JAPN vs VOO
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, JAPN or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | JAPN | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.24% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 36 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -0.31% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.04% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.3% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.9% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,263 | $13,069Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Horizon Kinetics LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 12, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
JAPN 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
JAPN vs VOO Performance
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF (JAPN) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JAPN returned -10.04% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, JAPN is down 0.31% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JAPN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 12.0% 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 -23.9% for JAPN and -8.9% 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JAPN charges 0.85% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $3 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JAPN currently yields 0.24% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 33 holdings in JAPN and 494 in VOO, totalling 96.5% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in JAPN and 494 in VOO, against full books of 36 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for JAPN (99.2% of the fund), and 0 for JAPN that do not appear in VOO (0.0%).
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 JAPN 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, JAPN or VOO?
JAPN has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JAPN or VOO?
Over the past year JAPN returned -10.04% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), JAPN annualized +2.02% vs +22.86% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JAPN or VOO?
JAPN has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 12.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: JAPN -23.9% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both JAPN and VOO?
JAPN and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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, JAPN or VOO?
JAPN yields 0.24% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than JAPN?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.