IDU vs VOO
iShares US Utilities ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IDU or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.1%.
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 | IDU | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 49 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +1.17% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.81% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.37% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.95% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,659 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.1% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
IDU 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.
IDU vs VOO Performance
iShares US Utilities ETF (IDU) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IDU returned +4.81% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, IDU is up 1.17% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, IDU compounded at +15.37% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.95% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +7.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.8% for IDU. 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 -36.2% for IDU 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IDU charges 0.38% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IDU currently yields 2.22% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
93.3% of IDU's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.4% of VOO's money is in holdings IDU also owns.
Most of IDU is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
33 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in IDU and 504 in VOO, against full books of 49 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 461 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IDU (96.9% of the fund), and 11 for IDU that do not appear in VOO (5.8%).
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 IDU | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 11.29% | 0.28% | 11.01% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 6.53% | 0.17% | 6.36% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 6.00% | 0.15% | 5.85% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 5.32% | 0.12% | 5.20% |
| WMWaste Management Inc . | 5.20% | 0.13% | 5.07% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 4.34% | 0.12% | 4.22% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 3.78% | 0.09% | 3.69% |
| SRESempra | 3.51% | 0.09% | 3.42% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 3.09% | 0.08% | 3.01% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.01% | 0.08% | 2.93% |
93.3% of IDU 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IDU or VOO?
IDU has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IDU or VOO?
Over the past year IDU returned +4.81% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IDU annualized +7.72% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IDU or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.8% for IDU. Worst drawdown: IDU -36.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IDU and VOO?
IDU and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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 IDU and VOO?
93.3% of IDU's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.4% of VOO's is in holdings IDU also owns. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in IDU and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IDU or VOO?
IDU yields 2.22% while VOO yields 1.08%, so IDU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IDU?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.