AQLT vs VOO
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AQLT or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. AQLT is less concentrated, with 35.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | AQLT | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $329M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 521 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.66%Best | +17.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 12.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,624 | $12,731Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.9%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.7 years).
AQLT 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
AQLT vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, AQLT is up 10.62% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 12.8% 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 -16.8% for AQLT and -18.7% 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT charges 0.20% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
66.1% of AQLT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 50.4% of VOO's money is in holdings AQLT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
124 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 505 in VOO, against full books of 521 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 375 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for AQLT (49.1% of the fund), and 18 for AQLT that do not appear in VOO (1.5%).
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 AQLT | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.26% | 7.51% | 3.25% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.02% | 6.59% | 1.57% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.45% | 4.30% | 0.15% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.37% | 2.77% | 1.60% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.54% | 3.25% | 0.71% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.01% | 2.59% | 0.58% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.00% | 1.47% | 1.53% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.61% | 1.92% | 0.31% |
| VVisa Inc | 2.17% | 0.87% | 1.30% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.82% | 0.95% | 0.87% |
66.1% of AQLT 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, AQLT or VOO?
AQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQLT or VOO?
Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% vs +17.54% for VOO, so AQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +14.69% vs +15.26% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or VOO?
AQLT has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 12.8% for VOO. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both AQLT and VOO?
AQLT and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 AQLT and VOO?
66.1% of AQLT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 50.4% of VOO's is in holdings AQLT also owns. They hold 124 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or VOO?
AQLT yields 0.98% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than AQLT?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. AQLT is less concentrated, with 35.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.