UYG vs VOO
ProShares Ultra Financials vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, UYG or VOO?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. UYG 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 | UYG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.94% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $813M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.91% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 89 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +3.80% | +11.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.84% | +16.45%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.01%Best | +21.19% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.32%Best | +12.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 34.1% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,687Best | $18,384 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | 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 Sep 14, 2026 (16 years).
UYG 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.
UYG vs VOO Performance
ProShares Ultra Financials (UYG) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UYG returned +7.84% while VOO returned +16.45%. Year to date, UYG is up 3.80% versus a gain of 11.98% for VOO.
Over three years, UYG compounded at +31.01% per year against +21.19% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +13.32% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, UYG has the edge at +17.53% annualized vs +13.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.1% 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 -70.0% for UYG 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UYG 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, UYG currently yields 10.91% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 11.6% of VOO's money is in holdings UYG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UYG, our book for it covers 62.2% 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 UYG share little of their money.
72 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in UYG and 494 in VOO, against full books of 89 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in UYG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 6.76% | 1.46% | 5.30% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 6.55% | 1.46% | 5.09% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 4.46% | 0.93% | 3.53% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.37% | 0.72% | 2.65% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 2.14% | 0.45% | 1.69% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.87% | 0.41% | 1.46% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 1.81% | 0.39% | 1.42% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 1.59% | 0.34% | 1.25% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 1.27% | 0.27% | 1.00% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 1.25% | 0.28% | 0.97% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of UYG 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, UYG or VOO?
UYG 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, UYG or VOO?
Over the past year UYG returned +7.84% vs +16.45% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), UYG annualized +17.53% vs +13.37% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UYG or VOO?
UYG has been the more volatile fund at 34.1% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: UYG -70.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both UYG and VOO?
UYG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 UYG and VOO?
At least 11.6% of VOO's money is in holdings UYG also owns. Our book for UYG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 72 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in UYG and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, UYG or VOO?
UYG yields 10.91% while VOO yields 1.04%, so UYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than UYG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. UYG 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.