PSC vs VOO
Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PSC or VOO?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. PSC led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PSC is less concentrated, with 8.5% 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 | PSC | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 495 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +16.59%Best | +12.37% |
| 1Y Return | +17.39%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.47% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.10% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.9% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.9% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,178 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.5%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 21, 2016 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2016 to Sep 18, 2026 (10 years).
PSC 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 10 years both funds cover.
PSC vs VOO Performance
Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PSC returned +17.39% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, PSC is up 16.59% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, PSC compounded at +18.47% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.10% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.32% annualized vs +10.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 15.4% 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 -47.9% for PSC 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSC charges 0.38% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSC currently yields 0.52% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in PSC and 494 in VOO, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in PSC and 494 in VOO, against full books of 495 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for PSC (99.2% of the fund), and 467 for PSC that do not appear in VOO (94.6%).
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 PSC 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, PSC or VOO?
PSC has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSC or VOO?
Over the past year PSC returned +17.39% vs +16.61% for VOO, so PSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), PSC annualized +10.97% vs +14.32% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSC or VOO?
PSC has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 15.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PSC -47.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PSC and VOO?
PSC and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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, PSC or VOO?
PSC yields 0.52% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PSC?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. PSC led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PSC is less concentrated, with 8.5% 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.