VCLN vs VOO
Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, VCLN or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VCLN led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%.
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 | VCLN | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.94% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 46 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +5.71% | +13.31%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.92%Best | +17.07% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.91% | +22.72%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.70% | +13.19%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.2% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.7% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,425 | $18,580Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.5% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 3, 2021 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 4, 2021 to Sep 23, 2026 (5.1 years).
VCLN 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
VCLN vs VOO Performance
Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VCLN returned +20.92% while VOO returned +17.07%. Year to date, VCLN is up 5.71% versus a gain of 13.31% for VOO.
Over three years, VCLN compounded at +17.91% per year against +22.72% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +2.70% and +13.19% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.2% compared with 15.7% 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 -45.7% for VCLN and -24.5% 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VCLN charges 0.59% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $3 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VCLN currently yields 1.94% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
15.0% of VCLN's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.1% of VOO's money is in holdings VCLN also owns.
VCLN and VOO share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in VCLN and 494 in VOO, against full books of 46 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for VCLN (98.1% of the fund), and 9 for VCLN that do not appear in VOO (28.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VCLN 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, VCLN or VOO?
VCLN has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VCLN or VOO?
Over the past year VCLN returned +20.92% vs +17.07% for VOO, so VCLN leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VCLN or VOO?
VCLN has been the more volatile fund at 27.2% annualized versus 15.7% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VCLN -45.7% vs VOO -24.5%.
Should I hold both VCLN and VOO?
VCLN and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 VCLN and VOO?
15.0% of VCLN's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.1% of VOO's is in holdings VCLN also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in VCLN and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, VCLN or VOO?
VCLN yields 1.94% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VCLN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than VCLN?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VCLN led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.