FOF vs IVV
Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund Inc. vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FOF or IVV?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.7%.
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 | FOF | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $355M | $896.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.21% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 106 | 508 |
| YTD Return | -0.73% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.14% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.94% | +22.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.12% | +13.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,458 | $18,654Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.7% | 38.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 20, 2006 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2006 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.9 years).
FOF vs IVV 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 19.9 years both funds cover.
FOF vs IVV Performance
Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund Inc. (FOF) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year FOF returned +1.14% while IVV returned +17.54%. Year to date, FOF is down 0.73% versus a gain of 13.59% for IVV.
Over three years, FOF compounded at +15.94% per year against +22.46% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +6.12% and +13.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.37% annualized vs -0.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FOF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 15.4% for IVV. 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 -66.8% for FOF and -56.5% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FOF charges 0.95% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FOF currently yields 8.21% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of FOF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.4% of IVV's money is in holdings FOF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, FOF as of Jun 30, 2026 and IVV as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 113 positions we hold weights for in FOF and 506 in IVV, against full books of 106 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 498 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for FOF (99.0% of the fund), and 103 for FOF that do not appear in IVV (89.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FOF and IVV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FOF or IVV?
FOF has an expense ratio of 0.95% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FOF or IVV?
Over the past year FOF returned +1.14% vs +17.54% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), FOF annualized -0.03% vs +9.37% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FOF or IVV?
FOF has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 15.4% for IVV. Worst drawdown: FOF -66.8% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both FOF and IVV?
FOF and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FOF or IVV?
FOF yields 8.21% while IVV yields 1.10%, so FOF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than FOF?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.