EMGF vs VOO
iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EMGF or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EMGF led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. EMGF is less concentrated, with 30.8% 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 | EMGF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.26% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.14% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 702 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +24.27%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +37.36%Best | +19.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.09%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.36% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,370 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.8%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 8, 2015 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 10, 2015 to Sep 8, 2026 (10.7 years).
EMGF 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
EMGF vs VOO Performance
iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF (EMGF) 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 EMGF returned +37.36% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, EMGF is up 24.27% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, EMGF compounded at +25.09% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.36% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.85% annualized vs +10.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.1% 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 -40.2% for EMGF 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMGF charges 0.26% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $26 vs $3 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMGF currently yields 2.14% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of EMGF's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 670 positions we hold weights for in EMGF and 504 in VOO, against full books of 702 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for EMGF (99.3% of the fund), and 11 for EMGF that do not appear in VOO (1.4%).
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
| Stock | Weight in EMGF | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALHalliburton | 0.22% | 0.04% | 0.18% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMGF 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, EMGF or VOO?
EMGF has an expense ratio of 0.26% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMGF or VOO?
Over the past year EMGF returned +37.36% vs +19.43% for VOO, so EMGF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), EMGF annualized +10.66% vs +13.85% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMGF or VOO?
EMGF has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: EMGF -40.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both EMGF and VOO?
EMGF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, EMGF or VOO?
EMGF yields 2.14% while VOO yields 1.08%, so EMGF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than EMGF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EMGF led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. EMGF is less concentrated, with 30.8% 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.