BFOR vs VOO
Barron'S 400 ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BFOR or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BFOR is less concentrated, with 5.1% 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 | BFOR | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $237M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 396 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +16.18%Best | +13.81% |
| 1Y Return | +20.88% | +21.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.12% | +21.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.58% | +12.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,534 | $18,319Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.1%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | ALPS ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 3, 2013 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 4, 2013 to Sep 3, 2026 (13.2 years).
BFOR 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 13.2 years both funds cover.
BFOR vs VOO Performance
Barron'S 400 ETF (BFOR) is an ETF from ALPS ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BFOR returned +20.88% while VOO returned +21.53%. Year to date, BFOR is up 16.18% versus a gain of 13.81% for VOO.
Over three years, BFOR compounded at +19.12% per year against +21.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.58% and +12.87% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.12% annualized vs +11.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BFOR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 14.4% 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 -42.2% for BFOR 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BFOR charges 0.65% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BFOR currently yields 0.52% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
33.0% of BFOR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 47.1% of VOO's money is in holdings BFOR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
132 positions in common, counted across the 378 positions we hold weights for in BFOR and 505 in VOO, against full books of 396 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 365 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for BFOR (52.3% of the fund), and 233 for BFOR that do not appear in VOO (59.0%).
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 BFOR | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 0.27% | 7.51% | 7.24% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.26% | 6.59% | 6.33% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 0.27% | 4.30% | 4.03% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 0.24% | 3.25% | 3.01% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.26% | 2.77% | 2.51% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.48% | 2.02% | 1.54% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.25% | 1.47% | 1.22% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 0.32% | 0.89% | 0.57% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.23% | 0.95% | 0.72% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 0.33% | 0.84% | 0.51% |
47.1% of VOO is already inside BFOR.
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, BFOR or VOO?
BFOR has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BFOR or VOO?
Over the past year BFOR returned +20.88% vs +21.53% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), BFOR annualized +11.18% vs +13.12% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BFOR or VOO?
BFOR has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 14.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: BFOR -42.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both BFOR and VOO?
BFOR and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 BFOR and VOO?
47.1% of VOO's money is in holdings BFOR also owns. 47.1% of VOO's is in holdings BFOR also owns. They hold 132 positions in common, counted across the 378 positions we hold weights for in BFOR and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, BFOR or VOO?
BFOR yields 0.52% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than BFOR?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BFOR is less concentrated, with 5.1% 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.