VOO vs VPL
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF
Which is better, VOO or VPL?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 5Y and the full window, VPL over 1Y and 3Y. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | VOO | VPL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $8.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 2.61% |
| Holdings | 509 | 2,342 |
| YTD Return | +12.37% | +26.24%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.61% | +34.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.37% | +21.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.49%Best | +10.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3% | -32.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,827Best | $16,341 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6% | 23.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Mar 4, 2005 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
VOO vs VPL 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.
VOO vs VPL Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (VPL) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VOO returned +16.61% while VPL returned +34.00%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.37% versus a gain of 26.24% for VPL.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +21.37% per year against +21.99% for VPL; over five years the annualized figures are +13.49% and +10.32% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +8.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VPL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% 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 -34.3% for VOO and -32.9% for VPL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while VPL charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $7 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 2.61% for VPL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 494 holdings in VOO and 2,313 in VPL, totalling 99.5% and 96.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 2,313 in VPL, against full books of 509 and 2,342.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 5 positions for VPL that do not appear in our book for VOO (0.3% of the fund), and 487 for VOO that do not appear in VPL (99.2%).
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 VOO and VPL 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, VOO or VPL?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VPL charges 0.07%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or VPL?
Over the past year VOO returned +16.61% vs +34.00% for VPL, so VPL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VOO annualized +13.39% vs +8.34% for VPL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or VPL?
VPL has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs VPL -32.9%.
Should I hold both VOO and VPL?
VOO and VPL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, VOO or VPL?
VOO yields 1.04% while VPL yields 2.61%, so VPL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VPL better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 5Y and the full window, VPL over 1Y and 3Y. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.