CTIF vs VOO

CTIF vs VOO

Which is better, CTIF or VOO?

VOO has been ahead.

VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.7%.

Lower Fees: VOOHigher Returns: VOOLess Concentrated: VOO

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

MetricCTIFVOO
Expense Ratio0.45%0.03%Best
AUM$196M$997.4B
Dividend Yield4.76%1.08%
Holdings45509
YTD Return+5.80%+13.37%Best
1Y Return+5.91%+20.08%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.29%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.89%
Volatility (annualized)10.9%Best11.9%
Max Drawdown-10.6%-8.9%Best
$10,000 over 1.2 years$10,992$12,855Best
Top 10 Weight50.7%36.4%Best
Fund FamilyCastellan ETFsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJun 24, 2025Sep 7, 2010

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).

CTIF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.

CTIF vs VOO Performance

Castellan Targeted Income ETF (CTIF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CTIF returned +5.91% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, CTIF is up 5.80% versus a gain of 13.37% 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 11.9% compared with 10.9% for CTIF. 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 -10.6% for CTIF 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CTIF charges 0.45% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $3 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CTIF currently yields 4.76% against 1.08% for VOO.

Holdings Overlap

CTIF already in VOO94.4%
VOO already in CTIF9.7%

94.4% of CTIF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 9.7% of VOO's money is in holdings CTIF also owns.

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

20 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTIF and 505 in VOO, against full books of 45 and 509.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 478 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for CTIF (89.9% of the fund), and 3 for CTIF that do not appear in VOO (5.9%).

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 CTIFWeight in VOODifference
MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 374.99%4.30%0.69%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.85%2.77%2.08%
PHParker-Hannifin Corp.6.21%0.19%6.02%
GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The4.93%0.44%4.49%
GWWWw Grainger Inc.5.09%0.09%5.00%
AMPAmeriprise Financial Inc5.10%0.06%5.04%
ETNEaton Corp Plc4.87%0.26%4.61%
GDGeneral Dynamics Corp.4.90%0.14%4.76%
ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc.4.87%0.11%4.76%
ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc.4.82%0.14%4.68%

94.4% of CTIF 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.

CTIFVOO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CTIF or VOO?

CTIF has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, CTIF or VOO?

Over the past year CTIF returned +5.91% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTIF annualized +8.20% vs +23.28% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, CTIF or VOO?

VOO has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 10.9% for CTIF. Worst drawdown: CTIF -10.6% vs VOO -8.9%.

Should I hold both CTIF and VOO?

CTIF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 CTIF and VOO?

94.4% of CTIF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 9.7% of VOO's is in holdings CTIF also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTIF and 505 in VOO.

Which pays a higher dividend, CTIF or VOO?

CTIF yields 4.76% while VOO yields 1.08%, so CTIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VOO better than CTIF?

VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.