JCE vs VOO
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, JCE or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.3%.
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 | JCE | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.02% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.58% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 128 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +13.78%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +17.85% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.80% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.10% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,927 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.3% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 27, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
JCE 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.
JCE vs VOO Performance
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JCE returned +17.85% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, JCE is up 13.78% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, JCE compounded at +19.80% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.10% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +5.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JCE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% 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 -54.5% for JCE 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JCE charges 1.02% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $102 vs $3 annually, a gap of $99 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JCE currently yields 7.58% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
84.2% of JCE's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 59.5% of VOO's money is in holdings JCE also owns.
Most of JCE is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, JCE as of Jan 30, 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.
79 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in JCE and 505 in VOO, against full books of 128 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 418 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for JCE (40.0% of the fund), and 36 for JCE that do not appear in VOO (14.9%).
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 JCE | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.48% | 7.51% | 0.97% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.13% | 6.59% | 0.54% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.96% | 4.30% | 1.66% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.56% | 3.62% | 0.94% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 3.28% | 3.25% | 0.03% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 3.40% | 2.59% | 0.81% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.08% | 2.77% | 0.31% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.41% | 1.92% | 0.49% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway, Inc. | 2.09% | 1.42% | 0.67% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.49% | 2.02% | 0.53% |
84.2% of JCE is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JCE or VOO?
JCE has an expense ratio of 1.02% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $99 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JCE or VOO?
Over the past year JCE returned +17.85% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), JCE annualized +5.84% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JCE or VOO?
JCE has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: JCE -54.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both JCE and VOO?
JCE and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 JCE and VOO?
84.2% of JCE's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 59.5% of VOO's is in holdings JCE also owns. They hold 79 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in JCE and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, JCE or VOO?
JCE yields 7.58% while VOO yields 1.08%, so JCE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than JCE?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.