NLR vs VOO
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, NLR or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NLR led over 3Y and 5Y, VOO over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%.
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 | NLR | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.08% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 26 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -9.84% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.97% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.85%Best | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.57%Best | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,441Best | $18,335 |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.9% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
NLR 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.
NLR vs VOO Performance
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF (NLR) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NLR returned +3.97% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, NLR is down 9.84% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, NLR compounded at +24.85% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +19.57% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +7.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% 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 -46.1% for NLR 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NLR charges 0.52% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $3 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NLR currently yields 3.08% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
15.5% of NLR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.2% of VOO's money is in holdings NLR also owns.
NLR and VOO share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 505 in VOO, against full books of 26 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for NLR (99.3% of the fund), and 9 for NLR that do not appear in VOO (34.8%).
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 NLR 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, NLR or VOO?
NLR has an expense ratio of 0.52% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NLR or VOO?
Over the past year NLR returned +3.97% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), NLR annualized +7.84% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NLR or VOO?
NLR has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: NLR -46.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both NLR and VOO?
NLR and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 NLR and VOO?
15.5% of NLR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.2% of VOO's is in holdings NLR also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, NLR or VOO?
NLR yields 3.08% while VOO yields 1.08%, so NLR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than NLR?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NLR led over 3Y and 5Y, VOO over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.