NSI vs VOO
National Security Emerging Markets Index ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, NSI or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NSI led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.5%.
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 | NSI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $42M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.21% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 105 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.56%Best | +11.55% |
| 1Y Return | +23.49%Best | +17.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6%Best | -18.7% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $16,735 | $17,275Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.5% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | National Security Index | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.8 years).
NSI 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
NSI vs VOO Performance
National Security Emerging Markets Index ETF (NSI) is an ETF from National Security Index and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NSI returned +23.49% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, NSI is up 11.56% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NSI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 11.9% 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 -16.6% for NSI 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NSI charges 0.75% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NSI currently yields 1.21% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in NSI and 505 in VOO, totalling 96.3% 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 49 days apart, NSI 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 101 positions we hold weights for in NSI and 505 in VOO, against full books of 105 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for NSI (99.4% of the fund), and 43 for NSI that do not appear in VOO (33.5%).
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 NSI 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, NSI or VOO?
NSI has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NSI or VOO?
Over the past year NSI returned +23.49% vs +17.54% for VOO, so NSI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NSI or VOO?
NSI has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 11.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: NSI -16.6% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both NSI and VOO?
NSI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, NSI or VOO?
NSI yields 1.21% while VOO yields 1.04%, so NSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than NSI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NSI led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.