MEM vs VOO
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, MEM or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. MEM led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.8%.
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 | MEM | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $55M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.89% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 72 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +18.10%Best | +12.37% |
| 1Y Return | +24.74%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.58%Best | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.1% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.2 years | $19,799 | $21,446Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.8% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Matthews Asia Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2022 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2022 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.2 years).
MEM 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 4.2 years both funds cover.
MEM vs VOO Performance
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF (MEM) is an ETF from Matthews Asia Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MEM returned +24.74% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, MEM is up 18.10% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, MEM compounded at +21.58% per year against +21.37% for VOO. Across the full 4-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +19.92% annualized vs +17.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 14.3% 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 -19.1% for MEM 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MEM 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, MEM currently yields 2.89% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of MEM's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings MEM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 65 positions we hold weights for in MEM and 494 in VOO, against full books of 72 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for MEM (99.0% of the fund), and 5 for MEM that do not appear in VOO (12.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MEM | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCXFreeport-mcmoran Copper & Gold Inc. | 0.13% | 0.14% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MEM 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, MEM or VOO?
MEM 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, MEM or VOO?
Over the past year MEM returned +24.74% vs +16.61% for VOO, so MEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), MEM annualized +17.66% vs +19.92% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MEM or VOO?
MEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: MEM -19.1% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both MEM and VOO?
MEM and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, MEM or VOO?
MEM yields 2.89% while VOO yields 1.04%, so MEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than MEM?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. MEM led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.