RNEM vs VOO
First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, RNEM or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RNEM is less concentrated, with 27.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | RNEM | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.27% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 311 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +4.25% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.49% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.31% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.72% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -42.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,206 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.1%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 20, 2017 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 23, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.2 years).
RNEM 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
RNEM vs VOO Performance
First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF (RNEM) 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 RNEM returned +9.49% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, RNEM is up 4.25% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, RNEM compounded at +8.31% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +5.72% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.32% annualized vs +3.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 14.3% for RNEM. 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 -42.3% for RNEM 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RNEM charges 0.75% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RNEM currently yields 2.27% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of RNEM's money is in holdings VOO 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 287 positions we hold weights for in RNEM and 504 in VOO, against full books of 311 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for RNEM (99.3% of the fund), and 7 for RNEM that do not appear in VOO (1.3%).
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 RNEM | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LHLaboratory Corporation of America Holdings | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RNEM 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, RNEM or VOO?
RNEM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RNEM or VOO?
Over the past year RNEM returned +9.49% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), RNEM annualized +3.25% vs +14.32% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RNEM or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 14.3% for RNEM. Worst drawdown: RNEM -42.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both RNEM and VOO?
RNEM and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, RNEM or VOO?
RNEM yields 2.27% while VOO yields 1.08%, so RNEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than RNEM?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RNEM is less concentrated, with 27.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.