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.
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 | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.36% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 1,310 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.12% | +11.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.47% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.58% | +20.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.02% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.0%Tie | 14.0%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,866 | $18,262Best |
| 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 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 12, 2012 to Sep 10, 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 +17.47% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, URTH is up 11.12% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Over three years, URTH compounded at +19.58% per year against +20.71% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.02% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.44% annualized vs +10.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
URTH and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 14.0% annualized.
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
At least 93.7% of VOO's money is in holdings URTH also owns.
Stated as a floor: for URTH, our book for it covers 94.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of VOO is already inside URTH. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
391 positions in common, counted across the 1,053 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 505 in VOO, against full books of 1,310 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in URTH | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.01% | 7.51% | 2.50% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.10% | 6.59% | 1.49% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.03% | 4.30% | 1.27% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.62% | 3.62% | 1.00% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.37% | 3.25% | 0.88% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.87% | 2.77% | 0.90% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.87% | 2.59% | 0.72% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.46% | 1.92% | 0.46% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.23% | 2.02% | 0.79% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.31% | 1.84% | 0.53% |
93.7% 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 +17.47% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), URTH annualized +10.68% vs +13.44% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URTH or VOO?
URTH and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 14.0% annualized. 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?
At least 93.7% of VOO's money is in holdings URTH also owns. Our book for URTH is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 391 positions in common, counted across the 1,053 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 505 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. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.