PY vs VOO
Principal Value ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PY or VOO?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PY is less concentrated, with 25.8% 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 | PY | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $245M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.85% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 100 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.88% | +11.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.11% | +15.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.99% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.08% | +12.66%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,443 | $18,149Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.8%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 21, 2016 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2016 to Sep 15, 2026 (10.5 years).
PY 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 10.5 years both funds cover.
PY vs VOO Performance
Principal Value ETF (PY) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PY returned +13.11% while VOO returned +15.94%. Year to date, PY is up 10.88% versus a gain of 11.48% for VOO.
Over three years, PY compounded at +14.99% per year against +21.01% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.08% and +12.66% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.17% annualized vs +9.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 15.1% 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 -45.5% for PY 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PY 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, PY currently yields 1.85% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
98.2% of PY's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 35.3% of VOO's money is in holdings PY also owns.
Most of PY is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
98 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PY and 494 in VOO, against full books of 100 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 390 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for PY (64.0% of the fund), and 3 for PY that do not appear in VOO (2.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PY | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.50% | 7.05% | 1.45% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.39% | 4.13% | 0.74% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 2.10% | 0.63% | 1.47% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.72% | 0.93% | 0.79% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.62% | 0.96% | 0.66% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 1.93% | 0.58% | 1.35% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.49% | 1.00% | 0.49% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.88% | 0.52% | 1.36% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.69% | 0.50% | 1.19% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 1.29% | 0.72% | 0.57% |
98.2% of PY is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PY or VOO?
PY 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, PY or VOO?
Over the past year PY returned +13.11% vs +15.94% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), PY annualized +9.77% vs +14.17% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PY or VOO?
PY has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 15.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PY -45.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PY and VOO?
PY and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 PY and VOO?
98.2% of PY's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 35.3% of VOO's is in holdings PY also owns. They hold 98 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PY and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, PY or VOO?
PY yields 1.85% while VOO yields 1.04%, so PY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PY?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PY is less concentrated, with 25.8% 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.