TDF vs VOO
Templeton Dragon Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, TDF 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 45.6%.
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 | TDF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.33% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5,054.4 | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.61% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 68 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -6.40% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.22% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.18% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -7.86% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $6,641 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.6% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 8, 1994 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
TDF 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
TDF vs VOO Performance
Templeton Dragon Fund (TDF) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TDF returned +0.22% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, TDF is down 6.40% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, TDF compounded at +8.18% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -7.86% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs -3.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TDF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% 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 -72.0% for TDF 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TDF charges 1.33% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $133 vs $3 annually, a gap of $130 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TDF currently yields 3.61% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 62 holdings in TDF and 505 in VOO, totalling 95.4% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, TDF as of Jan 30, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in TDF and 505 in VOO, against full books of 68 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for TDF (99.5% of the fund), and 5 for TDF that do not appear in VOO (11.9%).
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 TDF 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, TDF or VOO?
TDF has an expense ratio of 1.33% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $130 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TDF or VOO?
Over the past year TDF returned +0.22% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), TDF annualized -3.69% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TDF or VOO?
TDF has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: TDF -72.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both TDF and VOO?
TDF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, TDF or VOO?
TDF yields 3.61% while VOO yields 1.08%, so TDF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than TDF?
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 45.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.