IMOM vs VOO
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Momentum ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IMOM or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IMOM led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. IMOM is less concentrated, with 22.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | IMOM | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $159M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.38% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 55 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +7.34% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.12%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.12%Best | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.41% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.7% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,014 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.9%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2015 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.7 years).
IMOM 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
IMOM vs VOO Performance
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Momentum ETF (IMOM) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IMOM returned +23.12% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, IMOM is up 7.34% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, IMOM compounded at +22.12% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +5.41% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.97% annualized vs +6.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IMOM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 15.1% 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 -45.7% for IMOM 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IMOM 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, IMOM currently yields 2.38% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in IMOM 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.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, IMOM as of Aug 18, 2026 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 51 positions we hold weights for in IMOM and 505 in VOO, against full books of 55 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IMOM (99.5% of the fund), and 1 for IMOM that do not appear in VOO (2.0%).
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 IMOM 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, IMOM or VOO?
IMOM 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, IMOM or VOO?
Over the past year IMOM returned +23.12% vs +20.08% for VOO, so IMOM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IMOM annualized +6.84% vs +13.97% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IMOM or VOO?
IMOM has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 15.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IMOM -45.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IMOM and VOO?
IMOM and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, IMOM or VOO?
IMOM yields 2.38% while VOO yields 1.08%, so IMOM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IMOM?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IMOM led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. IMOM is less concentrated, with 22.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.