SMCO vs VOO
Hilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SMCO or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. SMCO is less concentrated, with 24.9% 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 | SMCO | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $137M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.94% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 65 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +3.79% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.65% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.7% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $14,330 | $17,339Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.9%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Hilton Capital Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2023 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2023 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.8 years).
SMCO 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SMCO vs VOO Performance
Hilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETF (SMCO) is an ETF from Hilton Capital Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMCO returned +6.65% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, SMCO is up 3.79% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMCO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 11.8% 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 -22.7% for SMCO and -18.7% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMCO 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, SMCO currently yields 0.94% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
22.4% of SMCO's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.6% of VOO's money is in holdings SMCO also owns.
SMCO and VOO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SMCO as of Aug 17, 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.
13 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in SMCO and 505 in VOO, against full books of 65 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 483 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SMCO (98.9% of the fund), and 49 for SMCO that do not appear in VOO (74.7%).
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 SMCO | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDYTeledyne Technologies Inc | 2.43% | 0.05% | 2.38% |
| WSTWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc | 2.34% | 0.04% | 2.30% |
| EQTEqt Corp | 2.19% | 0.05% | 2.14% |
| STESteris Plc | 2.05% | 0.03% | 2.02% |
| CIENCiena Corp | 1.94% | 0.11% | 1.83% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 1.89% | 0.03% | 1.86% |
| EMEEmcor Group Inc | 1.84% | 0.06% | 1.78% |
| JJacobs Engineering Group Inc - Common | 1.58% | 0.02% | 1.56% |
| JKHYJack Henry & Associates Inc | 1.46% | 0.02% | 1.44% |
| LYVLive Nation Entertainment Inc | 1.36% | 0.04% | 1.32% |
22.4% of SMCO 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, SMCO or VOO?
SMCO 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, SMCO or VOO?
Over the past year SMCO returned +6.65% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMCO or VOO?
SMCO has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 11.8% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SMCO -22.7% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both SMCO and VOO?
SMCO and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 SMCO and VOO?
22.4% of SMCO's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.6% of VOO's is in holdings SMCO also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in SMCO and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMCO or VOO?
SMCO yields 0.94% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SMCO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. SMCO is less concentrated, with 24.9% 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.