MMAX vs VOO
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, MMAX or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | MMAX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $73M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.76% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 7 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +4.31% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.17% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.5%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.9%Best | -12.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $10,879 | $13,580Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 1, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.4 years).
MMAX 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
MMAX vs VOO Performance
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF (MMAX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MMAX returned +5.17% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, MMAX is up 4.31% 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 12.3% compared with 1.5% for MMAX. 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 -1.9% for MMAX and -12.0% 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MMAX charges 0.50% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MMAX currently yields 0.76% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3 holdings in MMAX and 505 in VOO, totalling 113.3% 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 62 days apart, MMAX as of Aug 31, 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 3 positions we hold weights for in MMAX and 505 in VOO, against full books of 7 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MMAX 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, MMAX or VOO?
MMAX has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MMAX or VOO?
Over the past year MMAX returned +5.17% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), MMAX annualized +6.20% vs +24.43% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MMAX or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 1.5% for MMAX. Worst drawdown: MMAX -1.9% vs VOO -12.0%.
Should I hold both MMAX and VOO?
MMAX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, MMAX or VOO?
MMAX yields 0.76% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than MMAX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.