RW vs VOO
Rainwater Equity ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, RW or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%.
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 | RW | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $18M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 33 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.24% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.29% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.0% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $10,034 | $13,045Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.5% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Rainwater ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
RW 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
RW vs VOO Performance
Rainwater Equity ETF (RW) is an ETF from Rainwater ETFs and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RW returned -1.29% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, RW is up 0.24% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.2% compared with 11.9% 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 -17.0% for RW and -8.9% 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RW charges 0.95% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RW currently yields 0.10% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
52.4% of RW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 29.5% of VOO's money is in holdings RW also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, RW as of Aug 18, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
20 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in RW and 505 in VOO, against full books of 33 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 477 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for RW (70.0% of the fund), and 9 for RW that do not appear in VOO (30.9%).
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 RW | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.29% | 6.59% | 2.30% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.74% | 7.51% | 4.77% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 5.27% | 1.42% | 3.85% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 3.15% | 3.25% | 0.10% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.43% | 4.30% | 2.87% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 4.60% | 0.60% | 4.00% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.40% | 2.77% | 1.37% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.06% | 0.64% | 2.42% |
| AMEAmetek Inc | 3.52% | 0.09% | 3.43% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 2.74% | 0.34% | 2.40% |
52.4% of RW 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, RW or VOO?
RW has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RW or VOO?
Over the past year RW returned -1.29% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RW annualized +0.28% vs +24.80% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RW or VOO?
RW has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 11.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: RW -17.0% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both RW and VOO?
RW and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 RW and VOO?
52.4% of RW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 29.5% of VOO's is in holdings RW also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in RW and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, RW or VOO?
RW yields 0.10% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than RW?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.