ECF vs VOO
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ECF 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 | ECF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.16% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $220M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 99 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +4.13% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.36% | +17.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.04% | +21.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.37% | +13.08%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,802 | $18,490Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 30, 1986 | 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 17, 2026 (16 years).
ECF 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.
ECF vs VOO Performance
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, ECF is up 4.13% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Over three years, ECF compounded at +19.04% per year against +21.25% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +3.37% and +13.08% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.38% annualized vs +9.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% 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 -47.3% for ECF 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECF charges 1.16% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $116 vs $3 annually, a gap of $113 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECF currently yields 3.82% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 11.4% of VOO's money is in holdings ECF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ECF, our book for it covers 63.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VOO and ECF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, ECF as of Mar 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
15 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 494 in VOO, against full books of 99 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECF | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.52% | 5.36% | 3.84% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.09% | 2.86% | 0.23% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 2.30% | 0.16% | 2.14% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.19% | 1.21% | 0.02% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 2.15% | 0.10% | 2.05% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.05% | 0.06% | 1.99% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 1.80% | 0.12% | 1.68% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.47% | 0.30% | 1.17% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.23% | 0.28% | 0.95% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.02% | 0.25% | 0.77% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECF 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, ECF or VOO?
ECF has an expense ratio of 1.16% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $113 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECF or VOO?
Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% vs +17.03% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ECF annualized +9.65% vs +13.38% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECF or VOO?
ECF has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ECF -47.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ECF and VOO?
ECF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 ECF and VOO?
At least 11.4% of VOO's money is in holdings ECF also owns. Our book for ECF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ECF or VOO?
ECF yields 3.82% while VOO yields 1.04%, so ECF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ECF?
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.