ASG vs VOO
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Inc. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ASG or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ASG is less concentrated, with 21.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | ASG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.12% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $374M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.94% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 125 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.15% | +11.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.45% | +15.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.55% | +12.66%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.9% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,788 | $18,149Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.1%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Liberty All Star Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 14, 1986 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 15, 2026 (16 years).
ASG 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 16 years both funds cover.
ASG vs VOO Performance
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund Inc. (ASG) is an ETF from Liberty All Star Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ASG returned -3.45% while VOO returned +15.94%. Year to date, ASG is up 0.15% versus a gain of 11.48% for VOO.
Over three years, ASG compounded at +8.54% per year against +21.01% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -2.55% and +12.66% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.34% annualized vs +5.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 14.1% 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 -46.9% for ASG and -34.3% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASG charges 1.12% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $112 vs $3 annually, a gap of $109 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASG currently yields 7.94% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
42.3% of ASG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 44.1% of VOO's money is in holdings ASG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
47 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in ASG and 494 in VOO, against full books of 125 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 440 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ASG (55.0% of the fund), and 59 for ASG that do not appear in VOO (48.6%).
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 ASG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.82% | 7.55% | 3.73% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.46% | 7.05% | 5.59% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.71% | 3.24% | 0.47% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.18% | 5.36% | 4.18% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.44% | 4.13% | 3.69% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.09% | 2.86% | 1.77% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.28% | 1.90% | 0.62% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.19% | 1.41% | 0.22% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.68% | 1.44% | 0.76% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.54% | 1.21% | 0.67% |
44.1% of VOO is already inside ASG.
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, ASG or VOO?
ASG has an expense ratio of 1.12% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $109 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASG or VOO?
Over the past year ASG returned -3.45% vs +15.94% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ASG annualized +5.12% vs +13.34% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASG or VOO?
ASG has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ASG -46.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ASG and VOO?
ASG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 ASG and VOO?
44.1% of VOO's money is in holdings ASG also owns. 44.1% of VOO's is in holdings ASG also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in ASG and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASG or VOO?
ASG yields 7.94% while VOO yields 1.04%, so ASG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ASG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ASG is less concentrated, with 21.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.