LENS vs VOO
Sarmaya Thematic ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, LENS or VOO?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. LENS led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.0%.
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 | LENS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $66M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.53% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 45 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +21.38%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +53.65%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.4% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.6% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $18,780Best | $13,037 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.0% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Sarmaya Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 28, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 29, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.6 years).
LENS 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
LENS vs VOO Performance
Sarmaya Thematic ETF (LENS) is an ETF from Sarmaya Partners and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LENS returned +53.65% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, LENS is up 21.38% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LENS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.4% compared with 12.9% 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 -24.6% for LENS 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 0.08. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LENS charges 0.79% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $3 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LENS currently yields 1.53% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
19.9% of LENS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.8% of VOO's money is in holdings LENS also owns.
LENS and VOO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, LENS as of Aug 18, 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.
8 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in LENS and 505 in VOO, against full books of 45 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for LENS (97.7% of the fund), and 18 for LENS that do not appear in VOO (47.4%).
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 LENS | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 4.64% | 0.88% | 3.76% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 4.59% | 0.48% | 4.11% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 2.36% | 0.11% | 2.25% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 2.30% | 0.11% | 2.19% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corporation | 2.12% | 0.07% | 2.05% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 1.65% | 0.09% | 1.56% |
| CFCf Industries Holdings Inc. | 1.14% | 0.03% | 1.11% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 1.09% | 0.04% | 1.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LENS 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, LENS or VOO?
LENS has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LENS or VOO?
Over the past year LENS returned +53.65% vs +20.08% for VOO, so LENS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LENS annualized +48.27% vs +18.03% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LENS or VOO?
LENS has been the more volatile fund at 26.4% annualized versus 12.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: LENS -24.6% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both LENS and VOO?
LENS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.08, 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 LENS and VOO?
19.9% of LENS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.8% of VOO's is in holdings LENS also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in LENS and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, LENS or VOO?
LENS yields 1.53% while VOO yields 1.08%, so LENS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than LENS?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. LENS led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.