RIV vs VOO
RiverNorth Opportunities Fund Inc. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, RIV or VOO?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | RIV | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 5.11% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $330M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.76% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 442 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -0.35% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.89% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.65% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.75% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,453 | $18,827Best |
| Fund Family | RiverNorth | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 23, 2015 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 24, 2015 to Sep 18, 2026 (10.7 years).
RIV 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
RIV vs VOO Performance
RiverNorth Opportunities Fund Inc. (RIV) is an ETF from RiverNorth and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RIV returned +0.89% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, RIV is down 0.35% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, RIV compounded at +11.65% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +2.75% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.85% annualized vs +0.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RIV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.1% 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 -55.6% for RIV 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
RIV charges 5.11% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $511 vs $3 annually, a gap of $508 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RIV currently yields 11.76% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.6% of VOO's money is in holdings RIV also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for RIV, our book for it lists positions totalling 126.1% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VOO and RIV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, RIV as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 259 positions we hold weights for in RIV and 494 in VOO, against full books of 442 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RIV 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, RIV or VOO?
RIV has an expense ratio of 5.11% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $508 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RIV or VOO?
Over the past year RIV returned +0.89% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), RIV annualized +0.86% vs +13.85% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RIV or VOO?
RIV has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: RIV -55.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both RIV and VOO?
RIV 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 RIV and VOO?
At least 3.6% of VOO's money is in holdings RIV also owns. Our book for RIV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 259 positions we hold weights for in RIV and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, RIV or VOO?
RIV yields 11.76% while VOO yields 1.04%, so RIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than RIV?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.