RFI vs VOO
Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund Inc. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, RFI or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.7%.
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 | RFI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $298M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 8.23% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 193 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +1.01% | +12.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.06% | +15.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.83% | +22.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.56% | +13.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.7% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,723 | $18,877Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.7% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 27, 1993 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 1, 2026 (16.1 years).
RFI 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.
RFI vs VOO Performance
Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund Inc. (RFI) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RFI returned -6.06% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, RFI is up 1.01% versus a gain of 12.75% for VOO.
Over three years, RFI compounded at +8.83% per year against +22.95% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -0.56% and +13.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.38% annualized vs +2.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 14.1% 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 -53.7% for RFI 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFI charges 0.89% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $3 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFI currently yields 8.23% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
61.4% of RFI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.6% of VOO's money is in holdings RFI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, RFI as of Mar 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
22 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in RFI and 494 in VOO, against full books of 193 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 464 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for RFI (96.6% of the fund), and 132 for RFI that do not appear in VOO (35.1%).
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 RFI | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 12.20% | 0.26% | 11.94% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 7.47% | 0.10% | 7.37% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 5.94% | 0.13% | 5.81% |
| CCICrown Castle International Corp | 4.83% | 0.05% | 4.78% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 4.54% | 0.21% | 4.33% |
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 3.34% | 0.05% | 3.29% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 3.10% | 0.16% | 2.94% |
| KIMKimco Realty Corp. | 3.03% | 0.03% | 3.00% |
| IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv | 2.87% | 0.06% | 2.81% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 2.29% | 0.12% | 2.17% |
61.4% of RFI 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, RFI or VOO?
RFI has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFI or VOO?
Over the past year RFI returned -6.06% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), RFI annualized +2.37% vs +13.38% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFI or VOO?
RFI has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: RFI -53.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both RFI and VOO?
RFI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 RFI and VOO?
61.4% of RFI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 2.6% of VOO's is in holdings RFI also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in RFI and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFI or VOO?
RFI yields 8.23% while VOO yields 1.04%, so RFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than RFI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.