URTH vs VOO
iShares MSCI World ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, URTH 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. URTH is less concentrated, with 27.0% 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 | URTH | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8.2B | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 1.36% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 1,310 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +11.10% | +12.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.55% | +15.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.41% | +22.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.63% | +13.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9%Best | 14.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,334 | $18,877Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.0%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2012 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 12, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.7 years).
URTH 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 14.7 years both funds cover.
URTH vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) 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 URTH returned +14.55% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, URTH is up 11.10% versus a gain of 12.75% for VOO.
Over three years, URTH compounded at +21.41% per year against +22.95% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.63% and +13.55% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.47% annualized vs +10.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.0% compared with 13.9% for URTH. 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 -34.0% for URTH 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
URTH charges 0.24% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $3 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URTH currently yields 1.36% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
69.8% of URTH's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 97.8% of VOO's money is in holdings URTH also owns.
Most of VOO is already inside URTH. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
422 positions in common, counted across the 1,222 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 494 in VOO, against full books of 1,310 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 68 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for URTH (1.6% of the fund), and 91 for URTH that do not appear in VOO (3.2%).
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 URTH | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.50% | 7.55% | 2.05% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.34% | 7.05% | 1.71% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.83% | 5.36% | 1.53% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.72% | 4.13% | 1.41% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.17% | 3.24% | 1.07% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.79% | 2.86% | 1.07% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.72% | 2.62% | 0.90% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.56% | 1.90% | 0.34% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.20% | 1.44% | 0.24% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.14% | 1.36% | 0.22% |
97.8% of VOO is already inside URTH.
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, URTH or VOO?
URTH has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URTH or VOO?
Over the past year URTH returned +14.55% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), URTH annualized +10.64% vs +13.47% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URTH or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.0% annualized versus 13.9% for URTH. Worst drawdown: URTH -34.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both URTH and VOO?
URTH 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 URTH and VOO?
97.8% of VOO's money is in holdings URTH also owns. 97.8% of VOO's is in holdings URTH also owns. They hold 422 positions in common, counted across the 1,222 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, URTH or VOO?
URTH yields 1.36% while VOO yields 1.04%, so URTH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than URTH?
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. URTH is less concentrated, with 27.0% 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.