NATO vs VOO
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, NATO or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NATO led over the full window, VOO over 1Y. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%.
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 | NATO | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $98M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 94 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -2.45% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.30% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.0%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $15,049Best | $13,334 |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.8% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Themes ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 10, 2024 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.9 years).
NATO 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
NATO vs VOO Performance
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) is an ETF from Themes ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NATO returned +4.30% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, NATO is down 2.45% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NATO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 12.9% 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 -16.0% for NATO 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NATO charges 0.35% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NATO currently yields 0.43% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
53.4% of NATO's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.3% of VOO's money is in holdings NATO also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, NATO 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.
14 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in NATO and 505 in VOO, against full books of 94 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for NATO (97.1% of the fund), and 43 for NATO that do not appear in VOO (10.9%).
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 NATO | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTXRaytheon Technologies Corp | 8.49% | 0.40% | 8.09% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 7.74% | 0.60% | 7.14% |
| BABoeing Co | 7.36% | 0.26% | 7.10% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 4.72% | 0.16% | 4.56% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. | 4.46% | 0.17% | 4.29% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 3.87% | 0.14% | 3.73% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 3.60% | 0.11% | 3.49% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc | 3.23% | 0.11% | 3.12% |
| TDGTransdigm Group Inc. | 3.01% | 0.12% | 2.89% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 2.29% | 0.08% | 2.21% |
53.4% of NATO is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NATO or VOO?
NATO has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NATO or VOO?
Over the past year NATO returned +4.30% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NATO annualized +24.00% vs +16.35% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NATO or VOO?
NATO has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 12.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: NATO -16.0% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both NATO and VOO?
NATO and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 NATO and VOO?
53.4% of NATO's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.3% of VOO's is in holdings NATO also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in NATO and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, NATO or VOO?
NATO yields 0.43% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than NATO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NATO led over the full window, VOO over 1Y. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.