VGI vs VOO
Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, VGI or VOO?
Diversified Sectoral Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | VGI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.74% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $88M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.31% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 646 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +1.75% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.70% | +21.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.16% | +21.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.25% | +12.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.3% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,177 | $18,319Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.4%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 23, 2012 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2012 to Sep 3, 2026 (14.5 years).
VGI 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.
VGI vs VOO Performance
Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (VGI) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VGI returned +3.70% while VOO returned +21.53%. Year to date, VGI is up 1.75% versus a gain of 13.81% for VOO.
Over three years, VGI compounded at +12.16% per year against +21.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +2.25% and +12.87% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.30% annualized vs -2.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% 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 -63.3% for VGI 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VGI charges 1.74% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $174 vs $3 annually, a gap of $171 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VGI currently yields 12.31% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 472 holdings in VGI and 505 in VOO, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. That is not enough of VOO to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 472 positions we hold weights for in VGI and 505 in VOO, against full books of 646 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for VGI (99.5% of the fund), and 465 for VGI that do not appear in VOO (99.8%).
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 VGI | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARESAres Management Corp Preferred Stock 10/27 6.75 | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VGI 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, VGI or VOO?
VGI has an expense ratio of 1.74% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $171 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VGI or VOO?
Over the past year VGI returned +3.70% vs +21.53% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), VGI annualized -2.35% vs +13.30% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VGI or VOO?
VGI has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 14.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VGI -63.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both VGI and VOO?
VGI 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, VGI or VOO?
VGI yields 12.31% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VGI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than VGI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.