MDY vs VOO
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, MDY or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. MDY is less concentrated, with 7.8% 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 | MDY | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $26.1B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.02% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 401 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +9.47% | +11.01%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.46% | +15.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.75% | +20.82%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.53% | +12.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,376 | $18,101Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.8%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 4, 1995 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 16, 2026 (16 years).
MDY 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 16 years both funds cover.
MDY vs VOO Performance
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MDY returned +12.46% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, MDY is up 9.47% versus a gain of 11.01% for VOO.
Over three years, MDY compounded at +13.75% per year against +20.82% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.53% and +12.60% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.30% annualized vs +10.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 14.1% 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 -42.5% for MDY 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDY charges 0.23% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $3 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MDY currently yields 1.02% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 400 holdings in MDY and 494 in VOO, totalling 99.0% 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 400 positions we hold weights for in MDY and 494 in VOO, against full books of 401 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for MDY (99.2% of the fund), and 391 for MDY that do not appear in VOO (95.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MDY 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, MDY or VOO?
MDY has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MDY or VOO?
Over the past year MDY returned +12.46% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), MDY annualized +10.75% vs +13.30% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDY or VOO?
MDY has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: MDY -42.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both MDY and VOO?
MDY and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDY or VOO?
MDY yields 1.02% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than MDY?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. MDY is less concentrated, with 7.8% 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.