over the last twelve months versus 0.39% for VUG. That is about $70 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, IVV returned 80.1% versus 78.4% for VUG, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,014 in IVV and $17,845 in VUG.
  • Risk. VUG has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -35.6%, against -24.5% for IVV.
  • Diversification. IVV holds 504 positions and VUG holds 166. The ten largest positions make up 38.6% of IVV and 63.1% of VUG.
  • Overlap. At least 52% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 42 shared holdings.
  • Dividend growth. IVV grew its yearly payout 8.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.9% for VUG.
  • Size. IVV is the larger fund with $883.7 billion in assets, against $392.2 billion for VUG.

Bottom line: IVV has the edge on these figures, with more income today, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. VUG does not lead on any of the measures compared here.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricIVV
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
VUG
Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.09%0.39%
Dividend / share (TTM)$8.40$0.35
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$2.2026 on Sep 18, 2026$0.0910 on Sep 30, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)8.8% over 4 yrs6.9% over 4 yrs
Price$772.35$88.67
Dividend growth streak4 years3 years
Beta1.001.27
Max drawdown (5Y)-24.5%-35.6%
Market cap$880.18B$392.24B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
Assets under management$883.68B$392.20B
Number of holdings504166
Top 10 concentration38.6%63.1%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

IVV

$9.06/mo

$109 /yr at 1.09% yield

VUG

$3.25/mo

$39 /yr at 0.39% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. IVV pays quarterly; VUG pays quarterly.
YearIVVVUG
2025$8.0399$0.3351
2024$7.6453$0.3188
2023$6.8988$0.3003
2022$6.3933$0.2499
2021$5.7272$0.2567
Strategy: Broad index
Low-cost funds that hold an entire market or index at market-cap weights and make no attempt to select securities. Return is the index return less a small fee, and dividends are a by-product of what the underlying companies choose to pay rather than an objective of the strategy. Differences between funds tracking the same index usually come down to fee, wrapper structure, share price and trading liquidity, not to holdings.

Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.

What IVV vs VUG actually do

IVV
BlackRock's iShares S&P 500 fund, tracking the same index as its Vanguard and State Street rivals.

It holds the full index at market-cap weights and, like VOO, is structured as an open-end fund, so it can reinvest income internally and lend out securities. Differences against the other S&P 500 trackers come down to fee, share price, spread and where the fund trades commission-free, not to what is inside it. Tracking difference between the cheap S&P 500 funds is small enough that platform and tax considerations usually decide the choice.

Suits an investor who wants core S&P 500 exposure and already holds other iShares funds or trades on a platform where iShares is cheapest. There is no income case for it beyond the index's own dividends.

Core holding

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $18,014 in IVV and $17,845 in VUG.
PeriodIVVVUG
1 month0.97%0.01%
3 months3.43%4.01%
Year to date12.76%9.40%
1 year14.49%10.23%
3 years87.50%99.93%
5 years80.14%78.45%
  • IVV
  • VUG
61127193202120222023202420252026180178

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • IVV
  • VUG
0%15%30%45%60%Technology38.7%60.2%Information Technology38.3%Communication Services9.5%14.7%Consumer Cyclical9.3%9.8%Financial Services12.1%3.9%Healthcare9.3%4.2%Industrials8.0%4.4%Financials11.6%Communication9.8%Health Care9.6%Other28.9%3.6%
IVV vs VUG holdings overlap
At least 52% overlap by weight, with 42 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Largest shared holdingsIVV weightVUG weight
NVDANVIDIA7.91%13.48%
AAPLAPPLE7.54%12.50%
MSFTMICROSOFT5.97%9.74%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC3.88%4.26%
GOOGLALPHABET CLASS A3.04%5.16%
GOOGALPHABET CLASS C2.44%4.09%
AVGOBROADCOM INC2.40%4.34%
METAMETA PLATFORMS CLASS A2.34%4.23%
TSLATESLA INC1.56%2.65%
LLYELI LILLY1.49%2.60%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

IVV504 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA7.91%
AAPLAPPLE7.54%
MSFTMICROSOFT5.97%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC3.88%
GOOGLALPHABET CLASS A3.04%
GOOGALPHABET CLASS C2.44%
AVGOBROADCOM INC2.40%
METAMETA PLATFORMS CLASS A2.34%
TSLATESLA INC1.56%
MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY1.54%

VUG166 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA Corp13.48%
AAPLApple Inc12.50%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp9.74%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc5.16%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.34%
AMZNAmazon.com Inc4.26%
METAMeta Platforms Inc4.23%
GOOGAlphabet Inc4.09%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc2.66%
TSLATesla Inc2.65%

Quick verdict

IVV has the edge on these figures, with more income today, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. VUG does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is IVV or VUG better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. IVV currently yields 1.09% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VUG yields 0.39%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between IVV and VUG?
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF (VUG) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, IVV or VUG?
They cost about the same: IVV charges 0.03% a year and VUG charges 0.03%.
Which has performed better, IVV or VUG?
Over the last 5 years, IVV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: IVV returned 80.1% and VUG returned 78.4%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, IVV or VUG?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VUG has been riskier: IVV fell as much as 24.5% and VUG as much as 35.6%. Their betas are 1.00 and 1.27.
How much do IVV and VUG overlap?
At least 52% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 42 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AAPL, MSFT. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do IVV and VUG pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $2.2026 for IVV and $0.0910 for VUG.
How much income does $10,000 in IVV vs VUG generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in IVV would generate roughly $9.06 per month ($109 annually). The same amount in VUG would produce about $3.25 per month ($39 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both IVV and VUG?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare IVV vs VUG with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how IVV and VUG fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.