SWPPX vs VOO
Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SWPPX or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
SWPPX has a lower expense ratio. SWPPX led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SWPPX is less concentrated, with 37.4% 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 | SWPPX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.03% |
| AUM | $147.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 503 | 509 |
| YTD Price Return | +12.29%Best | +11.70% |
| 1Y Price Return | +15.79%Best | +15.25% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -34.11% | +19.79%Best |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -21.80% | +11.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 40.5% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.7% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $2,924 | $17,537Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.4%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 19, 1997 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for SWPPX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. SWPPX yields 0.98% and VOO 1.04% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2021 to Sep 17, 2026 (5 years).
SWPPX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
SWPPX vs VOO Performance
Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX) is a mutual fund from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SWPPX returned +15.79% while VOO returned +15.25%. Year to date, SWPPX is up 12.29% versus a gain of 11.70% for VOO.
Over three years, SWPPX compounded at -34.11% per year against +19.79% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -21.80% and +11.89% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SWPPX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.5% compared with 15.8% 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 -83.7% for SWPPX and -25.4% 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 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SWPPX charges 0.02% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $3 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SWPPX currently yields 0.98% against 1.04% for VOO.
Structure and taxes
SWPPX is a mutual fund and VOO is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
98.0% of SWPPX's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 98.7% of VOO's money is in holdings SWPPX also owns.
Most of VOO is already inside SWPPX. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
486 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in SWPPX and 494 in VOO, against full books of 503 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 5 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SWPPX (0.6% of the fund), and 12 for SWPPX that do not appear in VOO (0.6%).
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 SWPPX | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.49% | 7.55% | 0.06% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.99% | 7.05% | 0.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.32% | 5.36% | 0.04% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.10% | 4.13% | 0.03% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.22% | 3.24% | 0.02% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.84% | 2.86% | 0.02% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.60% | 2.62% | 0.02% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.89% | 1.90% | 0.01% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.45% | 1.46% | 0.01% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.45% | 1.46% | 0.01% |
98.7% of VOO is already inside SWPPX.
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, SWPPX or VOO?
SWPPX has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VOO charges 0.03%. SWPPX is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SWPPX or VOO?
Over the past year SWPPX returned +15.79% vs +15.25% for VOO, so SWPPX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SWPPX or VOO?
SWPPX has been the more volatile fund at 40.5% annualized versus 15.8% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SWPPX -83.7% vs VOO -25.4%.
Should I hold both SWPPX and VOO?
SWPPX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, 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 SWPPX and VOO?
98.7% of VOO's money is in holdings SWPPX also owns. 98.7% of VOO's is in holdings SWPPX also owns. They hold 486 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in SWPPX and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SWPPX or VOO?
SWPPX yields 0.98% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold SWPPX or VOO in a taxable account?
VOO is an ETF and SWPPX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VOO better than SWPPX?
SWPPX has a lower expense ratio. SWPPX led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SWPPX is less concentrated, with 37.4% 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.