IVE vs QDF: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, QDF yields more: 1.53% (dividend yield) against 1.51% for IVE. IVE is cheaper to own at 0.18% a year vs 0.39%. Over the same 13 years (Dec 2012 to Oct 2026), QDF returned 12.6% a year with distributions reinvested, and IVE 12.1%.
| Compared | IVE | QDF |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 1.51% | 1.53% |
| Expense ratio | 0.18% | 0.39% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +16.6% | +14.5% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +18.7% | +20.7% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +11.6% | +11.4% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +12.2% | +12.1% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2012 | -25.3% | -25.2% |
| Share price since Dec 2012 | +261% | +262% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | iShares | Northern Trust |
| Assets | $50.7B | $2.2B |
| Started | 2000 | 2012 |
| Type | Large Value | Large Value |
Higher yield
QDF
1.53%
Lower cost
IVE
0.18%
Better total return
QDF
12.6%/yr
Smaller worst drop
QDF
-25.2%
Key facts: IVE vs QDF
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, IVE yields 1.51% (dividend yield) and QDF yields 1.53% (dividend yield).
- IVE's expense ratio is 0.18% and QDF's is 0.39%: $18 vs $39 a year on $10,000.
- From Dec 2012 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in IVE grew to $48,626 (12.1% a year) and $10,000 in QDF to $51,697 (12.6% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -25.3% for IVE and -25.2% for QDF.
- 1 of IVE's top ten holdings are also in QDF's top ten, an overlap of at least 8% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "IVE vs QDF: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/ive-vs-qdf
$10,000 in each, Dec 2012 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
IVE became
$48,626
12.1% a year
QDF became
$51,697
12.6% a year
Year by year
| Year | IVE | QDF |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +13.0% | +16.6% |
| 2024 | +12.0% | +16.9% |
| 2023 | +22.1% | +19.7% |
| 2022 | −5.4% | −12.1% |
| 2021 | +24.7% | +26.7% |
| 2020 | +1.2% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | +31.6% | +25.7% |
| 2018 | −9.2% | −8.0% |
| 2017 | +15.2% | +17.4% |
| 2016 | +17.3% | +17.0% |
| 2015 | −3.3% | −0.9% |
| 2014 | +12.2% | +11.8% |
| 2013 | +31.6% | +36.3% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
1 of the top ten overlap, at least 8% of each fund.
IVE
- AAPL Apple Inc8.2%
- AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.6%
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.5%
- WMT Walmart Inc1.8%
- CVX Chevron Corp1.5%
- COST Costco Wholesale Corp1.5%
- TSLA Tesla Inc1.4%
- PG Procter & Gamble Co1.2%
- MRK Merck & Co Inc1.2%
- UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc1.2%
QDF
- AAPL Apple Inc9.8%
- NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.1%
- MSFT Microsoft Corp4.6%
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson3.0%
- JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co2.5%
- AVGO Broadcom Inc2.5%
- GE GE Aerospace2.2%
- LRCX Lam Research Corp2.1%
- PM Philip Morris International Inc2.1%
- GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A1.9%
IVE vs QDF: questions
Is IVE or QDF better?
It depends on the job. QDF pays more today (1.53% vs 1.51%), IVE costs less, and QDF has the better total return over Dec 2012 to Oct 2026, with QDF holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVE or QDF?
QDF, at 1.53% against 1.51% for IVE as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $153 vs $151 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
QDF. From Dec 2012 to Oct 2026, it returned 12.6% a year with distributions reinvested, against 12.1% for IVE. $10,000 became $51,697 vs $48,626.
Which is cheaper, IVE or QDF?
IVE, with a 0.18% expense ratio against 0.39%.
Do IVE and QDF hold the same things?
Partly. 1 of their top ten holdings match (AAPL), at least 8% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.
