KNG vs VOO
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, KNG or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. KNG is less concentrated, with 16.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | KNG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.74% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.2B | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 8.23% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 139 | 506 |
| YTD Return | -0.35% | +12.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.01% | +15.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.95% | +22.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.57% | +13.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 16.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,504 | $18,877Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.4%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2018 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 27, 2018 to Oct 1, 2026 (8.5 years).
KNG 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 8.5 years both funds cover.
KNG vs VOO Performance
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KNG returned +2.01% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, KNG is down 0.35% versus a gain of 12.75% for VOO.
Over three years, KNG compounded at +6.95% per year against +22.95% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +4.57% and +13.55% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.55% annualized vs +6.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 15.5% for KNG. 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 -35.1% for KNG 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KNG charges 0.74% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $74 vs $3 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KNG currently yields 8.23% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
94.0% of KNG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 10.8% of VOO's money is in holdings KNG also owns.
Most of KNG is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, KNG as of Sep 15, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
65 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in KNG and 494 in VOO, against full books of 139 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 422 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for KNG (88.4% of the fund), and 3 for KNG that do not appear in VOO (4.5%).
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 KNG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.56% | 1.00% | 0.56% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.52% | 0.96% | 0.56% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.61% | 0.57% | 1.04% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.41% | 0.76% | 0.65% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.47% | 0.69% | 0.78% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.56% | 0.53% | 1.03% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 1.66% | 0.33% | 1.33% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.40% | 0.52% | 0.88% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.32% | 0.58% | 0.74% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.63% | 0.17% | 1.46% |
94.0% of KNG 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, KNG or VOO?
KNG has an expense ratio of 0.74% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KNG or VOO?
Over the past year KNG returned +2.01% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), KNG annualized +6.33% vs +14.55% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KNG or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 15.5% for KNG. Worst drawdown: KNG -35.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both KNG and VOO?
KNG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 KNG and VOO?
94.0% of KNG's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 10.8% of VOO's is in holdings KNG also owns. They hold 65 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in KNG and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, KNG or VOO?
KNG yields 8.23% while VOO yields 1.04%, so KNG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than KNG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. KNG is less concentrated, with 16.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.