IVV vs RCTR
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF
Which is better, IVV or RCTR?
IVV has been ahead.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%.
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 | RCTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.70% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $30M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.62% |
| Holdings | 508 | 100 |
| YTD Return | +12.51%Best | +0.87% |
| 1Y Return | +17.57%Best | +8.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.27% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 24.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -19.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,208Best | $11,184 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9%Best | 46.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jul 30, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
IVV vs RCTR 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 RCTR Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF (RCTR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% while RCTR returned +8.33%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.51% versus a gain of 0.87% for RCTR.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RCTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 12.4% 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 -19.0% for RCTR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RCTR charges 0.70%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $70 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.62% for RCTR.
Holdings Overlap
1.0% of IVV's money is in holdings RCTR also owns. 27.1% of RCTR's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
RCTR and IVV share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 45 in RCTR, against full books of 508 and 100.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for RCTR that do not appear in our book for IVV (14.9% of the fund), and 488 for IVV that do not appear in RCTR (98.3%).
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 RCTR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 0.13% | 5.16% | 5.03% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 0.14% | 4.16% | 4.02% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.07% | 4.15% | 4.08% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 0.16% | 4.04% | 3.88% |
| VSTVistra Energy Corp. | 0.07% | 4.09% | 4.02% |
| GEVGE Vernova, LLC | 0.41% | 3.63% | 3.22% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 0.02% | 1.91% | 1.89% |
27.1% of RCTR 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 RCTR?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RCTR charges 0.70%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RCTR?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.57% vs +8.33% for RCTR, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IVV annualized +19.89% vs +10.71% for RCTR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RCTR?
RCTR has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 12.4% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -8.9% vs RCTR -19.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and RCTR?
IVV and RCTR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 RCTR?
27.1% of RCTR's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 27.1% of RCTR's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 45 in RCTR.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or RCTR?
IVV yields 1.06% while RCTR yields 0.62%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RCTR better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.