MCSE vs VOO

MCSE vs VOO

Which is better, MCSE or VOO?

Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%.

Lower Fees: VOOHigher Returns: VOOLess Concentrated: VOO

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

MetricMCSEVOO
Expense Ratio0.59%0.03%Best
AUM$3M$997.4B
Dividend Yield3.77%1.04%
Holdings28509
Volatility (annualized)19.2%12.4%Best
Max Drawdown-25.9%-18.7%Best
$10,000 over 3.2 years$12,200$18,742Best
Top 10 Weight51.7%37.6%Best
Fund FamilyFranklin Templeton Investments (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleMid Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 31, 2022Sep 7, 2010

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 260 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. MCSE has data through Jan 8, 2026 and VOO through Sep 25, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2022 to Jan 8, 2026 (3.2 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

MCSE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 12.4% 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 -25.9% for MCSE 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

MCSE charges 0.59% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $3 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MCSE currently yields 3.77% against 1.04% for VOO.

Holdings Overlap

MCSE already in VOO14.6%
VOO already in MCSE0.4%

14.6% of MCSE's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.4% of VOO's money is in holdings MCSE also owns.

MCSE and VOO share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 245 days apart, MCSE as of Nov 28, 2025 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.

3 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in MCSE and 494 in VOO, against full books of 28 and 509.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 484 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for MCSE (98.7% of the fund), and 0 for MCSE that do not appear in VOO (0.0%).

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

StockWeight in MCSEWeight in VOODifference
LINLinde Plc (united Kingdom)4.82%0.34%4.48%
MTDMettler-Toledo International Inc.5.10%0.04%5.06%
RMDResmed Inc.4.66%0.05%4.61%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of MCSE and VOO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

MCSEVOO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, MCSE or VOO?

MCSE has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, MCSE or VOO?

MCSE has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 12.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: MCSE -25.9% vs VOO -18.7%.

Should I hold both MCSE and VOO?

MCSE 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 MCSE and VOO?

14.6% of MCSE's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.4% of VOO's is in holdings MCSE also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in MCSE and 494 in VOO.

Which pays a higher dividend, MCSE or VOO?

MCSE yields 3.77% while VOO yields 1.04%, so MCSE currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VOO better than MCSE?

VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.