RCTR vs VOO
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, RCTR or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%.
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 | RCTR | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $30M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 100 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -0.86% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.98% | +17.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.08% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.7% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.0% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,980 | $12,142Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.6% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.1 years).
RCTR 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
RCTR vs VOO Performance
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF (RCTR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RCTR returned +5.98% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, RCTR is down 0.86% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RCTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.7% compared with 12.4% 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 -19.0% for RCTR 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RCTR charges 0.70% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RCTR currently yields 0.62% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
27.1% of RCTR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.0% of VOO's money is in holdings RCTR also owns.
RCTR and VOO share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in RCTR and 494 in VOO, against full books of 100 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for RCTR (98.1% of the fund), and 8 for RCTR that do not appear in VOO (14.9%).
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 RCTR | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 5.16% | 0.13% | 5.03% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 4.16% | 0.15% | 4.01% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 4.15% | 0.08% | 4.07% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 4.04% | 0.17% | 3.87% |
| VSTVistra Energy Corp. | 4.09% | 0.07% | 4.02% |
| GEVGe Vernova, Inc. | 3.63% | 0.41% | 3.22% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 1.91% | 0.02% | 1.89% |
27.1% of RCTR 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, RCTR or VOO?
RCTR has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RCTR or VOO?
Over the past year RCTR returned +5.98% vs +17.03% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RCTR annualized +8.87% vs +19.30% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RCTR or VOO?
RCTR has been the more volatile fund at 24.7% annualized versus 12.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: RCTR -19.0% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both RCTR and VOO?
RCTR and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 RCTR and VOO?
27.1% of RCTR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.0% of VOO's is in holdings RCTR also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in RCTR and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, RCTR or VOO?
RCTR yields 0.62% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than RCTR?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.