SWZ vs VOO
Total Return Securities Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SWZ or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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 61.1%.
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 | SWZ | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.62% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $96M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 27 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -4.33% | +12.74%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.61% | +19.43%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.10% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.79% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.2%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,475 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.1% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Total Return Securities Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 1987 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 8, 2026 (16 years).
SWZ 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.
SWZ vs VOO Performance
Total Return Securities Fund (SWZ) is an ETF from Total Return Securities Fund and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SWZ returned -2.61% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, SWZ is down 4.33% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, SWZ compounded at +7.10% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +2.79% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.43% annualized vs +8.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SWZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% 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 -31.2% for SWZ 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SWZ charges 1.62% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $162 vs $3 annually, a gap of $159 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SWZ currently yields 0.00% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
11.4% of SWZ's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.4% of VOO's money is in holdings SWZ also owns.
SWZ and VOO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, SWZ as of Mar 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in SWZ and 504 in VOO, against full books of 27 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SWZ (98.9% of the fund), and 16 for SWZ that do not appear in VOO (72.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SWZ 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, SWZ or VOO?
SWZ has an expense ratio of 1.62% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $159 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SWZ or VOO?
Over the past year SWZ returned -2.61% vs +19.43% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SWZ annualized +8.04% vs +13.43% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SWZ or VOO?
SWZ has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: SWZ -31.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both SWZ and VOO?
SWZ and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 SWZ and VOO?
11.4% of SWZ's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.4% of VOO's is in holdings SWZ also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in SWZ and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SWZ or VOO?
SWZ yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SWZ?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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 61.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.