IJK vs VOO
iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IJK 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. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. IJK is less concentrated, with 14.5% 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 | IJK | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $10.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.54% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 252 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.05% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.61% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.99% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.46% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,330 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.5%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 24, 2000 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
IJK 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.
IJK vs VOO Performance
iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF (IJK) 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 IJK returned +13.61% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, IJK is up 12.05% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, IJK compounded at +14.99% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.46% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +11.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IJK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% 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 -39.3% for IJK 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IJK charges 0.16% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $16 vs $3 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IJK currently yields 0.54% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 247 holdings in IJK and 494 in VOO, totalling 99.9% and 99.5% 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 247 positions we hold weights for in IJK and 494 in VOO, against full books of 252 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IJK (99.2% of the fund), and 238 for IJK that do not appear in VOO (94.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IJK 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, IJK or VOO?
IJK has an expense ratio of 0.16% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IJK or VOO?
Over the past year IJK returned +13.61% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IJK annualized +11.27% vs +13.39% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IJK or VOO?
IJK has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IJK -39.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IJK and VOO?
IJK and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IJK or VOO?
IJK yields 0.54% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IJK?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. IJK is less concentrated, with 14.5% 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.