SOXX vs VOO
iShares Semiconductor ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SOXX or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. SOXX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.4%.
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 | SOXX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.33% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $40.8B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.29% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 34 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +65.13%Best | +11.55% |
| 1Y Return | +105.11%Best | +17.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +47.52%Best | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +28.09%Best | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.9% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.8% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $34,481Best | $18,262 |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.4% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 10, 2001 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 10, 2026 (16 years).
SOXX 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 16 years both funds cover.
SOXX vs VOO Performance
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SOXX returned +105.11% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, SOXX is up 65.13% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Over three years, SOXX compounded at +47.52% per year against +20.71% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +28.09% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SOXX has the edge at +26.49% annualized vs +13.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SOXX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.9% compared with 14.1% 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 -45.8% for SOXX 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
SOXX charges 0.33% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $3 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SOXX currently yields 0.29% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
81.6% of SOXX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 19.1% of VOO's money is in holdings SOXX also owns.
Most of SOXX is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, SOXX as of Aug 31, 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.
18 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in SOXX and 505 in VOO, against full books of 34 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 478 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SOXX (80.4% of the fund), and 7 for SOXX that do not appear in VOO (8.5%).
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 SOXX | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 9.43% | 7.51% | 1.92% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 8.90% | 2.02% | 6.88% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.48% | 2.77% | 4.71% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 8.22% | 1.47% | 6.75% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 5.09% | 1.02% | 4.07% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 4.59% | 0.89% | 3.70% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 4.27% | 0.84% | 3.43% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 4.66% | 0.40% | 4.26% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 4.12% | 0.61% | 3.51% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 3.85% | 0.42% | 3.43% |
81.6% of SOXX 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, SOXX or VOO?
SOXX has an expense ratio of 0.33% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SOXX or VOO?
Over the past year SOXX returned +105.11% vs +17.54% for VOO, so SOXX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SOXX annualized +26.49% vs +13.35% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SOXX or VOO?
SOXX has been the more volatile fund at 26.9% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SOXX -45.8% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both SOXX and VOO?
SOXX 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.
What is the holdings overlap between SOXX and VOO?
81.6% of SOXX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 19.1% of VOO's is in holdings SOXX also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in SOXX and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SOXX or VOO?
SOXX yields 0.29% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SOXX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. SOXX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.