DSU vs VOO
Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DSU or VOO?
Bank Loan 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 | DSU | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.72% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $619M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.39% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 1,281 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -0.33% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.02% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.45% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.18% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.4%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,496 | $18,335Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 27, 1998 | 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 Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
DSU 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
DSU vs VOO Performance
Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc. (DSU) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DSU returned +0.02% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, DSU is down 0.33% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, DSU compounded at +8.45% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +6.18% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +1.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 11.4% for DSU. 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 -55.6% for DSU 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DSU charges 1.72% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $172 vs $3 annually, a gap of $169 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DSU currently yields 12.39% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VOO's money is in holdings DSU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DSU, our book for it covers 76.8% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, DSU as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 898 positions we hold weights for in DSU and 505 in VOO, against full books of 1,281 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DSU | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.01% | 0.36% | 0.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DSU 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, DSU or VOO?
DSU has an expense ratio of 1.72% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $169 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DSU or VOO?
Over the past year DSU returned +0.02% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), DSU annualized +1.87% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DSU or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 11.4% for DSU. Worst drawdown: DSU -55.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both DSU and VOO?
DSU and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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, DSU or VOO?
DSU yields 12.39% while VOO yields 1.08%, so DSU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than DSU?
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.