LALT vs VOO
First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, LALT or VOO?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
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 | LALT | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $345M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.70% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 16 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.09%Best | +11.01% |
| 1Y Return | +14.21% | +15.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.71% | +20.82%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 12.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.0%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $13,498 | $19,174Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2023 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2023 to Sep 16, 2026 (3.6 years).
LALT 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
LALT vs VOO Performance
First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF (LALT) 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 LALT returned +14.21% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, LALT is up 11.09% versus a gain of 11.01% for VOO.
Over three years, LALT compounded at +9.71% per year against +20.82% for VOO. Across the full 4-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +19.82% annualized vs +8.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 4.6% for LALT. 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 -7.0% for LALT and -18.7% 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 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LALT charges 1.18% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $118 vs $3 annually, a gap of $115 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LALT currently yields 3.70% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in LALT and 494 in VOO, totalling 99.9% 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 7 positions we hold weights for in LALT and 494 in VOO, against full books of 16 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for LALT (99.2% of the fund), and 7 for LALT that do not appear in VOO (99.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LALT 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, LALT or VOO?
LALT has an expense ratio of 1.18% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $115 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LALT or VOO?
Over the past year LALT returned +14.21% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), LALT annualized +8.69% vs +19.82% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LALT or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 4.6% for LALT. Worst drawdown: LALT -7.0% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both LALT and VOO?
LALT and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, 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, LALT or VOO?
LALT yields 3.70% while VOO yields 1.04%, so LALT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than LALT?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.