Dividend comparison

IVV vs VXUS: Which Is Better?

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

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IVV vs VXUS: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. IVV is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.05% for VXUS. On $10,000 that is $2 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VXUS pays more income, yielding 2.37% over the last twelve months versus 1.09% for IVV. That is about $128 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, IVV returned 80.1% versus 44.9% for VXUS, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,014 in IVV and $14,485 in VXUS.
  • Risk. VXUS has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -28.9%, against -24.5% for IVV.
  • Diversification. VXUS holds 8,602 positions and IVV holds 504. The ten largest positions make up 38.6% of IVV and 13.4% of VXUS.
  • Dividend growth. IVV grew its yearly payout 8.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.1% for VXUS.

Bottom line: IVV fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification.

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
VXUS
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.09%2.37%
Dividend / share (TTM)$8.40$1.98
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$2.2026 on Sep 18, 2026$0.1562 on Sep 22, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)8.8% over 4 yrs5.1% over 4 yrs
Price$772.35$83.74
Dividend growth streak4 years1 year
Beta1.000.92
Max drawdown (5Y)-24.5%-28.9%
Market cap$880.18B$667.22B
ExchangeAMEXNASDAQ
Expense ratio0.03%0.05%
Assets under management$883.68B$649.30B
Number of holdings5048602
Top 10 concentration38.6%13.4%
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

VXUS

$19.75/mo

$237 /yr at 2.37% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. IVV pays quarterly; VXUS pays quarterly.
YearIVVVXUS
2025$8.0399$2.3988
2024$7.6453$1.9842
2023$6.8988$1.8808
2022$6.3933$1.5990
2021$5.7272$1.9678
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 VXUS 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 $14,485 in VXUS.
PeriodIVVVXUS
1 month0.97%-2.49%
3 months3.43%0.44%
Year to date12.76%11.00%
1 year14.49%11.76%
3 years87.50%72.73%
5 years80.14%44.85%
  • IVV
  • VXUS
65127190202120222023202420252026180145

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
  • VXUS
0%10%19%29%39%Technology38.7%20.9%Information Technology38.3%Financial Services12.1%22.2%Industrials8.0%14.3%Consumer Cyclical9.3%7.1%Healthcare9.3%6.6%Communication Services9.5%3.9%Financials11.6%Communication9.8%Health Care9.6%Other28.9%25.0%
IVV vs VXUS holdings overlap
At least 0% overlap by weight, with 0 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
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%

VXUS8602 holdings total

NameWeight
2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd4.24%
005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd2.02%
000660.KSSK hynix Inc1.65%
ASML.ASASML Holding NV1.54%
0700.HKTencent Holdings Ltd0.76%
HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC0.76%
ROP.SWRoche Holding AG0.65%
SHEL.LShell PLC0.62%
RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada0.61%
NOVN.SWNovartis AG0.59%

Quick verdict

IVV fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is IVV or VXUS better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. IVV currently yields 1.09% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VXUS yields 2.37%. 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 VXUS?
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, IVV or VXUS?
IVV has the lower expense ratio. IVV charges 0.03% a year and VXUS charges 0.05%, a difference of $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, IVV or VXUS?
Over the last 5 years, IVV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: IVV returned 80.1% and VXUS returned 44.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, IVV or VXUS?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VXUS has been riskier: IVV fell as much as 24.5% and VXUS as much as 28.9%. Their betas are 1.00 and 0.92.
How often do IVV and VXUS pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $2.2026 for IVV and $0.1562 for VXUS.
How much income does $10,000 in IVV vs VXUS generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in IVV would generate roughly $9.06 per month ($109 annually). The same amount in VXUS would produce about $19.75 per month ($237 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both IVV and VXUS?
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 VXUS with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how IVV and VXUS 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.