REFA vs VOO
Columbia Research Enhanced International Equity ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, REFA or VOO?
VOO costs less.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. REFA is less concentrated, with 25.4% 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 | REFA | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.03% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 211 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.85%Best | +12.25% |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.03% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.08% |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.4%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Columbia Threadneedle Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
REFA 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.
REFA vs VOO Performance
Columbia Research Enhanced International Equity ETF (REFA) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, REFA is up 12.85% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
REFA charges 0.32% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $3 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, REFA currently yields 0.03% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings REFA also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 211 positions we hold weights for in REFA and 494 in VOO, against full books of 211 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for REFA (99.1% of the fund), and 2 for REFA that do not appear in VOO (0.5%).
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 REFA | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRKroger Co. | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of REFA 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, REFA or VOO?
REFA has an expense ratio of 0.32% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, REFA or VOO?
REFA yields 0.03% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than REFA?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. REFA is less concentrated, with 25.4% 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.