SMDX vs VOO
Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SMDX or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.0% 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 | SMDX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $128M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 529 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +13.31%Best | +12.50% |
| 1Y Return | +15.08% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.6%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -16.1% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,019 | $13,021Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.0%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Intech ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 1, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.5 years).
SMDX 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
SMDX vs VOO Performance
Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF (SMDX) is an ETF from Intech ETF and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMDX returned +15.08% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, SMDX is up 13.31% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 12.6% for SMDX. 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 -14.5% for SMDX and -16.1% 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMDX charges 0.35% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMDX currently yields 0.52% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SMDX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.9% of VOO's money is in holdings SMDX also owns.
VOO and SMDX share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 64 days apart, SMDX as of Sep 2, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in SMDX and 505 in VOO, against full books of 529 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SMDX (97.5% of the fund), and 541 for SMDX that do not appear in VOO (97.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SMDX | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 0.07% | 1.92% | 1.85% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMDX 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, SMDX or VOO?
SMDX has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMDX or VOO?
Over the past year SMDX returned +15.08% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SMDX annualized +19.23% vs +19.24% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMDX or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 12.6% for SMDX. Worst drawdown: SMDX -14.5% vs VOO -16.1%.
Should I hold both SMDX and VOO?
SMDX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 SMDX and VOO?
1.9% of VOO's money is in holdings SMDX also owns. 1.9% of VOO's is in holdings SMDX also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in SMDX and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMDX or VOO?
SMDX yields 0.52% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SMDX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.0% 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.