CHI vs VOO
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, CHI or VOO?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | CHI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 2.69% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 597 | 519 |
| YTD Return | +8.59% | +11.74%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.81% | +12.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.74% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.72% | +11.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,890 | $17,381Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2002 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Nov 12, 2026 (16.2 years).
CHI 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 16.2 years both funds cover.
CHI vs VOO Performance
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (CHI) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHI returned +5.81% while VOO returned +12.07%. Year to date, CHI is up 8.59% versus a gain of 11.74% for VOO.
Over three years, CHI compounded at +12.74% per year against +21.38% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +1.72% and +11.69% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.21% annualized vs +2.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% 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 -59.5% for CHI 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHI charges 1.83% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $183 vs $3 annually, a gap of $180 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHI currently yields 2.69% against 1.05% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of VOO's money is in holdings CHI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CHI, our book for it covers 42.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 342 positions we hold weights for in CHI and 506 in VOO, against full books of 597 and 519.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHI and VOO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CHI or VOO?
CHI has an expense ratio of 1.83% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $180 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHI or VOO?
Over the past year CHI returned +5.81% vs +12.07% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CHI annualized +2.52% vs +13.21% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHI or VOO?
CHI has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 14.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: CHI -59.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both CHI and VOO?
CHI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, CHI or VOO?
CHI yields 2.69% while VOO yields 1.05%, so CHI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than CHI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.