GDX vs VOO
VanEck Gold Miners ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GDX or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GDX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%.
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 | GDX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $22.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 60 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.15% | +14.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +27.96%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +50.23%Best | +23.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +27.14%Best | +13.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 36.8% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $33,221Best | $19,128 |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.3% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 16, 2006 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 21, 2026 (16 years).
GDX 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.
GDX vs VOO Performance
VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDX returned +27.96% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, GDX is up 10.15% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, GDX compounded at +50.23% per year against +23.16% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +27.14% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.49% annualized vs +4.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 36.8% 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 -80.3% for GDX 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 0.22. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDX charges 0.51% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $3 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDX currently yields 0.62% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
10.8% of GDX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.2% of VOO's money is in holdings GDX also owns.
GDX and VOO share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in GDX and 494 in VOO, against full books of 60 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GDX (99.0% of the fund), and 4 for GDX that do not appear in VOO (6.5%).
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 GDX | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 10.81% | 0.16% | 10.65% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDX 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, GDX or VOO?
GDX has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDX or VOO?
Over the past year GDX returned +27.96% vs +17.31% for VOO, so GDX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GDX annualized +4.71% vs +13.49% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDX or VOO?
GDX has been the more volatile fund at 36.8% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GDX -80.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GDX and VOO?
GDX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.22, 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 GDX and VOO?
10.8% of GDX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.2% of VOO's is in holdings GDX also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in GDX and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDX or VOO?
GDX yields 0.62% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GDX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GDX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.