DEM vs VOO
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DEM or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 22.1% 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 | DEM | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 518 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +22.99%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +29.77%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.19% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.45% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,437 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.1%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
DEM 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 years both funds cover.
DEM vs VOO Performance
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (DEM) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DEM returned +29.77% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, DEM is up 22.99% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, DEM compounded at +18.19% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.45% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +2.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 14.1% 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 -57.0% for DEM 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEM charges 0.63% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $3 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEM currently yields 4.19% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 501 holdings in DEM and 505 in VOO, totalling 97.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, DEM as of Mar 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in DEM and 505 in VOO, against full books of 518 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for DEM (99.5% of the fund), and 10 for DEM that do not appear in VOO (1.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DEM 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, DEM or VOO?
DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEM or VOO?
Over the past year DEM returned +29.77% vs +20.08% for VOO, so DEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), DEM annualized +2.29% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEM or VOO?
DEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: DEM -57.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both DEM and VOO?
DEM and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, DEM or VOO?
DEM yields 4.19% while VOO yields 1.08%, so DEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than DEM?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 22.1% 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.