PMSE vs VOO
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - September vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PMSE or VOO?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.
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 | PMSE | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 7 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +4.08% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.54% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.3%Best | 13.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.4%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $10,611 | $11,968Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 1, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 2, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1 years).
PMSE 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 years both funds cover.
PMSE vs VOO Performance
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - September (PMSE) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PMSE returned +5.54% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, PMSE is up 4.08% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 2.3% for PMSE. 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 -1.4% for PMSE and -8.9% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PMSE charges 0.50% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PMSE currently yields 0.00% against 1.04% for VOO.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PMSE 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, PMSE or VOO?
PMSE has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PMSE or VOO?
Over the past year PMSE returned +5.54% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PMSE annualized +6.11% vs +19.68% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PMSE or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 2.3% for PMSE. Worst drawdown: PMSE -1.4% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both PMSE and VOO?
PMSE and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, PMSE or VOO?
PMSE yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PMSE?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.