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ETF Comparison

ITOT vs IVV: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 4, 2026

ETFs481
Total AUM$4451B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ITOT and IVV.

Side-by-side snapshot

ITOTIVV
Full nameiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETFiShares Core S&P 500 ETF
IssueriSharesiShares
Last Close$163.76 as of July 4, 2026$748.43 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield1.02%1.07%
Distribution Safety Score37100
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$91.4B$833B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P Total Market IndexS&P 500 Index
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities, measuring the performance of the large-cap sector of the U.S. equity market as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/20/200405/15/2000
Beta1.041.0
Last dividend$0.4190$1.9956
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/15/2026

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Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

ITOT has outpaced IVV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.64% total return against 22.03%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.40% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.93%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ITOT10.32%22.64%20.21%12.03%14.93%10.68%15.3%0.911.31-19.4%
IVV9.65%22.03%20.42%13.18%15.40%10.78%14.9%0.951.36-18.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 23, 2004 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) and IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IVV offers the higher yield at 1.07% vs 1.02% for ITOT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They track different benchmarks: ITOT is linked to S&P Total Market Index while IVV tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IVV is the larger fund by assets ($833B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $8.50/month, while IVV would produce $8.92/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.02%
IVV yield1.07%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ITOT would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $30 for IVV (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

ITOT ER0.03%
IVV ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

ITOT tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while IVV tracks S&P 500 Index with a basket approach. Beta is 1.04 for ITOT and 1.0 for IVV, indicating IVV is less volatile relative to the market.

ITOT beta1.04
IVV beta1.0

Fund details

ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $91.4B in assets. IVV is managed by iShares (launched 05/15/2000) with $833B in assets.

ITOT AUM$91.4B
IVV AUM$833B

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Frequently asked questions

Is ITOT or IVV better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IVV currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between ITOT and IVV?

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a basket approach. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both ITOT and IVV?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, ITOT or IVV?

ITOT and IVV both charge the same expense ratio of 0.03%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

How much income does $10,000 in ITOT vs IVV generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in ITOT would generate roughly $8.50 per month ($102.00 annually). The same in IVV would produce about $8.92 per month ($107.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or IVV?

ITOT has outpaced IVV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.64% total return against 22.03%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.40% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.93%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

ITOT vs IVV — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

ITOT and IVV are both iShares U.S. equity ETFs with identical 0.03% expense ratios, but they track different benchmarks. ITOT follows the S&P Total Market Index, capturing roughly 3,500 stocks across large, mid, and small-cap companies. IVV tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving you the 500 largest U.S. companies—a significant concentration difference. The choice between them hinges on market-cap breadth: total market exposure versus large-cap only.

How they differ

The core distinction is breadth. ITOT's underlying includes mid- and small-cap stocks that IVV excludes entirely; in practice, ITOT's portfolio is heavily weighted to large caps too, but the tail of smaller companies provides genuine diversification beyond the Fortune 500. IVV has vastly larger assets under management ($833B versus $91.4B), which translates to tighter bid-ask spreads and better liquidity for large trades. Both yield around 1% and charge the same 0.03% expense ratio, so fees and income are essentially identical. The structural difference surfaces in beta: ITOT's 1.04 reflects its leverage to mid- and small-cap volatility, while IVV's 1.0 baseline reflects pure large-cap market movement.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors seeking single-fund total market exposure without needing to pair a large-cap fund with mid- or small-cap holdings, especially those who want the simplicity of one ticket capturing the entire U.S. stock market.

IVV: Designed for investors comfortable with large-cap-only exposure, or those building a portfolio where mid- and small-cap allocation comes from a separate fund; also appealing to traders prioritizing liquidity and minimal execution costs on very large position sizes.

Key risks to know

  • Small-cap drag: ITOT's exposure to mid and small-cap equities introduces volatility and valuation risk absent in IVV; this beta-1.04 premium to the market can amplify drawdowns during flights to quality that favor mega-cap names.
  • Concentration by stealth: Despite ITOT's broader index, large-cap stocks still dominate its portfolio weight, limiting the practical benefit of the smaller names; the illusion of diversification may not materially reduce single-sector or mega-cap concentration risk versus IVV.
  • Liquidity skew: IVV's $833B in AUM dwarfs ITOT's $91.4B, meaning trades in IVV will execute with tighter spreads; ITOT still has good liquidity for retail investors, but large institutional block trades may face wider costs.
  • Sector cyclicality: IVV's strict S&P 500 membership means it rebalances differently than ITOT when companies move between market-cap tiers; this timing mismatch is subtle but can create tax and tracking differences in volatile markets.

Bottom line

IVV dominates if you want the deepest liquidity and accept large-cap-only exposure; ITOT appeals if you value true total market breadth in a single fund, though the practical diversification gain is modest. Both charge the same fee and yield near 1%, so the decision rests on portfolio construction philosophy and position size rather than cost.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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