USA vs VOO
Liberty All-Star Equity Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, USA or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. USA is less concentrated, with 25.0% 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 | USA | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.92% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.81% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 139 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +1.43% | +13.31%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.06% | +17.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.22% | +22.72%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.49% | +13.19%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,768 | $18,580Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.0%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Liberty All Star Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 31, 1986 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 23, 2026 (16 years).
USA 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.
USA vs VOO Performance
Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) is an ETF from Liberty All Star Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year USA returned +1.06% while VOO returned +17.07%. Year to date, USA is up 1.43% versus a gain of 13.31% for VOO.
Over three years, USA compounded at +10.22% per year against +22.72% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +1.49% and +13.19% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.43% annualized vs +5.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% 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 -48.1% for USA 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
USA charges 0.92% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $92 vs $3 annually, a gap of $89 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, USA currently yields 9.81% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
79.5% of USA's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 51.3% of VOO's money is in holdings USA also owns.
Most of USA is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
107 positions in common, counted across the 147 positions we hold weights for in USA and 494 in VOO, against full books of 139 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 380 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for USA (47.9% of the fund), and 23 for USA that do not appear in VOO (12.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in USA | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.70% | 7.55% | 1.85% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.57% | 5.36% | 2.79% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.84% | 2.62% | 1.22% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.66% | 4.13% | 2.47% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.10% | 3.24% | 2.14% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.29% | 2.86% | 1.57% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.98% | 1.90% | 0.08% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.66% | 1.36% | 0.30% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.68% | 0.93% | 0.75% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 2.32% | 0.20% | 2.12% |
79.5% of USA is already inside VOO.
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, USA or VOO?
USA has an expense ratio of 0.92% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $89 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, USA or VOO?
Over the past year USA returned +1.06% vs +17.07% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), USA annualized +5.70% vs +13.43% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, USA or VOO?
USA has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: USA -48.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both USA and VOO?
USA and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 USA and VOO?
79.5% of USA's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 51.3% of VOO's is in holdings USA also owns. They hold 107 positions in common, counted across the 147 positions we hold weights for in USA and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, USA or VOO?
USA yields 9.81% while VOO yields 1.04%, so USA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than USA?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. USA is less concentrated, with 25.0% 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.