USD vs VOO
ProShares Ultra Semiconductors vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, USD or VOO?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. USD led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VOO over 1Y.
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 | USD | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.94% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 0.59% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 155 | 519 |
| YTD Return | +0.80% | +11.31%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.92% | +13.49%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +68.74%Best | +20.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +34.32%Best | +11.61% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 53.6% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.8% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $43,722Best | $17,319 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Nov 13, 2026 (16.2 years).
USD 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.
USD vs VOO Performance
ProShares Ultra Semiconductors (USD) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year USD returned +5.92% while VOO returned +13.49%. Year to date, USD is up 0.80% versus a gain of 11.31% for VOO.
Over three years, USD compounded at +68.74% per year against +20.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +34.32% and +11.61% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, USD has the edge at +39.41% annualized vs +13.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 53.6% compared with 14.0% 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 -77.8% for USD 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
USD charges 0.94% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $94 vs $3 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, USD currently yields 0.59% against 1.05% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 18.6% of VOO's money is in holdings USD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for USD, our book for it covers 71.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VOO and USD share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in USD and 506 in VOO, against full books of 155 and 519.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in USD | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 24.15% | 8.39% | 15.76% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.32% | 2.54% | 4.78% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.70% | 1.83% | 2.87% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.04% | 1.52% | 2.52% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 2.10% | 0.91% | 1.19% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.57% | 0.62% | 0.95% |
| AMATApplied Material | 1.51% | 0.62% | 0.89% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 1.16% | 0.39% | 0.77% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 1.00% | 0.39% | 0.61% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Inc | 0.95% | 0.35% | 0.60% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of USD 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, USD or VOO?
USD has an expense ratio of 0.94% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, USD or VOO?
Over the past year USD returned +5.92% vs +13.49% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), USD annualized +39.41% vs +13.18% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, USD or VOO?
USD has been the more volatile fund at 53.6% annualized versus 14.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: USD -77.8% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both USD and VOO?
USD and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 USD and VOO?
At least 18.6% of VOO's money is in holdings USD also owns. Our book for USD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in USD and 506 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, USD or VOO?
USD yields 0.59% while VOO yields 1.05%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than USD?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. USD led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VOO over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.