ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated May 20, 2026

BlackRock

ETFs44

Total AUM$3107.6B

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

BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset managers and a major provider of ETFs across multiple investment strategies. The company's dividend-focused lineup emphasizes income-generating investments, with funds designed to deliver regular distributions to investors seeking yield. Their portfolio includes eight notable ETFs such as BALI (emerging markets income), DIVB (dividend equity), and DGRO (dividend growth), alongside complementary funds that span income, growth, and fixed-income strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IVV.

See all BlackRock ETFs

State Street

ETFs42

Total AUM$1750.5B

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

State Street is one of the largest ETF providers globally and is known for its SPDR family of funds, which pioneered the modern ETF industry. The company's 17-fund lineup spans multiple strategies including broad market exposure (SPLG), dividend-focused income products (SPYD, SPYM), sector-specific funds (the Select Sector SPDR series), and specialized strategies like covered call income (Premium Income series) and portfolio construction tools (SPDR Portfolio). Notable for its extensive Select Sector SPDR offerings that track individual S&P 500 sectors and its focus on both traditional index investing and income-generating strategies, State Street serves investors across a wide range of investment objectives from core holdings to tactical income plays.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPLG.

See all State Street ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	IVV	SPLG
Full name	iShares Core S&P 500 ETF	SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF
Issuer	BlackRock	State Street
Last Close	$741.91 as of May 20, 2026	$80.86 as of May 20, 2026
Distribution yield	1.04%	1.12%
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.02%
AUM	$797.5B	$97.3B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	S&P 500 Index	S&P 500 Index
Objective	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.	Track the S&P 500 Index at a low expense ratio for core U.S. equity exposure.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	05/15/2000	11/08/2005
Beta	1.0	1.0
Last dividend	$1.78	$0.19
Ex-dividend date	03/17/2026	03/13/2026

Income calculator

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

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — no signup required.

Build a sample portfolio Forecast income

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Quick verdict

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) and SPLG (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SPLG offers the higher yield at 1.12% vs 1.04% for IVV. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SPLG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.02% compared to 0.03%.

IVV is the larger fund by assets ($797.5B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IVV would generate roughly $8.67/month, while SPLG would produce $9.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IVV yield1.04%

SPLG yield1.12%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IVV would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $20 for SPLG (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IVV ER0.03%

SPLG ER0.02%

Strategy & risk

IVV tracks S&P 500 Index with a basket approach, while SPLG tracks S&P 500 Index using a large cap strategy.

IVV beta1.0

SPLG beta1.0

Fund details

IVV is managed by BlackRock (launched 05/15/2000) with $797.5B in assets. SPLG is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $97.3B in assets.

IVV AUM$797.5B

SPLG AUM$97.3B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

Is IVV or SPLG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SPLG 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 IVV and SPLG?

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a basket strategy, while SPLG (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by BlackRock and State Street respectively.

Can I hold both IVV and SPLG?

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, IVV or SPLG?

IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPLG charges 0.02%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in IVV would generate roughly $8.67 per month ($104.00 annually). The same in SPLG would produce about $9.33 per month ($112.00 annually).

More comparisons to explore

People also compare IVV with

People also compare SPLG with

Popular comparisons

IVV vs SPLG — at a glance

Generated April 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

IVV and SPLG are both passively managed ETFs tracking the S&P 500 Index, delivering exposure to 500 large-cap U.S. equities. The key distinction is scale and cost: IVV is BlackRock's flagship large-cap core holding with $720 billion in assets, while SPLG is State Street's leaner alternative with $97 billion. Both charge minimal fees, but SPLG edges out IVV on expense ratio by a single basis point.

How they differ

The biggest difference is asset scale. IVV's $720 billion AUM dwarfs SPLG's $97 billion, which typically means tighter bid-ask spreads and lower trading friction for IVV—a meaningful advantage for large institutional trades. Second, expense ratios separate them by just 1 basis point: SPLG costs 0.02% versus IVV's 0.03%, favoring SPLG by roughly $10 annually per $100,000 invested. Third, distribution yields are nearly identical (IVV 1.10%, SPLG 1.12%), both reflecting their S&P 500 holdings and quarterly payout schedules. Both track the same index and carry a beta of 1.0.

Who each is best for

IVV: Core portfolio builders seeking maximum liquidity and tightest trading costs; best suited for investors making frequent rebalances or trading large positions where AUM scale matters most.

SPLG: Cost-conscious buy-and-hold investors comfortable with slightly lower trading volume in exchange for the lowest expense ratio; ideal for long-term retirement accounts where trading friction is minimal.

Key risks to know

Index tracking risk. Both funds carry tiny but non-zero tracking error relative to the S&P 500 due to cash drag and expense ratios; this effect is negligible for either but measurable over decades.

Concentration in mega-cap tech. The S&P 500 itself is increasingly concentrated in a handful of large technology and communications stocks (roughly 30% of the index). Both funds inherit this risk equally.

Liquidity divergence in stressed markets. While IVV's larger AUM typically means better execution, both remain highly liquid; in extreme dislocations, IVV's size could offer a marginal advantage.

Dividend timing and tax drag. Quarterly distributions can trigger short-term capital gains if held outside tax-deferred accounts; neither fund has an advantage here.

Bottom line

If you prioritize execution quality and the tightest trading spreads—especially for large positions—IVV's scale and institutional adoption make it the practical choice. If you're building a buy-and-hold core position and value the lowest possible annual cost, SPLG's 1-basis-point fee advantage compounds meaningfully over 20+ years. Both deliver identical market exposure; the choice hinges on your trading frequency and portfolio size, not investment philosophy. Past performance of either fund doesn't predict future S&P 500 returns.

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