TOK vs VOO
iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, TOK or VOO?
Nearly the same fund. VOO costs less.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. TOK is less concentrated, with 27.5% 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 | TOK | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $246M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 1,136 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.65% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.88% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.46% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.59% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,303 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.5%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
TOK 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.
TOK vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF (TOK) 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 TOK returned +16.88% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, TOK is up 11.65% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, TOK compounded at +20.46% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.59% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.41% annualized vs +10.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TOK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% 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 -34.8% for TOK 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TOK charges 0.25% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $3 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TOK currently yields 1.27% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
71.3% of TOK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 93.5% of VOO's money is in holdings TOK also owns.
Most of VOO is already inside TOK. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
386 positions in common, counted across the 892 positions we hold weights for in TOK and 505 in VOO, against full books of 1,136 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 114 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for TOK (6.3% of the fund), and 71 for TOK that do not appear in VOO (3.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TOK | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.32% | 7.51% | 2.19% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.41% | 6.59% | 1.18% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.22% | 4.30% | 1.08% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.79% | 3.62% | 0.83% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.51% | 3.25% | 0.74% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.98% | 2.77% | 0.79% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.99% | 2.59% | 0.60% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.55% | 1.92% | 0.37% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.31% | 2.02% | 0.71% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.39% | 1.84% | 0.45% |
93.5% of VOO is already inside TOK.
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, TOK or VOO?
TOK has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TOK or VOO?
Over the past year TOK returned +16.88% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), TOK annualized +10.30% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TOK or VOO?
TOK has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: TOK -34.8% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both TOK and VOO?
TOK and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between TOK and VOO?
93.5% of VOO's money is in holdings TOK also owns. 93.5% of VOO's is in holdings TOK also owns. They hold 386 positions in common, counted across the 892 positions we hold weights for in TOK and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, TOK or VOO?
TOK yields 1.27% while VOO yields 1.04%, so TOK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than TOK?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. TOK is less concentrated, with 27.5% 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.