RFFC vs VOO
ALPS Active Equity Opportunity ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, RFFC or VOO?
Nearly the same fund. VOO costs less.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. RFFC led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VOO is less concentrated, with 39.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.3%.
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 | RFFC | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $30M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 0.64% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 59 | 519 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | +11.31% |
| 1Y Return | +17.27%Best | +13.49% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.63%Best | +20.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.98% | +11.61%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,835 | $17,319Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.3% | 39.1%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2016 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2016 to Nov 13, 2026 (10.4 years).
RFFC 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 10.4 years both funds cover.
RFFC vs VOO Performance
ALPS Active Equity Opportunity ETF (RFFC) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RFFC returned +17.27% while VOO returned +13.49%. Year to date, RFFC is up 13.34% versus a gain of 11.31% for VOO.
Over three years, RFFC compounded at +20.63% per year against +20.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.98% and +11.61% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.85% annualized vs +11.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFFC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.2% 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 -36.5% for RFFC 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
RFFC charges 0.48% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $3 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFFC currently yields 0.64% against 1.05% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
86.2% of RFFC's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 46.2% of VOO's money is in holdings RFFC also owns.
Most of RFFC is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
51 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in RFFC and 506 in VOO, against full books of 59 and 519.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 450 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for RFFC (53.8% of the fund), and 3 for RFFC that do not appear in VOO (4.0%).
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 RFFC | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.83% | 8.39% | 3.56% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.69% | 7.38% | 1.69% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.34% | 5.78% | 0.56% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.76% | 3.71% | 0.05% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc., Class A | 3.96% | 3.07% | 0.89% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 4.05% | 0.97% | 3.08% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.05% | 2.43% | 0.38% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.46% | 1.33% | 1.13% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.28% | 1.41% | 0.87% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.84% | 0.70% | 1.14% |
86.2% of RFFC 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, RFFC or VOO?
RFFC has an expense ratio of 0.48% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFFC or VOO?
Over the past year RFFC returned +17.27% vs +13.49% for VOO, so RFFC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), RFFC annualized +11.80% vs +13.85% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFFC or VOO?
RFFC has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.2% for VOO. Worst drawdown: RFFC -36.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both RFFC and VOO?
RFFC 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 RFFC and VOO?
86.2% of RFFC's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 46.2% of VOO's is in holdings RFFC also owns. They hold 51 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in RFFC and 506 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFFC or VOO?
RFFC yields 0.64% while VOO yields 1.05%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than RFFC?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. RFFC led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VOO is less concentrated, with 39.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.