EWG vs VOO
iShares MSCI Germany ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EWG or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.2%.
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 | EWG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.88% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 58 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.35% | +13.31%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.49% | +17.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.97% | +22.72%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.71% | +13.19%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.2% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.4% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,836 | $18,580Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.2% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 23, 2026 (16 years).
EWG 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 16 years both funds cover.
EWG vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) 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 EWG returned +3.49% while VOO returned +17.07%. Year to date, EWG is up 0.35% versus a gain of 13.31% for VOO.
Over three years, EWG compounded at +18.97% per year against +22.72% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +6.71% and +13.19% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.43% annualized vs +5.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 14.1% 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 -49.4% for EWG 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWG charges 0.49% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWG currently yields 1.88% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
1.1% of EWG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.5% of VOO's money is in holdings EWG also owns.
EWG and VOO share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in EWG and 494 in VOO, against full books of 58 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for EWG (98.7% of the fund), and 2 for EWG that do not appear in VOO (0.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.05% | 0.50% | 0.55% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWG 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, EWG or VOO?
EWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWG or VOO?
Over the past year EWG returned +3.49% vs +17.07% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EWG annualized +5.54% vs +13.43% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWG or VOO?
EWG has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: EWG -49.4% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both EWG and VOO?
EWG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 EWG and VOO?
1.1% of EWG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.5% of VOO's is in holdings EWG also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in EWG and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWG or VOO?
EWG yields 1.88% while VOO yields 1.04%, so EWG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than EWG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.