ESN vs VOO
Essential 40 Stock ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ESN or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ESN led over 1Y and the full window. ESN is less concentrated, with 32.6% 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 | ESN | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.76% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 44 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +19.43%Best | +12.37% |
| 1Y Return | +22.53%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.6%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,632Best | $13,347 |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.6%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | KKM Financial | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2024 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.9 years).
ESN 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
ESN vs VOO Performance
Essential 40 Stock ETF (ESN) is an ETF from KKM Financial and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ESN returned +22.53% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, ESN is up 19.43% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 10.7% for ESN. 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 -13.6% for ESN and -18.7% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESN charges 0.70% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESN currently yields 0.76% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
92.2% of ESN's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 34.7% of VOO's money is in holdings ESN also owns.
Most of ESN is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
38 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ESN and 494 in VOO, against full books of 44 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 449 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ESN (64.4% of the fund), and 1 for ESN 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 ESN | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.74% | 7.05% | 4.31% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.30% | 5.36% | 3.06% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.28% | 4.13% | 1.85% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 4.88% | 0.66% | 4.22% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.22% | 3.24% | 1.02% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 4.63% | 0.14% | 4.49% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 3.78% | 0.42% | 3.36% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.04% | 1.90% | 0.14% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.41% | 1.46% | 0.95% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.82% | 1.00% | 1.82% |
92.2% of ESN 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, ESN or VOO?
ESN has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESN or VOO?
Over the past year ESN returned +22.53% vs +16.61% for VOO, so ESN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ESN annualized +17.71% vs +16.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESN or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 10.7% for ESN. Worst drawdown: ESN -13.6% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both ESN and VOO?
ESN and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 ESN and VOO?
92.2% of ESN's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 34.7% of VOO's is in holdings ESN also owns. They hold 38 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ESN and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESN or VOO?
ESN yields 0.76% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ESN?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ESN led over 1Y and the full window. ESN is less concentrated, with 32.6% 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.