CSTK vs VOO

CSTK vs VOO

Which is better, CSTK or VOO?

Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.

VOO has a lower expense ratio. CSTK led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. CSTK is less concentrated, with 30.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.

Lower Fees: VOOHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: CSTK

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

MetricCSTKVOO
Expense Ratio0.35%0.03%Best
AUM$180M$997.4B
Dividend Yield2.14%1.04%
Holdings55509
YTD Return+13.45%+14.14%Best
1Y Return+19.28%Best+17.31%
3Y Return (annualized)-+23.16%
5Y Return (annualized)-+13.85%
Volatility (annualized)10.7%Best11.8%
Max Drawdown-9.3%-8.9%Best
$10,000 over 1.4 years$13,499$14,111Best
Top 10 Weight30.5%Best37.6%
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap ValueLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 7, 2025Sep 7, 2010

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.4 years).

CSTK 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 1.4 years both funds cover.

CSTK vs VOO Performance

Invesco Comstock Contrarian Equity ETF (CSTK) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CSTK returned +19.28% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, CSTK is up 13.45% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% compared with 10.7% for CSTK. 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 -9.3% for CSTK and -8.9% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CSTK charges 0.35% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSTK currently yields 2.14% against 1.04% for VOO.

Holdings Overlap

CSTK already in VOO94.8%
VOO already in CSTK23.6%

94.8% of CSTK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 23.6% of VOO's money is in holdings CSTK also owns.

Most of CSTK is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

54 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in CSTK and 494 in VOO, against full books of 55 and 509.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 433 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for CSTK (75.5% of the fund), and 2 for CSTK that do not appear in VOO (4.0%).

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

StockWeight in CSTKWeight in VOODifference
MSFTMicrosoft Corp3.30%5.36%2.06%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A3.81%3.24%0.57%
CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares3.36%0.71%2.65%
BACBank of America Corp.: Financials3.12%0.63%2.49%
MRKMerck & Company Inc3.03%0.50%2.53%
WFCWells Fargo & Co.3.02%0.41%2.61%
CVXChevron Corp2.83%0.57%2.26%
METAMeta Platforms Inc1.50%1.90%0.40%
PMPhilip Morris International Inc.2.62%0.46%2.16%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.1.55%1.44%0.11%

94.8% of CSTK 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.

CSTKVOO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CSTK or VOO?

CSTK has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, CSTK or VOO?

Over the past year CSTK returned +19.28% vs +17.31% for VOO, so CSTK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CSTK annualized +23.90% vs +27.89% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, CSTK or VOO?

VOO has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 10.7% for CSTK. Worst drawdown: CSTK -9.3% vs VOO -8.9%.

Should I hold both CSTK and VOO?

CSTK and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 CSTK and VOO?

94.8% of CSTK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 23.6% of VOO's is in holdings CSTK also owns. They hold 54 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in CSTK and 494 in VOO.

Which pays a higher dividend, CSTK or VOO?

CSTK yields 2.14% while VOO yields 1.04%, so CSTK currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VOO better than CSTK?

VOO has a lower expense ratio. CSTK led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. CSTK is less concentrated, with 30.5% 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.