RQI vs VOO

RQI vs VOO

Which is better, RQI or VOO?

VOO has been ahead.

VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VOOHigher Returns: VOO

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

MetricRQIVOO
Expense Ratio3.45%0.03%Best
AUM$1,620.47$997.4B
Dividend Yield8.96%1.04%
Holdings208509
YTD Return+6.26%+11.01%Best
1Y Return+0.93%+15.60%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+9.75%+20.82%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+1.62%+12.60%Best
Volatility (annualized)23.5%14.1%Best
Max Drawdown-60.5%-34.3%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$10,837$18,101Best
Fund FamilyCohen & Steers FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 28, 2002Sep 7, 2010

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 16, 2026 (16 years).

RQI 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 16 years both funds cover.

RQI vs VOO Performance

Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Inc (RQI) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RQI returned +0.93% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, RQI is up 6.26% versus a gain of 11.01% for VOO.

Over three years, RQI compounded at +9.75% per year against +20.82% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +1.62% and +12.60% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.30% annualized vs +5.84%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

RQI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.5% 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 -60.5% for RQI 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

RQI charges 3.45% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $345 vs $3 annually, a gap of $342 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RQI currently yields 8.96% against 1.04% for VOO.

Holdings Overlap

VOO already in RQI2.6%

At least 2.6% of VOO's money is in holdings RQI also owns.

Only one direction is shown: for RQI, our book for it lists positions totalling 138.2% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.

VOO and RQI share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, RQI 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 170 positions we hold weights for in RQI and 494 in VOO, against full books of 208 and 509.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in RQIWeight in VOODifference
WELLWelltower, Inc.17.16%0.26%16.90%
DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc.10.71%0.10%10.61%
AMTAmerican Tower Corporation8.41%0.13%8.28%
CCICrown Castle International Corp6.89%0.05%6.84%
PLDPrologis Inc6.49%0.21%6.28%
EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust4.71%0.16%4.55%
EXRExtra Space Storage Inc.4.75%0.05%4.70%
KIMKimco Realty Corp.4.33%0.03%4.30%
IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv4.13%0.06%4.07%
SPGSimon Property Group Inc3.29%0.12%3.17%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of RQI and VOO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

RQIVOO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, RQI or VOO?

RQI has an expense ratio of 3.45% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $342 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, RQI or VOO?

Over the past year RQI returned +0.93% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), RQI annualized +5.84% vs +13.30% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, RQI or VOO?

RQI has been the more volatile fund at 23.5% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: RQI -60.5% vs VOO -34.3%.

Should I hold both RQI and VOO?

RQI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 RQI and VOO?

At least 2.6% of VOO's money is in holdings RQI also owns. Our book for RQI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 170 positions we hold weights for in RQI and 494 in VOO.

Which pays a higher dividend, RQI or VOO?

RQI yields 8.96% while VOO yields 1.04%, so RQI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VOO better than RQI?

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.