EMLP vs VOO
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EMLP or VOO?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EMLP led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over 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 | EMLP | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.76% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 116 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +17.78%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +22.64%Best | +19.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.66%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.24%Best | +12.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,222Best | $18,230 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 20, 2012 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 21, 2012 to Sep 8, 2026 (14.2 years).
EMLP 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
EMLP vs VOO Performance
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund (EMLP) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMLP returned +22.64% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, EMLP is up 17.78% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, EMLP compounded at +21.66% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +16.24% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.75% annualized vs +7.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMLP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 14.0% 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 -48.0% for EMLP 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
EMLP charges 0.95% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMLP currently yields 2.76% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.4% of VOO's money is in holdings EMLP also owns.
Stated as a floor: for EMLP, our book for it covers 90.4% 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 EMLP share little of their money.
30 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in EMLP and 504 in VOO, against full books of 116 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMLP | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 3.60% | 0.10% | 3.50% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.65% | 0.17% | 2.48% |
| PPLPpl Corp. | 2.62% | 0.04% | 2.58% |
| OKEOneok, Inc. | 2.19% | 0.08% | 2.11% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.14% | 0.08% | 2.06% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 2.05% | 0.15% | 1.90% |
| SRESempra | 1.80% | 0.09% | 1.71% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 1.65% | 0.12% | 1.53% |
| PEGPublic Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 1.55% | 0.06% | 1.49% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 1.57% | 0.03% | 1.54% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMLP 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, EMLP or VOO?
EMLP has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMLP or VOO?
Over the past year EMLP returned +22.64% vs +19.43% for VOO, so EMLP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), EMLP annualized +7.25% vs +13.75% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMLP or VOO?
EMLP has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 14.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: EMLP -48.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both EMLP and VOO?
EMLP 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.
What is the holdings overlap between EMLP and VOO?
At least 2.4% of VOO's money is in holdings EMLP also owns. Our book for EMLP is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in EMLP and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMLP or VOO?
EMLP yields 2.76% while VOO yields 1.08%, so EMLP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than EMLP?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EMLP led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.