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VFFVX vs. IVV
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VFFVX vs. IVV

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

VFFVX (Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund) and IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) are both funds - VFFVX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by Vanguard, while IVV is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, VFFVX returned 11.49%/yr vs 15.32%/yr for IVV. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VFFVX charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for IVV.

Performance

VFFVX vs. IVV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund (VFFVX) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VFFVX having a 8.56% return and IVV slightly higher at 8.72%. Over the past 10 years, VFFVX has underperformed IVV with an annualized return of 11.49%, while IVV has yielded a comparatively higher 15.32% annualized return.

VFFVX

1D
-2.80%
1M
-0.83%
YTD
8.56%
6M
9.42%
1Y
23.27%
3Y*
18.33%
5Y*
9.49%
10Y*
11.49%

IVV

1D
0.24%
1M
0.23%
YTD
8.72%
6M
8.76%
1Y
24.89%
3Y*
21.44%
5Y*
13.50%
10Y*
15.32%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VFFVX vs. IVV - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VFFVX
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund		8.56%21.44%14.50%20.39%-17.48%16.44%16.33%24.98%-7.88%21.39%
IVV
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF		8.72%17.85%24.93%26.31%-18.16%28.76%18.40%31.07%-4.49%21.75%

Correlation

The correlation between VFFVX and IVV is 0.95 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.95

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.94

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.95

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.95

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 19, 2010

0.96

The correlation between VFFVX and IVV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.

VFFVX vs. IVV - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VFFVX
IVV

Technology

27.3%
35.6%

Financial Services

16.1%
11.8%

Industrials

12.4%
8.3%

Consumer Cyclical

9.4%
10.1%

Healthcare

8.3%
8.5%

Communication Services

8.0%
11.2%

Consumer Defensive

4.8%
4.9%

Energy

4.3%
3.5%

Basic Materials

4.3%
1.8%

Utilities

2.7%
2.4%

Real Estate

2.5%
1.9%

Technology

VFFVX
27.3%
IVV
35.6%

Financial Services

VFFVX
16.1%
IVV
11.8%

Industrials

VFFVX
12.4%
IVV
8.3%

Consumer Cyclical

VFFVX
9.4%
IVV
10.1%

Healthcare

VFFVX
8.3%
IVV
8.5%

Communication Services

VFFVX
8.0%
IVV
11.2%

Consumer Defensive

VFFVX
4.8%
IVV
4.9%

Energy

VFFVX
4.3%
IVV
3.5%

Basic Materials

VFFVX
4.3%
IVV
1.8%

Utilities

VFFVX
2.7%
IVV
2.4%

Real Estate

VFFVX
2.5%
IVV
1.9%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

Often compared with VFFVX:
VFFVX vs. VOOVFFVX vs. FXAIXVFFVX vs. FDEWXVFFVX vs. SPYVFFVX vs. FDEEXVFFVX vs. VTIVFFVX vs. SWYJX
Often compared with IVV:
IVV vs. VOOIVV vs. SPYIVV vs. FXAIXIVV vs. QQQIVV vs. VTIIVV vs. IOOIVV vs. CSPX.L

Return for Risk

VFFVX vs. IVV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VFFVX
VFFVX Risk / Return Rank: 5353
Overall Rank
VFFVX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5252
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VFFVX Sortino Ratio Rank: 4747
Sortino Ratio Rank
VFFVX Omega Ratio Rank: 5151
Omega Ratio Rank
VFFVX Calmar Ratio Rank: 5454
Calmar Ratio Rank
VFFVX Martin Ratio Rank: 6363
Martin Ratio Rank
IVV
IVV Risk / Return Rank: 6969
Overall Rank
IVV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7171
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IVV Sortino Ratio Rank: 6868
Sortino Ratio Rank
IVV Omega Ratio Rank: 7070
Omega Ratio Rank
IVV Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
IVV Martin Ratio Rank: 7575
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VFFVX vs. IVV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund (VFFVX) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

VFFVXIVVDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.05
2.07

-0.02

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.80
2.79

+0.01

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.38

1.38

0.00

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.71

2.81

-0.11

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

11.96

12.97

-1.01

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VFFVX vs. IVV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFFVX Sharpe Ratio is 2.05, which is comparable to the IVV Sharpe Ratio of 2.07. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFFVX and IVV, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VFFVXIVVDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.05

2.07

-0.02

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.67

0.80

-0.13

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.76

0.85

-0.09

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.75

0.45

+0.30

Drawdowns

VFFVX vs. IVV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFFVX drawdown since its inception was -31.40%, smaller than the maximum IVV drawdown of -55.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFFVX and IVV.

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Drawdown Indicators

VFFVXIVVDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-31.40%

-55.25%

+23.85%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.93%

-8.89%

-0.04%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.52%

-18.75%

+4.23%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.39%

-24.53%

-0.86%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-31.40%

-33.90%

+2.50%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.22%

-2.67%

-0.55%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.14%

-10.77%

+6.63%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.02%

1.92%

+0.10%

Volatility

VFFVX vs. IVV - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund (VFFVX) has a higher volatility of 4.17% compared to iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) at 3.77%. This indicates that VFFVX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IVV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VFFVXIVVDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.17%

3.77%

+0.40%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.56%

9.31%

+0.25%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

11.80%

12.08%

-0.28%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

14.23%

16.92%

-2.69%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

15.12%

18.07%

-2.95%

VFFVX vs. IVV - Expense Ratio Comparison

VFFVX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than IVV's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VFFVX vs. IVV - Dividend Comparison

VFFVX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.92%, more than IVV's 1.09% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
IVV
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF		1.09%1.17%1.30%1.44%1.66%1.20%1.57%1.85%2.21%1.75%2.01%2.27%
VFFVX
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund		1.92%2.08%2.31%2.18%2.19%10.03%1.82%2.15%2.35%1.83%1.99%1.98%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.95, VFFVX and IVV move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

VFFVX has higher volatility (4.17%) compared to IVV (3.77%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFFVX dropped -31.40% vs IVV's -55.25%.

IVV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.07 vs 2.05), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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