SMLV vs VOO
State Street SPDR US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SMLV or VOO?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. SMLV led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SMLV is less concentrated, with 5.8% 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 | SMLV | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $258M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.21% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 401 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +21.25%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +21.01%Best | +19.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.68% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.49% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.9% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,735 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.8%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 20, 2013 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 21, 2013 to Sep 8, 2026 (13.5 years).
SMLV 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 13.5 years both funds cover.
SMLV vs VOO Performance
State Street SPDR US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF (SMLV) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMLV returned +21.01% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, SMLV is up 21.25% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, SMLV compounded at +18.68% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.49% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.44% annualized vs +8.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMLV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 14.3% 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 -42.9% for SMLV 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMLV charges 0.12% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $3 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMLV currently yields 2.21% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SMLV's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings SMLV also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 396 positions we hold weights for in SMLV and 504 in VOO, against full books of 401 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SMLV (99.3% of the fund), and 380 for SMLV that do not appear in VOO (96.7%).
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 SMLV | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNCCentene Corp | 0.14% | 0.05% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMLV 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, SMLV or VOO?
SMLV has an expense ratio of 0.12% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMLV or VOO?
Over the past year SMLV returned +21.01% vs +19.43% for VOO, so SMLV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SMLV annualized +8.57% vs +13.44% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMLV or VOO?
SMLV has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SMLV -42.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both SMLV and VOO?
SMLV and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMLV or VOO?
SMLV yields 2.21% while VOO yields 1.08%, so SMLV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SMLV?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. SMLV led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SMLV is less concentrated, with 5.8% 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.