IVV vs VAMO
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Cambria Value and Momentum Hedged Equity ETF
Which is better, IVV or VAMO?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VAMO is less concentrated, with 13.1% 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 | VAMO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.65% |
| AUM | $896.5B | $86M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 0.68% |
| Holdings | 508 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +13.59%Best | +3.07% |
| 1Y Return | +17.54%Best | +5.56% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.46%Best | +11.96% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.28%Best | +8.43% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -41.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,654Best | $14,988 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.9% | 13.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Cambria Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Sep 8, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.1 years).
IVV vs VAMO 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 11.1 years both funds cover.
IVV vs VAMO Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Cambria Value and Momentum Hedged Equity ETF (VAMO) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management. Over the past year IVV returned +17.54% while VAMO returned +5.56%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.59% versus a gain of 3.07% for VAMO.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +22.46% per year against +11.96% for VAMO; over five years the annualized figures are +13.28% and +8.43% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.98% annualized vs +4.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.0% for VAMO. 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 -33.9% for IVV and -41.8% for VAMO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while VAMO charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $65 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 0.68% for VAMO.
Holdings Overlap
2.0% of IVV's money is in holdings VAMO also owns. 19.4% of VAMO's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
VAMO and IVV share little of their money.
21 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 102 in VAMO, against full books of 508 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for VAMO that do not appear in our book for IVV (76.0% of the fund), and 479 for IVV that do not appear in VAMO (97.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in VAMO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.32% | 0.91% | 0.59% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 0.18% | 0.99% | 0.81% |
| VLOValero Energy | 0.18% | 0.97% | 0.79% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 0.18% | 0.93% | 0.75% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.16% | 0.94% | 0.78% |
| MCKMckesson Corp. | 0.16% | 0.92% | 0.76% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 0.18% | 0.89% | 0.71% |
| GMGeneral Motors Co | 0.11% | 0.94% | 0.83% |
| CAHCardinal Health Inc. | 0.08% | 0.92% | 0.84% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 0.08% | 0.92% | 0.84% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and VAMO 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 VAMO?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VAMO charges 0.65%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or VAMO?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.54% vs +5.56% for VAMO, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IVV annualized +13.98% vs +4.22% for VAMO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or VAMO?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.0% for VAMO. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs VAMO -41.8%.
Should I hold both IVV and VAMO?
IVV and VAMO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IVV and VAMO?
19.4% of VAMO's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 19.4% of VAMO's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 102 in VAMO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or VAMO?
IVV yields 1.10% while VAMO yields 0.68%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VAMO better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VAMO is less concentrated, with 13.1% 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.