DV
Dividend Vision

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 August 19, 2026

Best for

  • ITOTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • IVVInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

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 21.31% total return against 20.98%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.29% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.76%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ITOT13.66%21.31%21.90%12.48%14.76%10.76%15.4%1.001.44-19.4%
IVV13.22%20.98%22.17%13.44%15.29%10.87%15.0%1.041.50-18.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricITOTIVV
Full nameiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETFiShares Core S&P 500 ETF
IssueriSharesiShares
Last Close$168.33 as of August 19, 2026$770.98 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield1.00%1.04%
Distribution Safety Score™ 98100
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$98.4B$906B
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
Beta1.031.0
Last dividend$0.4190$1.9956
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/15/2026

Bottom lineChoose ITOT if you want broad equity exposure. Choose IVV if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Model this comparison:
Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs473
Total AUM$4710B

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.

See all iShares ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

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 1.04% vs 1.00% 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 ($906B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $8.33/month, while IVV would produce $8.67/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.00%
IVV yield1.04%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.33

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. Beta is 1.03 for ITOT and 1.0 for IVV — effectively similar market sensitivity.

ITOT beta1.03
IVV beta1.0

Fund details

ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $98.4B in assets. IVV is managed by iShares (launched 05/15/2000) with $906B in assets.

ITOT AUM$98.4B
IVV AUM$906B
Ready to act?
Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for ITOT and IVV?

ITOT currently distributes 1.00% and IVV 1.04%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

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. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both ITOT and IVV?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is ITOT or IVV safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: IVV scores 100, ITOT scores 98. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

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 $8.33 per month ($100.00 annually). The same in IVV would produce about $8.67 per month ($104.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or IVV?

ITOT has outpaced IVV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.31% total return against 20.98%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.29% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.76%. 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 August 15, 2026.

Overview

ITOT and IVV are both ultra-low-cost iShares equity ETFs designed to track broad U.S. stock indexes, but they differ in their breadth of holdings. ITOT targets the entire U.S. stock market via the S&P Total Market Index, capturing everything from mega-cap stocks down to micro-caps. IVV focuses exclusively on large-cap companies through the S&P 500 Index, the 500 largest U.S. firms. The choice between them hinges on whether you want maximum market coverage or concentrated exposure to the blue-chip slice of the market.

How they differ

The single biggest difference: ITOT includes thousands of small- and mid-cap stocks that IVV excludes entirely. The S&P 500 is a subset of the total market, so ITOT holds a materially broader universe of companies. Both charge the same rock-bottom 0.03% expense ratio and pay quarterly distributions, but IVV yields slightly higher at 1.02% versus ITOT's 0.98%, a reflection of the composition gap. IVV is vastly larger, with $901B in AUM versus ITOT's $97.6B, meaning IVV trades tighter spreads and attracts more institutional flow. ITOT carries a beta of 1.03 versus IVV's 1.0, indicating marginally higher sensitivity to market swings due to its smaller-company exposure.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors seeking maximum diversification across the entire U.S. equity market, including exposure to growth and value names outside the S&P 500's top 500. Designed for those who want a single-fund total-market holding.

IVV: Fits investors comfortable with large-cap concentration and preferring the simplicity and liquidity of America's 500 most established companies. Aligns with allocations centered on mega-cap stability.

Key risks to know

  • Market-cap bias. ITOT's inclusion of small- and micro-caps exposes it to higher volatility and lower liquidity than IVV when those segments underperform; conversely, small-cap outperformance amplifies ITOT's gains relative to IVV.
  • Small-cap liquidity drag. During market stress, the thousands of thinly traded holdings in ITOT's tail may widen the fund's bid-ask spread and tracking error, whereas IVV's massive $901B AUM and 500-stock focus minimize this friction.
  • Index overlap and sector concentration. Both funds are heavily weighted toward mega-cap tech and financials; holdings overlap substantially, meaning they don't provide independent diversification if held together.
  • Tracking error from cash drag. Both funds hold cash for reinvested dividends and inflows; in a rising market, this cash drag can suppress returns relative to their indexes, though both have historically kept tracking error minimal.

Bottom line

If you want the broadest possible U.S. stock exposure with one holding, ITOT's total-market approach stands out; if you prefer the liquidity and simplicity of the S&P 500's largest names, IVV's size and institutional following deliver tighter trading costs. Both are suitable core holdings given their negligible fees, but they're best verified for overlap if you own both. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

What the distribution rate really tells you Why a high yield isn't high income How to read a fund's stats

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener