VGSH vs VOO
Vanguard Short Term Treasury ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, VGSH or VOO?
Short Term Government Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VGSH | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Tie | 0.03%Tie |
| AUM | $34.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 94 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.53% | +14.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.72% | +17.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.11% | +23.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.83% | +13.85%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.4%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.7%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,949 | $19,128Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Government Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2009 | 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 21, 2026 (16 years).
VGSH 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.
VGSH vs VOO Performance
Vanguard Short Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VGSH returned +1.72% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, VGSH is up 0.53% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, VGSH compounded at +4.11% per year against +23.16% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +1.83% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.49% annualized vs +0.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 1.4% for VGSH. 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 -6.7% for VGSH 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 0.05. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VGSH charges 0.03% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $3 annually. On income, VGSH currently yields 3.82% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings VGSH also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VGSH, our book for it covers 76.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in VGSH and 494 in VOO, against full books of 94 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VGSH | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CURVVanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 0.40% | 0.05% | 0.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VGSH 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, VGSH or VOO?
VGSH has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VOO charges 0.03%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, VGSH or VOO?
Over the past year VGSH returned +1.72% vs +17.31% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VGSH annualized +0.66% vs +13.49% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VGSH or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 1.4% for VGSH. Worst drawdown: VGSH -6.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both VGSH and VOO?
VGSH and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.05, 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, VGSH or VOO?
VGSH yields 3.82% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VGSH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than VGSH?
VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.