SMLL vs VOO
Harbor Active Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SMLL or VOO?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. SMLL is less concentrated, with 36.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | SMLL | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 51 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +2.14% | +13.31%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.92% | +17.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.19% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $10,519 | $14,209Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.3%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2024 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 29, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (2.1 years).
SMLL 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SMLL vs VOO Performance
Harbor Active Small Cap ETF (SMLL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMLL returned -4.92% while VOO returned +17.07%. Year to date, SMLL is up 2.14% versus a gain of 13.31% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMLL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 12.4% 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 -23.6% for SMLL 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMLL charges 0.80% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $3 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMLL currently yields 1.49% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
6.9% of SMLL's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings SMLL also owns.
SMLL and VOO share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in SMLL and 494 in VOO, against full books of 51 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 51 and 494 positions we hold weights for.
VOO holds 484 positions SMLL does not, 99.1% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.55%, AAPL 7.05%, MSFT 5.36%, AMZN 4.13%, GOOGL 3.24%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMLL 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, SMLL or VOO?
SMLL has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMLL or VOO?
Over the past year SMLL returned -4.92% vs +17.07% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SMLL annualized +2.44% vs +18.21% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMLL or VOO?
SMLL has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 12.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SMLL -23.6% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both SMLL and VOO?
SMLL 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 SMLL and VOO?
6.9% of SMLL's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's is in holdings SMLL also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in SMLL and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMLL or VOO?
SMLL yields 1.49% while VOO yields 1.04%, so SMLL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SMLL?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. SMLL is less concentrated, with 36.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.