SMOT vs VOO
VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SMOT or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMOT is less concentrated, with 15.4% 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 | SMOT | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.21% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 111 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +7.22% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.90% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.65% | +20.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $15,466 | $21,283Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.4%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 4, 2022 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 6, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (3.9 years).
SMOT 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
SMOT vs VOO Performance
VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (SMOT) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMOT returned +7.90% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, SMOT is up 7.22% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Over three years, SMOT compounded at +10.65% per year against +20.71% for VOO. Across the full 4-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +21.37% annualized vs +11.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 13.0% 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 -23.4% for SMOT 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOT charges 0.49% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOT currently yields 1.21% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
65.7% of SMOT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.6% of VOO's money is in holdings SMOT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, SMOT as of Sep 1, 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.
72 positions in common, counted across the 110 positions we hold weights for in SMOT and 505 in VOO, against full books of 111 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 424 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SMOT (95.8% of the fund), and 36 for SMOT that do not appear in VOO (31.2%).
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 SMOT | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IQVIqvia Holdings Inc. | 1.78% | 0.05% | 1.73% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.68% | 0.09% | 1.59% |
| TECHBio-Techne Corp | 1.66% | 0.02% | 1.64% |
| BDXBecton Dickinson And Co. | 1.48% | 0.06% | 1.42% |
| CTVACorteva Inc. | 1.43% | 0.09% | 1.34% |
| SQBlock, Inc | 1.42% | 0.06% | 1.36% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. | 1.42% | 0.05% | 1.37% |
| AMCRAmcor Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.43% | 0.03% | 1.40% |
| ELEstee Lauder Cos., Inc. | 1.40% | 0.03% | 1.37% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 1.35% | 0.07% | 1.28% |
65.7% of SMOT 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SMOT or VOO?
SMOT has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOT or VOO?
Over the past year SMOT returned +7.90% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SMOT annualized +11.83% vs +21.37% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMOT or VOO?
SMOT has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 13.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SMOT -23.4% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both SMOT and VOO?
SMOT and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 SMOT and VOO?
65.7% of SMOT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.6% of VOO's is in holdings SMOT also owns. They hold 72 positions in common, counted across the 110 positions we hold weights for in SMOT and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOT or VOO?
SMOT yields 1.21% while VOO yields 1.04%, so SMOT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SMOT?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMOT is less concentrated, with 15.4% 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.