ESGU vs VOO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ESGU or VOO?
Nearly the same fund. VOO costs less.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ESGU led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. ESGU is less concentrated, with 36.4% 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 | ESGU | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $18.0B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 282 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.05%Best | +11.01% |
| 1Y Return | +15.62%Best | +15.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.43% | +20.82%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.37% | +12.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,133 | $18,101Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.4%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2016 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2016 to Sep 16, 2026 (9.8 years).
ESGU 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 9.8 years both funds cover.
ESGU vs VOO Performance
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) 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 ESGU returned +15.62% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, ESGU is up 11.05% versus a gain of 11.01% for VOO.
Over three years, ESGU compounded at +20.43% per year against +20.82% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.37% and +12.60% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.25% annualized vs +14.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESGU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 15.6% 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 -33.9% for ESGU 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 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESGU charges 0.15% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESGU currently yields 0.91% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
96.4% of ESGU's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 84.1% of VOO's money is in holdings ESGU also owns.
Most of ESGU is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
241 positions in common, counted across the 267 positions we hold weights for in ESGU and 494 in VOO, against full books of 282 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 249 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ESGU (15.2% of the fund), and 21 for ESGU that do not appear in VOO (2.7%).
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 ESGU | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.67% | 7.55% | 0.12% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.90% | 7.05% | 0.15% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.44% | 5.36% | 0.08% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.70% | 4.13% | 0.43% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.41% | 2.62% | 0.79% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.55% | 2.86% | 0.31% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.88% | 3.24% | 1.36% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.74% | 1.90% | 0.16% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.59% | 1.44% | 0.15% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.56% | 1.36% | 0.20% |
96.4% of ESGU is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ESGU or VOO?
ESGU has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESGU or VOO?
Over the past year ESGU returned +15.62% vs +15.60% for VOO, so ESGU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ESGU annualized +14.22% vs +14.25% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESGU or VOO?
ESGU has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 15.6% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ESGU -33.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ESGU and VOO?
ESGU and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ESGU and VOO?
96.4% of ESGU's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 84.1% of VOO's is in holdings ESGU also owns. They hold 241 positions in common, counted across the 267 positions we hold weights for in ESGU and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESGU or VOO?
ESGU yields 0.91% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ESGU?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ESGU led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. ESGU is less concentrated, with 36.4% 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.