IVV vs WDGF
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs WisdomTree Global Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, IVV or WDGF?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | WDGF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $896.5B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 0.05% |
| Holdings | 508 | 129 |
| YTD Return | +13.59%Best | -6.97% |
| 1Y Return | +17.54%Best | -8.07% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.46% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.28% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 21.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -19.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,900Best | $9,502 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Sep 12, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
IVV vs WDGF 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
IVV vs WDGF Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and WisdomTree Global Defense Fund ETF (WDGF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year IVV returned +17.54% while WDGF returned -8.07%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.59% versus a loss of 6.97% for WDGF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 12.7% 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 -8.9% for IVV and -19.9% for WDGF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while WDGF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $45 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 0.05% for WDGF.
Holdings Overlap
1.9% of IVV's money is in holdings WDGF also owns. 38.4% of WDGF's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 111 in WDGF, against full books of 508 and 129.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 43 positions for WDGF that do not appear in our book for IVV (17.6% of the fund), and 490 for IVV that do not appear in WDGF (97.6%).
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 WDGF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.66% | 6.92% | 6.26% |
| RTXRaytheon Co. | 0.38% | 5.56% | 5.18% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 0.13% | 5.19% | 5.06% |
| LMTLockheed Martin | 0.16% | 5.05% | 4.89% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 0.10% | 4.99% | 4.89% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 0.07% | 2.93% | 2.86% |
| BABoeing Co | 0.23% | 2.46% | 2.23% |
| TDGTransdigm Group Inc. | 0.09% | 2.30% | 2.21% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.04% | 2.30% | 2.26% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 0.02% | 0.73% | 0.71% |
38.4% of WDGF is already inside IVV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or WDGF?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WDGF charges 0.45%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or WDGF?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.54% vs -8.07% for WDGF, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +17.13% vs -4.54% for WDGF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or WDGF?
WDGF has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 12.7% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs WDGF -19.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and WDGF?
IVV and WDGF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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 WDGF?
38.4% of WDGF's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 38.4% of WDGF's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 111 in WDGF.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or WDGF?
IVV yields 1.10% while WDGF yields 0.05%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDGF better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.