ISMD vs VOO
Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ISMD or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ISMD led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ISMD is less concentrated, with 3.2% 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 | ISMD | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.53% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $332M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.13% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 503 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +24.20%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +25.73%Best | +18.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.72% | +20.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.21% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,535 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.2%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Inspire ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2017 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2017 to Sep 9, 2026 (9.5 years).
ISMD 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 9.5 years both funds cover.
ISMD vs VOO Performance
Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF (ISMD) is an ETF from Inspire ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ISMD returned +25.73% while VOO returned +18.60%. Year to date, ISMD is up 24.20% versus a gain of 12.23% for VOO.
Over three years, ISMD compounded at +16.72% per year against +20.98% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.21% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.02% annualized vs +8.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISMD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 15.7% 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 -45.5% for ISMD 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISMD charges 0.53% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $53 vs $3 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISMD currently yields 1.13% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 481 holdings in ISMD and 505 in VOO, totalling 95.1% 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 48 days apart, ISMD as of Aug 17, 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 481 positions we hold weights for in ISMD and 505 in VOO, against full books of 503 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ISMD (99.5% of the fund), and 478 for ISMD that do not appear in VOO (94.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISMD 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, ISMD or VOO?
ISMD has an expense ratio of 0.53% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISMD or VOO?
Over the past year ISMD returned +25.73% vs +18.60% for VOO, so ISMD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ISMD annualized +8.85% vs +14.02% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISMD or VOO?
ISMD has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 15.7% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ISMD -45.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ISMD and VOO?
ISMD and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, ISMD or VOO?
ISMD yields 1.13% while VOO yields 1.04%, so ISMD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ISMD?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ISMD led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ISMD is less concentrated, with 3.2% 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.