INTL vs VOO
Main International ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, INTL or VOO?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
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 | INTL | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $247M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.42% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 10 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.32% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.64% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.97% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $16,946 | $20,101Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2022 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.8 years).
INTL 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
INTL vs VOO Performance
Main International ETF (INTL) is an ETF from Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year INTL returned +18.64% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, INTL is up 12.32% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, INTL compounded at +16.97% per year against +21.29% for VOO. Across the full 4-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +20.17% annualized vs +14.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
INTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 12.5% 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 -14.5% for INTL and -18.7% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INTL charges 0.84% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $3 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INTL currently yields 3.42% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in INTL 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, INTL 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 9 positions we hold weights for in INTL and 505 in VOO, against full books of 10 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for INTL (99.5% of the fund), and 9 for INTL 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 INTL 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, INTL or VOO?
INTL has an expense ratio of 0.84% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INTL or VOO?
Over the past year INTL returned +18.64% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), INTL annualized +14.89% vs +20.17% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INTL or VOO?
INTL has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 12.5% for VOO. Worst drawdown: INTL -14.5% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both INTL and VOO?
INTL and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, INTL or VOO?
INTL yields 3.42% while VOO yields 1.08%, so INTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than INTL?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.