HERZ vs VOO
Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, HERZ or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | HERZ | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | - | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 29 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -22.27% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.91% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -0.02% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.37% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 29.7% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,425 | $18,335Best |
| Fund Family | Herzfeld-Cuba | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 20, 1994 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
HERZ 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.
HERZ vs VOO Performance
Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc (HERZ) is an ETF from Herzfeld-Cuba and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HERZ returned -6.91% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, HERZ is down 22.27% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, HERZ compounded at -0.02% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -3.37% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs -0.94%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HERZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.7% 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 -81.1% for HERZ 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HERZ charges 3.45% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $345 vs $3 annually, a gap of $342 per year that compounds over a long holding period.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 19 holdings in HERZ and 505 in VOO, totalling 89.4% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, HERZ as of Dec 31, 2025 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in HERZ and 505 in VOO, against full books of 29 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HERZ 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, HERZ or VOO?
HERZ has an expense ratio of 3.45% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $342 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HERZ or VOO?
Over the past year HERZ returned -6.91% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), HERZ annualized -0.94% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HERZ or VOO?
HERZ has been the more volatile fund at 29.7% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: HERZ -81.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both HERZ and VOO?
HERZ and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VOO better than HERZ?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.