IVV vs SMCF
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Themes US Small Cap Cash Flow Champions ETF
Which is better, IVV or SMCF?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, SMCF over 1Y. SMCF is less concentrated, with 35.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.9%.
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 | IVV | SMCF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $896.5B | $3M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 3.23% |
| Holdings | 508 | 76 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 17.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -28.0% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $17,164Best | $15,929 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.9% | 35.7%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Themes ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Dec 13, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 23 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IVV has data through Oct 14, 2026 and SMCF through Sep 21, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2023 to Sep 21, 2026 (2.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMCF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 11.8% 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 -18.8% for IVV and -28.0% for SMCF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while SMCF charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $29 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 3.23% for SMCF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 506 holdings in IVV and 75 in SMCF, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 75 in SMCF, against full books of 508 and 76.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 67 positions for SMCF that do not appear in our book for IVV (92.8% of the fund), and 500 for IVV that do not appear in SMCF (99.4%).
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 IVV and SMCF 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, IVV or SMCF?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SMCF charges 0.29%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, IVV or SMCF?
SMCF has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 11.8% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -18.8% vs SMCF -28.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and SMCF?
IVV and SMCF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, IVV or SMCF?
IVV yields 1.10% while SMCF yields 3.23%, so SMCF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMCF better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over the full window, SMCF over 1Y. SMCF is less concentrated, with 35.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.