AAUS vs VOO
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AAUS or VOO?
Nearly the same fund. VOO costs less.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AAUS led over the full window, VOO over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | AAUS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $500M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 354 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.42% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.14% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 12.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.1% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,314Best | $12,275 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).
AAUS vs VOO 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
AAUS vs VOO Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AAUS returned +15.14% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, AAUS is up 11.42% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.4% compared with 12.2% for AAUS. 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 -9.1% for AAUS and -8.9% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUS charges 0.09% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUS currently yields 0.33% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
98.8% of AAUS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 90.8% of VOO's money is in holdings AAUS also owns.
Most of AAUS is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
287 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 494 in VOO, against full books of 354 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 200 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for AAUS (8.4% of the fund), and 6 for AAUS that do not appear in VOO (1.1%).
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 AAUS | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.21% | 7.55% | 0.66% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.96% | 7.05% | 0.09% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.67% | 5.36% | 0.31% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.78% | 4.13% | 0.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.07% | 3.24% | 0.17% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.81% | 2.86% | 0.05% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.46% | 2.62% | 0.16% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.90% | 1.90% | 0.00% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.65% | 1.44% | 0.21% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.50% | 1.46% | 0.04% |
98.8% of AAUS is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAUS or VOO?
AAUS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAUS or VOO?
Over the past year AAUS returned +15.14% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AAUS annualized +18.94% vs +18.63% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAUS or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.4% annualized versus 12.2% for AAUS. Worst drawdown: AAUS -9.1% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both AAUS and VOO?
AAUS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUS and VOO?
98.8% of AAUS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 90.8% of VOO's is in holdings AAUS also owns. They hold 287 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUS or VOO?
AAUS yields 0.33% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than AAUS?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AAUS led over the full window, VOO over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.