PBW vs VOO
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PBW or VOO?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBW is less concentrated, with 21.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | PBW | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $380M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 70 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -4.70% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.11% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -1.80% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -15.07% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.2% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -89.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $4,419 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.6%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 3, 2005 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
PBW 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.
PBW vs VOO Performance
Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PBW returned +11.11% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, PBW is down 4.70% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, PBW compounded at -1.80% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -15.07% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs -1.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PBW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.2% 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 -89.1% for PBW 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PBW charges 0.64% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $3 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBW currently yields 1.49% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
7.8% of PBW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.7% of VOO's money is in holdings PBW also owns.
PBW and VOO share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in PBW and 494 in VOO, against full books of 70 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for PBW (97.5% of the fund), and 55 for PBW that do not appear in VOO (76.1%).
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 PBW 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, PBW or VOO?
PBW has an expense ratio of 0.64% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PBW or VOO?
Over the past year PBW returned +11.11% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PBW annualized -1.74% vs +13.39% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PBW or VOO?
PBW has been the more volatile fund at 35.2% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PBW -89.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PBW and VOO?
PBW 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.
What is the holdings overlap between PBW and VOO?
7.8% of PBW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.7% of VOO's is in holdings PBW also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in PBW and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, PBW or VOO?
PBW yields 1.49% while VOO yields 1.04%, so PBW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PBW?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PBW is less concentrated, with 21.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.