HISF vs VOO
First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, HISF or VOO?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 95.0%.
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 | HISF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $99M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.11% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 24 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.15% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.77% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.05% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.4%Best | -22.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.5 years | $10,831 | $18,763Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 95.0% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2014 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.5 years).
HISF 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 4.5 years both funds cover.
HISF vs VOO Performance
First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (HISF) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HISF returned +1.77% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, HISF is up 0.15% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, HISF compounded at +5.05% per year against +21.29% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 5.5% for HISF. 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 -10.4% for HISF and -22.1% 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HISF charges 0.83% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $3 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HISF currently yields 5.11% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11 holdings in HISF and 505 in VOO, totalling 100.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 11 positions we hold weights for in HISF and 505 in VOO, against full books of 24 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for HISF (99.5% of the fund), and 11 for HISF that do not appear in VOO (100.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HISF 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, HISF or VOO?
HISF has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HISF or VOO?
Over the past year HISF returned +1.77% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HISF or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 5.5% for HISF. Worst drawdown: HISF -10.4% vs VOO -22.1%.
Should I hold both HISF and VOO?
HISF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, HISF or VOO?
HISF yields 5.11% while VOO yields 1.08%, so HISF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than HISF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 95.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.