BUI vs VOO
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BUI or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.6%.
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 | BUI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $711M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.21% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 52 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +3.63% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.23% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.29% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.01% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,032 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.6% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2011 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.8 years).
BUI 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 14.8 years both funds cover.
BUI vs VOO Performance
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUI returned +10.23% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, BUI is up 3.63% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, BUI compounded at +16.29% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.01% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.16% annualized vs +4.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.0% 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 -48.3% for BUI 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUI charges 1.07% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $3 annually, a gap of $104 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUI currently yields 10.21% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
55.6% of BUI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.4% of VOO's money is in holdings BUI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
21 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 494 in VOO, against full books of 52 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 466 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for BUI (96.8% of the fund), and 11 for BUI that do not appear in VOO (13.7%).
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 BUI | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 6.17% | 0.28% | 5.89% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 4.11% | 0.27% | 3.84% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 4.17% | 0.14% | 4.03% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 3.96% | 0.15% | 3.81% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 3.94% | 0.17% | 3.77% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 3.46% | 0.11% | 3.35% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 3.25% | 0.09% | 3.16% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 2.85% | 0.09% | 2.76% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 2.81% | 0.09% | 2.72% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.55% | 0.08% | 2.47% |
55.6% of BUI 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, BUI or VOO?
BUI has an expense ratio of 1.07% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $104 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUI or VOO?
Over the past year BUI returned +10.23% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BUI annualized +4.46% vs +14.16% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUI or VOO?
BUI has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: BUI -48.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both BUI and VOO?
BUI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 BUI and VOO?
55.6% of BUI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.4% of VOO's is in holdings BUI also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUI or VOO?
BUI yields 10.21% while VOO yields 1.04%, so BUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than BUI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.