QDF vs VOO
Northern Trust Quality Dividend ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, QDF or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%.
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 | QDF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.47% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 119 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.07% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.61%Tie | +16.61%Tie |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.34% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.14% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Tie | 14.3%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -37.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,734 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.1% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 14, 2012 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (13.7 years).
QDF 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 13.7 years both funds cover.
QDF vs VOO Performance
Northern Trust Quality Dividend ETF (QDF) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QDF returned +16.61% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, QDF is up 12.07% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, QDF compounded at +18.34% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +12.14% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.56% annualized vs +10.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QDF and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 14.3% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -37.2% for QDF 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QDF charges 0.39% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QDF currently yields 1.47% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
83.9% of QDF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 53.6% of VOO's money is in holdings QDF also owns.
Most of QDF is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
99 positions in common, counted across the 140 positions we hold weights for in QDF and 494 in VOO, against full books of 119 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 388 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for QDF (45.6% of the fund), and 39 for QDF that do not appear in VOO (14.1%).
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 QDF | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.83% | 7.05% | 1.78% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.52% | 7.55% | 0.03% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.41% | 5.36% | 0.95% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 2.86% | 0.12% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.28% | 3.24% | 0.96% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.68% | 2.62% | 0.94% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.57% | 1.46% | 1.11% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.90% | 0.96% | 1.94% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 2.60% | 0.57% | 2.03% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.21% | 1.90% | 0.69% |
83.9% of QDF 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, QDF or VOO?
QDF has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QDF or VOO?
Over the past year QDF returned +16.61% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), QDF annualized +10.53% vs +13.56% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QDF or VOO?
QDF and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 14.3% annualized. Worst drawdown: QDF -37.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both QDF and VOO?
QDF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between QDF and VOO?
83.9% of QDF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 53.6% of VOO's is in holdings QDF also owns. They hold 99 positions in common, counted across the 140 positions we hold weights for in QDF and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QDF or VOO?
QDF yields 1.47% while VOO yields 1.04%, so QDF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than QDF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.