AFOS vs VOO
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AFOS or VOO?
AFOS has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%.
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 | AFOS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $301M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.22% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 33 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +28.43%Best | +13.31% |
| 1Y Return | +50.17%Best | +17.07% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.19% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,577Best | $12,624 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.7% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 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: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.2 years).
AFOS 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.
AFOS vs VOO Performance
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS) is an ETF from ARS Investment and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFOS returned +50.17% while VOO returned +17.07%. Year to date, AFOS is up 28.43% versus a gain of 13.31% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFOS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 11.9% for VOO. 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 -11.8% for AFOS 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFOS charges 0.45% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $3 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFOS currently yields 0.22% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
76.5% of AFOS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 33.5% of VOO's money is in holdings AFOS also owns.
Most of AFOS is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
22 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 494 in VOO, against full books of 33 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 465 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for AFOS (65.7% of the fund), and 8 for AFOS that do not appear in VOO (21.1%).
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 AFOS | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.42% | 7.55% | 3.13% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.20% | 7.05% | 4.85% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.61% | 5.36% | 1.75% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.38% | 3.24% | 1.14% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 6.67% | 0.14% | 6.53% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.42% | 4.13% | 1.71% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.09% | 1.44% | 2.65% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 4.32% | 0.57% | 3.75% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 4.60% | 0.16% | 4.44% |
| FCXFreeport-mcmoran Copper & Gold Inc. | 4.18% | 0.14% | 4.04% |
76.5% of AFOS 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFOS or VOO?
AFOS has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFOS or VOO?
Over the past year AFOS returned +50.17% vs +17.07% for VOO, so AFOS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AFOS annualized +60.00% vs +21.43% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFOS or VOO?
AFOS has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 11.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: AFOS -11.8% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both AFOS and VOO?
AFOS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AFOS and VOO?
76.5% of AFOS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 33.5% of VOO's is in holdings AFOS also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFOS or VOO?
AFOS yields 0.22% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than AFOS?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.