EFAV vs VOO
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EFAV or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EFAV is less concentrated, with 14.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | EFAV | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.5B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.03% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 277 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +7.80% | +14.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.83% | +17.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.04% | +23.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.32% | +13.85%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.1%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,585 | $19,128Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.3%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2011 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 21, 2026 (14.9 years).
EFAV 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
EFAV vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EFAV returned +11.83% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, EFAV is up 7.80% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, EFAV compounded at +15.04% per year against +23.16% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +6.32% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.85% annualized vs +7.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 11.1% for EFAV. 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 -38.3% for EFAV 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFAV charges 0.20% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFAV currently yields 3.03% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of EFAV's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.6% of VOO's money is in holdings EFAV also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 259 positions we hold weights for in EFAV and 494 in VOO, against full books of 277 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 485 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for EFAV (98.6% of the fund), and 9 for EFAV that do not appear in VOO (4.3%).
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 EFAV 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, EFAV or VOO?
EFAV has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFAV or VOO?
Over the past year EFAV returned +11.83% vs +17.31% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), EFAV annualized +7.05% vs +13.85% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFAV or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 11.1% for EFAV. Worst drawdown: EFAV -38.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both EFAV and VOO?
EFAV and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, EFAV or VOO?
EFAV yields 3.03% while VOO yields 1.04%, so EFAV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than EFAV?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EFAV is less concentrated, with 14.3% 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.