SLX vs VOO
VanEck Steel ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SLX or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. SLX led over 1Y and 5Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%.
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 | SLX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $165M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 40 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +28.45%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +59.89%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.74% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.98%Best | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,985Best | $18,335 |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.3% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 10, 2006 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
SLX 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.
SLX vs VOO Performance
VanEck Steel ETF (SLX) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SLX returned +59.89% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, SLX is up 28.45% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, SLX compounded at +19.74% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +15.98% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +6.94%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SLX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% 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 -76.0% for SLX 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SLX charges 0.55% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SLX currently yields 1.27% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
12.5% of SLX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings SLX also owns.
SLX and VOO share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in SLX and 505 in VOO, against full books of 40 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SLX (99.4% of the fund), and 4 for SLX that do not appear in VOO (9.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SLX 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, SLX or VOO?
SLX has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SLX or VOO?
Over the past year SLX returned +59.89% vs +20.08% for VOO, so SLX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SLX annualized +6.94% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SLX or VOO?
SLX has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SLX -76.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both SLX and VOO?
SLX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 SLX and VOO?
12.5% of SLX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's is in holdings SLX also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in SLX and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SLX or VOO?
SLX yields 1.27% while VOO yields 1.08%, so SLX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SLX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. SLX led over 1Y and 5Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.