What Is IVV? iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
IVV is the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, a fund that tracks the S&P 500 at a 0.03% expense ratio. It holds the largest US companies (MSFT, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN) weighted by market cap, so a single ticker captures the broad large-cap market. It is a textbook core holding, not a concentrated bet, and its exposure is effectively identical to VOO and SPY. Versus SPY, IVV charges far less (0.03% vs 0.0945%); versus VOO, the difference is mostly which provider's ecosystem you prefer.
IVV is issued by iShares (BlackRock) and tracks S&P 500. It charges a 0.03% expense ratio, holds approximately ~$600 billion in assets under management, yields about ~1.3%, and launched in May 2000.
What is IVV?
IVV is the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, a fund that tracks the S&P 500 at a 0.03% expense ratio. It holds the largest US companies (MSFT, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN) weighted by market cap, so a single ticker captures the broad large-cap market. It is a textbook core holding, not a concentrated bet, and its exposure is effectively identical to VOO and SPY. Versus SPY, IVV charges far less (0.03% vs 0.0945%); versus VOO, the difference is mostly which provider's ecosystem you prefer.
IVV is issued by iShares (BlackRock) and tracks S&P 500, so a single ticker gives you the whole basket of underlying holdings weighted by the index's methodology rather than by any active stock-picking.
IVV holdings: what's actually inside
IVV is weighted toward its largest constituents. As of early 2026, the top holdings are:
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of IVV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSFT | Microsoft | ~7.2% | |
| 2 | AAPL | Apple | ~6.5% | |
| 3 | NVDA | NVIDIA | ~6.3% | |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon | ~3.8% | |
| 5 | META | Meta Platforms | ~2.4% | |
| 6 | GOOGL | Alphabet Class A | ~2.0% | |
| 7 | GOOG | Alphabet Class C | ~1.7% | |
| 8 | AVGO | Broadcom | ~1.7% | |
| 9 | BRK.B | Berkshire Hathaway | ~1.6% | |
| 10 | TSLA | Tesla | ~1.4% |
The remaining holdings make up the balance of the fund, with weights tapering off below the top names. Because the index reconstitutes on a rolling basis, the roster stays current without active management. Each ticker above links to its individual stock guide in Walnut.
The bottom line on IVV
IVV is BlackRock's low-cost way to own the S&P 500, with the same large-cap exposure as VOO and SPY at a 0.03% fee that matches VOO and undercuts SPY. It works as a diversified core building block the rest of a portfolio gets built around, not as a sector or single-theme tilt.
More on IVV
Whether IVV is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is IVV a buy?
IVV yields ~1.3% as of early 2026, paid by passing through the dividends of its underlying holdings. For the payout schedule, history, and how the distributions are taxed, see IVV dividend: yield and schedule.
IVV and VOO track the same S&P 500 at the same 0.03% fee, so their exposure and returns are functionally identical. The choice is really iShares (BlackRock) versus Vanguard as an ecosystem rather than any performance edge. Read the full side-by-side in IVV vs VOO.
Build a portfolio around IVV with Walnut
Use IVV as your core holding, then let Walnut's AI propose thematic satellites: AI infrastructure, dividend growth, clean energy, whatever you believe in. Connect your broker, build the basket in conversation, track it as one unit.
FAQ
What is IVV?
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IVV is the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, issued by BlackRock. A single ticker gives you ownership of all of the companies in the S&P 500, weighted by market capitalization, so it tracks the broad large-cap US market. It is one of the three largest S&P 500 ETFs alongside VOO and SPY.
What is IVV's expense ratio?
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0.03% per year (3 basis points) as of early 2026. On a $10,000 investment, that is about $3 per year in fees. It matches VOO and is meaningfully cheaper than SPY's 0.0945%. Verify the current figure on the iShares site.
IVV vs VOO: what's the difference?
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Both track the S&P 500 at a 0.03% expense ratio, so returns are nearly identical before fees. IVV is issued by BlackRock (iShares) and VOO by Vanguard. The practical difference comes down to which provider's ecosystem you prefer rather than performance. Walnut is not an investment adviser, so this is not a recommendation.
IVV vs SPY: which costs less?
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IVV charges 0.03% versus SPY's 0.0945%, so IVV is cheaper to hold for the same S&P 500 exposure. SPY's edge is options liquidity and trading depth, which matter for active traders and hedgers more than for long-term holders.
Does IVV pay a dividend?
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Yes, quarterly. The trailing yield is approximately 1.3% as of early 2026, drawn from the dividends of the underlying S&P 500 constituents. Most brokers offer dividend reinvestment (DRIP) for IVV at no extra cost.
What companies are in IVV?
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All roughly 500 companies in the S&P 500, weighted by market capitalization. The top names include Microsoft, Apple, NVIDIA, Amazon, Meta, both share classes of Alphabet, Broadcom, Berkshire Hathaway, and Tesla. The top 10 account for roughly a third of the fund. Weights are approximate, verify on the issuer's site.
What is IVV's AUM?
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Approximately $600 billion as of early 2026, which makes it one of the largest ETFs in the world. The exact figure moves with markets and flows, so verify on the iShares site.
When was IVV created?
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May 2000. IVV is BlackRock's core S&P 500 ETF and has grown into one of the largest equity funds globally as passive flows have favored low-cost broad-market exposure.
How do I buy IVV?
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IVV trades like any stock during US market hours. Buy it through any broker: Robinhood, Fidelity, Schwab, Public, M1, Vanguard, or others. Fractional shares are supported at most modern brokers. Connect your broker to Walnut and the AI can help you build baskets around IVV as a core position.
Is IVV a good investment?
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IVV captures the S&P 500 at one of the lowest fees available. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your time horizon, what else you own, and how you plan to use it. Walnut is not an investment adviser, so this is not a recommendation.
How do I compare IVV to similar ETFs?
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Put a few fields side by side: the expense ratio (fees compound over decades), the index or strategy it tracks, the top holdings and how much they overlap with what you already own, the dividend yield, and the AUM, liquidity, and bid-ask spread that affect trading costs. For index funds, tracking error (how closely it follows its index) and tax efficiency matter too. IVV's figures are above; the full method is in Walnut's guide on how to compare ETFs.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Holdings weights and fund statistics on this page are approximations stamped to early 2026; verify current figures against iShares (BlackRock)'s fund page or your broker before investing.