LCAP vs VOO
Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, LCAP or VOO?
Nearly the same fund. VOO costs less.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. LCAP led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.3%.
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 | LCAP | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 56 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.58%Best | +12.37% |
| 1Y Return | +16.68%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 12.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -11.3%Best | -12.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,419 | $13,681Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.3% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 25, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
LCAP 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
LCAP vs VOO Performance
Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF (LCAP) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LCAP returned +16.68% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, LCAP is up 12.58% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.1% compared with 10.7% for LCAP. 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 -11.3% for LCAP and -12.6% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LCAP charges 0.29% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $3 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LCAP currently yields 0.09% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
88.1% of LCAP's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 51.1% of VOO's money is in holdings LCAP also owns.
Most of LCAP is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
45 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in LCAP and 494 in VOO, against full books of 56 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 442 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for LCAP (48.1% of the fund), and 8 for LCAP that do not appear in VOO (8.2%).
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 LCAP | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.59% | 7.55% | 0.04% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.41% | 7.05% | 0.64% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.21% | 5.36% | 0.15% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.48% | 4.13% | 0.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 5.06% | 3.24% | 1.82% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.07% | 2.86% | 0.21% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.03% | 1.46% | 1.57% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 3.34% | 0.93% | 2.41% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.41% | 1.41% | 1.00% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.71% | 1.90% | 0.19% |
88.1% of LCAP 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, LCAP or VOO?
LCAP has an expense ratio of 0.29% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LCAP or VOO?
Over the past year LCAP returned +16.68% vs +16.61% for VOO, so LCAP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LCAP annualized +21.66% vs +23.24% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LCAP or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.1% annualized versus 10.7% for LCAP. Worst drawdown: LCAP -11.3% vs VOO -12.6%.
Should I hold both LCAP and VOO?
LCAP and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between LCAP and VOO?
88.1% of LCAP's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 51.1% of VOO's is in holdings LCAP also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in LCAP and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, LCAP or VOO?
LCAP yields 0.09% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than LCAP?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. LCAP led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.