ILCG vs VOO
iShares Morningstar Growth ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ILCG or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ILCG led over 3Y and the full window, VOO over 1Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | ILCG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.1B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 331 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.22% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.26% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.06%Best | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.46% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.4% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,203 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.3% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2004 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
ILCG 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.
ILCG vs VOO Performance
iShares Morningstar Growth ETF (ILCG) 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 ILCG returned +12.26% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, ILCG is up 10.22% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, ILCG compounded at +23.06% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.46% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, ILCG has the edge at +15.93% annualized vs +13.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ILCG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% 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 -35.4% for ILCG 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILCG charges 0.04% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $3 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILCG currently yields 0.43% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
94.6% of ILCG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 70.2% of VOO's money is in holdings ILCG also owns.
Most of ILCG is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
247 positions in common, counted across the 326 positions we hold weights for in ILCG and 505 in VOO, against full books of 331 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 249 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ILCG (29.3% of the fund), and 70 for ILCG that do not appear in VOO (4.8%).
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 ILCG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 15.64% | 7.51% | 8.13% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.95% | 6.59% | 0.36% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.93% | 2.77% | 3.16% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.48% | 3.62% | 0.86% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.71% | 4.30% | 1.59% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.67% | 3.25% | 0.42% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.94% | 2.59% | 0.35% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.85% | 1.47% | 1.38% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 2.39% | 1.47% | 0.92% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.68% | 2.02% | 0.34% |
94.6% of ILCG 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, ILCG or VOO?
ILCG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILCG or VOO?
Over the past year ILCG returned +12.26% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ILCG annualized +15.93% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILCG or VOO?
ILCG has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ILCG -35.4% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ILCG and VOO?
ILCG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between ILCG and VOO?
94.6% of ILCG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 70.2% of VOO's is in holdings ILCG also owns. They hold 247 positions in common, counted across the 326 positions we hold weights for in ILCG and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILCG or VOO?
ILCG yields 0.43% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ILCG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ILCG led over 3Y and the full window, VOO over 1Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.