GDXJ vs VOO
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GDXJ or VOO?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | GDXJ | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 120 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.79% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +42.54%Best | +17.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +55.45%Best | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +25.62%Best | +12.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.7% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.7% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $31,282Best | $18,384 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2009 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
GDXJ 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.
GDXJ vs VOO Performance
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDXJ returned +42.54% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, GDXJ is up 10.79% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, GDXJ compounded at +55.45% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +25.62% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.41% annualized vs +1.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 42.7% 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 -88.7% for GDXJ 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDXJ charges 0.52% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $3 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDXJ currently yields 2.00% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of GDXJ's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 112 positions we hold weights for in GDXJ and 505 in VOO, against full books of 120 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GDXJ (99.4% of the fund), and 10 for GDXJ that do not appear in VOO (10.3%).
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 GDXJ | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNRPentair Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.12% | 0.02% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDXJ 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, GDXJ or VOO?
GDXJ has an expense ratio of 0.52% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDXJ or VOO?
Over the past year GDXJ returned +42.54% vs +17.58% for VOO, so GDXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GDXJ annualized +1.97% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDXJ or VOO?
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund at 42.7% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GDXJ -88.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GDXJ and VOO?
GDXJ and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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, GDXJ or VOO?
GDXJ yields 2.00% while VOO yields 1.04%, so GDXJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GDXJ?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.