EPEM vs VOO
Harbor Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EPEM or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EPEM led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | EPEM | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.85% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 44 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +25.73%Best | +12.37% |
| 1Y Return | +35.75%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.3% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $15,638Best | $13,103 |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.3% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 4, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
EPEM 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
EPEM vs VOO Performance
Harbor Emerging Markets Equity ETF (EPEM) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EPEM returned +35.75% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, EPEM is up 25.73% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 12.0% 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 -13.3% for EPEM and -8.9% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPEM charges 0.84% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $3 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPEM currently yields 2.85% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 42 holdings in EPEM and 494 in VOO, totalling 96.2% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in EPEM and 494 in VOO, against full books of 44 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for EPEM (99.2% of the fund), and 3 for EPEM that do not appear in VOO (4.5%).
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 EPEM 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, EPEM or VOO?
EPEM has an expense ratio of 0.84% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPEM or VOO?
Over the past year EPEM returned +35.75% vs +16.61% for VOO, so EPEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EPEM annualized +41.05% vs +23.11% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPEM or VOO?
EPEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 12.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: EPEM -13.3% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both EPEM and VOO?
EPEM and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, EPEM or VOO?
EPEM yields 2.85% while VOO yields 1.04%, so EPEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than EPEM?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EPEM led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.