PGZ vs VOO
Principal Real Estate Income Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PGZ or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | PGZ | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.16% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $72M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.65% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 110 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +4.04% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.69% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.01% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.24% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.8% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,636 | $18,384Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2013 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2013 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
PGZ 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PGZ vs VOO Performance
Principal Real Estate Income Fund (PGZ) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PGZ returned +1.69% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, PGZ is up 4.04% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, PGZ compounded at +13.01% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +1.24% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.41% annualized vs -1.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PGZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% 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 -56.8% for PGZ 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGZ charges 2.16% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $216 vs $3 annually, a gap of $213 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGZ currently yields 11.65% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of VOO's money is in holdings PGZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PGZ, our book for it covers 59.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VOO and PGZ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, PGZ as of Jan 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.
13 positions in common, counted across the 61 positions we hold weights for in PGZ and 505 in VOO, against full books of 110 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PGZ | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQIXEquinix, Inc. | 2.98% | 0.16% | 2.82% |
| WELLWelltower Inc | 2.42% | 0.25% | 2.17% |
| VTRVentas, Inc. | 1.76% | 0.07% | 1.69% |
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 1.69% | 0.05% | 1.64% |
| DOCHealthpeak Properties Inc | 1.49% | 0.02% | 1.47% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 1.24% | 0.20% | 1.04% |
| UMG:ASUniversal Music Group N.V. Universal Music Group N V | 1.23% | 0.06% | 1.17% |
| EQREquity Residential | 1.06% | 0.04% | 1.02% |
| INVHInvitation Homes Inc | 0.94% | 0.03% | 0.91% |
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 0.86% | 0.04% | 0.82% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGZ 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, PGZ or VOO?
PGZ has an expense ratio of 2.16% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $213 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGZ or VOO?
Over the past year PGZ returned +1.69% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), PGZ annualized -1.08% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGZ or VOO?
PGZ has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PGZ -56.8% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PGZ and VOO?
PGZ and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 PGZ and VOO?
At least 1.1% of VOO's money is in holdings PGZ also owns. Our book for PGZ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 61 positions we hold weights for in PGZ and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGZ or VOO?
PGZ yields 11.65% while VOO yields 1.04%, so PGZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PGZ?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.