GRX vs VOO
The Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness RX Trust vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GRX or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GRX is less concentrated, with 25.4% 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 | GRX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.00% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $233M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.06% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 194 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +3.70% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.50% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.44% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.14% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,930 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.4%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
GRX 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.
GRX vs VOO Performance
The Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness RX Trust (GRX) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GRX returned +11.50% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, GRX is up 3.70% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, GRX compounded at +8.44% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -0.14% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +5.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GRX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% 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 -38.1% for GRX 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GRX charges 3.00% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $300 vs $3 annually, a gap of $297 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GRX currently yields 6.06% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
45.1% of GRX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 16.7% of VOO's money is in holdings GRX also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, GRX as of Mar 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
47 positions in common, counted across the 175 positions we hold weights for in GRX and 494 in VOO, against full books of 194 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 440 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GRX (82.5% of the fund), and 89 for GRX that do not appear in VOO (36.4%).
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 GRX | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.01% | 7.55% | 7.54% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 3.51% | 0.69% | 2.82% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 3.57% | 0.50% | 3.07% |
| CICigna Corp. | 2.49% | 0.11% | 2.38% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.60% | 0.96% | 0.64% |
| CORCencora Inc | 2.23% | 0.09% | 2.14% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 1.88% | 0.32% | 1.56% |
| COOCooper Cos. Inc. | 2.06% | 0.02% | 2.04% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 1.85% | 0.21% | 1.64% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.62% | 1.41% | 0.79% |
45.1% of GRX 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GRX or VOO?
GRX has an expense ratio of 3.00% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $297 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GRX or VOO?
Over the past year GRX returned +11.50% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GRX annualized +5.09% vs +13.39% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GRX or VOO?
GRX has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GRX -38.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GRX and VOO?
GRX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 GRX and VOO?
45.1% of GRX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 16.7% of VOO's is in holdings GRX also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 175 positions we hold weights for in GRX and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GRX or VOO?
GRX yields 6.06% while VOO yields 1.04%, so GRX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GRX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GRX is less concentrated, with 25.4% 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.