PULS vs VOO
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PULS or VOO?
Ultrashort Term Bond 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 | PULS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $18.8B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.19% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 930 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +2.73% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.22% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.35% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.31% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.4%Best | 16.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.1%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,349 | $18,384Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Ultrashort Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 5, 2018 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2018 to Sep 11, 2026 (8.4 years).
PULS 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.
PULS vs VOO Performance
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF (PULS) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PULS returned +4.22% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, PULS is up 2.73% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, PULS compounded at +5.35% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +4.31% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.46% annualized vs +2.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 1.4% for PULS. 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 -6.1% for PULS 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PULS charges 0.15% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PULS currently yields 5.19% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of VOO's money is in holdings PULS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PULS, our book for it covers 44.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 367 positions we hold weights for in PULS and 505 in VOO, against full books of 930 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PULS | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 0.27% | 0.47% | 0.20% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PULS 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, PULS or VOO?
PULS has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PULS or VOO?
Over the past year PULS returned +4.22% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PULS annualized +2.55% vs +14.46% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PULS or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 1.4% for PULS. Worst drawdown: PULS -6.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PULS and VOO?
PULS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, PULS or VOO?
PULS yields 5.19% while VOO yields 1.04%, so PULS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PULS?
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.