ISCG vs VOO
iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ISCG or VOO?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ISCG led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ISCG is less concentrated, with 5.6% 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 | ISCG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $996M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.59% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 939 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +13.75%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +20.49%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.49% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.12% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,836 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.6%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small 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 4, 2026 (16 years).
ISCG 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.
ISCG vs VOO Performance
iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF (ISCG) 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 ISCG returned +20.49% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, ISCG is up 13.75% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, ISCG compounded at +16.49% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +5.12% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +11.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISCG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% 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 -41.5% for ISCG 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISCG charges 0.06% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISCG currently yields 0.59% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
6.8% of ISCG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.9% of VOO's money is in holdings ISCG also owns.
ISCG and VOO share little of their money.
34 positions in common, counted across the 922 positions we hold weights for in ISCG and 505 in VOO, against full books of 939 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 462 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ISCG (98.6% of the fund), and 865 for ISCG that do not appear in VOO (92.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ISCG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDSNNordson Corp | 0.49% | 0.02% | 0.47% |
| RLRalph Lauren Corp. Class A | 0.44% | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| GNRCGenerac Holdings, Inc. | 0.40% | 0.03% | 0.37% |
| IEXI D E X Corporation | 0.29% | 0.03% | 0.26% |
| ZBRAZebra Technologies Corp | 0.29% | 0.02% | 0.27% |
| PODDInsulet Corporation | 0.29% | 0.02% | 0.27% |
| DECKDeckers Outdoor Corp | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.22% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 0.23% | 0.03% | 0.20% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
| JKHYJack Henry & Associates Inc | 0.22% | 0.02% | 0.20% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISCG 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, ISCG or VOO?
ISCG has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISCG or VOO?
Over the past year ISCG returned +20.49% vs +20.08% for VOO, so ISCG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ISCG annualized +11.75% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISCG or VOO?
ISCG has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ISCG -41.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ISCG and VOO?
ISCG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 ISCG and VOO?
6.8% of ISCG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.9% of VOO's is in holdings ISCG also owns. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 922 positions we hold weights for in ISCG and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ISCG or VOO?
ISCG yields 0.59% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ISCG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ISCG led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ISCG is less concentrated, with 5.6% 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.