MFSI vs VOO
MFS Active International ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, MFSI or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. MFSI led over the full window, VOO over 1Y. MFSI is less concentrated, with 26.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | MFSI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.75% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 99 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +6.55% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.01% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.7%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,160Best | $12,828 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | MFS Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 5, 2024 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.8 years).
MFSI 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
MFSI vs VOO Performance
MFS Active International ETF (MFSI) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MFSI returned +14.01% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, MFSI is up 6.55% versus a gain of 11.55% 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 12.8% compared with 10.2% for MFSI. 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 -13.7% for MFSI 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MFSI 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, MFSI currently yields 0.75% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 89 holdings in MFSI and 505 in VOO, totalling 97.1% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, MFSI 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in MFSI and 505 in VOO, against full books of 99 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for MFSI (99.4% of the fund), and 4 for MFSI that do not appear in VOO (4.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MFSI 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, MFSI or VOO?
MFSI 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 performed better, MFSI or VOO?
Over the past year MFSI returned +14.01% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MFSI annualized +16.48% vs +14.84% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MFSI or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 10.2% for MFSI. Worst drawdown: MFSI -13.7% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both MFSI and VOO?
MFSI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, MFSI or VOO?
MFSI yields 0.75% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than MFSI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. MFSI led over the full window, VOO over 1Y. MFSI is less concentrated, with 26.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.