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Higher Returns with Lower Risk: The SectorSurfer Advantage

IGV iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF

Category: Technology Equities

Inception: 2001-07-10 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$9.9B
Expense Ratio
0.41 %
# of Holdings
117
Average Daily Volume
6.58M

Fund Overview

The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. companies in the software industry. This ETF provides exposure to a broad range of software companies, including those involved in application software, systems software, and cloud computing solutions. IGV is designed for investors looking to gain targeted access to the dynamic and rapidly evolving software sector, which is a key driver of innovation across multiple industries. The fund includes both established leaders and emerging players in the software space, offering a diversified approach to this high-growth segment of the technology market.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
Software
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 0.00 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
21 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the IGV ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides targeted exposure to the high-growth software sector, which includes cloud computing, enterprise software, and cybersecurity.
  • Diversified holdings across a range of software companies, reducing single-stock risk.
  • Liquidity is strong, with tight bid-ask spreads, making it easy to trade.
  • Lower expense ratio compared to many actively managed software-focused funds.
  • Includes both large-cap leaders and innovative mid-cap companies in the software industry.

Potential Risks

  • Concentration risk in the technology sector, which can be volatile and sensitive to macroeconomic factors.
  • Valuation risk, as many software companies trade at high multiples relative to earnings.
  • Regulatory risks, particularly around data privacy and antitrust concerns in the tech sector.
  • Competitive pressures and rapid technological changes could impact the performance of underlying holdings.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
+5.65% +8.28% -3.84% +59.42% +38.30% +8.34% +5.79% +26.94% +999.72%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 -14.6% -9.7% -1.9% +4.8% +21.2% -10.9% +4.4% +16.3% -3.2% +4.4% - -
2025 +2.8% -5.3% -8.7% +8.0% +7.9% +5.6% +2.0% -3.2% +6.4% +0.4% -9.9% +1.5%
2024 +3.6% +2.4% -0.9% -7.4% -1.1% +11.3% -2.6% +2.6% +3.0% +2.1% +14.8% -4.4%
2023 +10.2% -1.1% +9.2% -2.7% +10.6% +5.5% +5.3% -1.2% -5.2% -1.1% +16.2% +3.5%
2022 -10.7% -3.7% +0.9% -13.0% -4.7% -5.7% +9.5% -4.8% -11.1% +7.0% +1.6% -5.9%
2021 -1.5% +1.6% -3.7% +5.9% -0.7% +8.7% +3.4% +5.0% -5.7% +10.0% -5.5% -4.2%
2020 +6.7% -5.7% -9.8% +14.5% +11.0% +6.4% +3.9% +9.8% -4.0% -2.1% +10.9% +4.9%
2019 +10.8% +7.8% +1.8% +5.2% -7.0% +5.9% +1.6% -2.8% -1.8% +1.4% +7.9% +0.4%
2018 +10.1% +0.8% -1.1% +2.4% +5.3% -0.1% +1.6% +8.3% +2.1% -10.6% +1.3% -6.4%
2017 +7.6% +4.8% +3.0% +3.3% +6.0% -1.2% +3.9% +3.6% -0.7% +7.0% -0.4% -0.8%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
MSFT MICROSOFT CORP 8.8 %
CRM SALESFORCE INC 8.4 %
ORCL ORACLE CORP 7.9 %
PLTR n/a 6.5 %
NOW SERVICENOW INC 6.1 %
ADBE ADOBE INC 6.1 %
INTU INTUIT INC 4.6 %
PANW PALO ALTO NETWORKS INC 4.3 %
CRWD CROWDSTRIKE HOLDINGS INC CLASS A 3.4 %
CDNS CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS INC 2.7 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 117 total holdings.

Related ETFs: IGV vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
ARKW ARK Next Generation Internet ETF 0.82 % $1.5B 40 Equity
FDN First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund 0.51 % $6.3B 42 Equity
IGM iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF 0.41 % $5.2B 285 Equity
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF 0.39 % $17.5B 142 Equity
SKYY First Trust Cloud Computing ETF 0.60 % $3.1B 62 Equity
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF 0.35 % $10.8B 31 Equity
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF 0.09 % $88.2B 315 Equity
WCLD WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund 0.45 % $395.3M 69 Equity
XLK Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund 0.08 % $64.2B 71 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

IGV tracks the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software Index, which includes U.S. and Canadian companies classified within the software industry. The index is market-cap weighted, meaning larger companies like Microsoft and Adobe have greater influence on performance. The fund primarily holds common stocks of software companies, with a focus on firms engaged in application software, systems software, and cloud services. IGV is passively managed and rebalances quarterly to align with index changes, ensuring consistent exposure to the software sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of software companies does IGV invest in?

IGV invests across various software sub-sectors including enterprise software, consumer applications, cloud computing platforms, and systems software providers.

How does IGV differ from broader technology ETFs?

Unlike broad tech ETFs that include hardware and semiconductor stocks, IGV focuses exclusively on software companies, providing more targeted exposure to this specific segment.

What percentage of IGV is invested in large-cap software companies?

As of the latest holdings, approximately 70% of IGV's portfolio is invested in large-cap software companies, with the remainder in mid-cap firms.

Does IGV pay dividends?

Yes, IGV pays quarterly dividends, though yields are typically modest as software companies often reinvest profits into growth rather than dividend payments.

Industry Overview

The software industry is a critical component of the broader technology sector, driving innovation across cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and enterprise solutions. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) offers investors exposure to this high-growth segment, which benefits from increasing digital transformation trends across industries. Software companies often exhibit strong recurring revenue models, high margins, and scalability, making them attractive long-term investments. However, the sector is also highly competitive, with rapid technological changes and regulatory scrutiny posing potential challenges.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to broader tech ETFs like XLK or VGT, IGV provides more concentrated exposure specifically to software companies, avoiding hardware and semiconductor stocks. Among software-focused peers, IGV stands out for its pure-play approach and lower expense ratio than some actively managed alternatives. Unlike thematic cloud ETFs such as WCLD or SKYY, IGV includes a wider range of software companies beyond just cloud services, offering more diversified exposure to the sector.

Issuer Overview

iShares by BlackRock is one of the largest and most reputable ETF providers globally, known for its broad range of index-tracking funds. The firm emphasizes transparency, liquidity, and cost efficiency in its ETF offerings. iShares' technology sector ETFs, including IGV, are widely used by both institutional and retail investors for targeted exposure to specific tech sub-sectors.

Conclusion

The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) is a compelling option for investors seeking targeted exposure to the software industry. With its diversified holdings across application, system, and cloud software companies, IGV captures growth opportunities in this dynamic sector while mitigating single-stock risk. While the fund carries typical technology sector risks, its focus on software—a segment with strong recurring revenue potential—makes it a strategic long-term holding for tech-focused portfolios.

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