VOO vs VSDB
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF
Which is better, VOO or VSDB?
Large Cap Blend against Short Term Mid Quality.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y 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 | VOO | VSDB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.15% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $920M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 4.22% |
| Holdings | 509 | 1,413 |
| YTD Return | +12.25%Best | -1.73% |
| 1Y Return | +17.03%Best | -0.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.25% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.08% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2% | 2.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9% | -2.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $14,556Best | $10,421 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Short Term Mid Quality |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.5 years).
VOO vs VSDB 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
VOO vs VSDB Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Short Duration Bond ETF (VSDB) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VOO returned +17.03% while VSDB returned -0.40%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.25% versus a loss of 1.73% for VSDB.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.2% compared with 2.2% for VSDB. 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 -8.9% for VOO and -2.6% for VSDB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while VSDB charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $15 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 4.22% for VSDB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VOO's money is in holdings VSDB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VSDB, our book for it covers 42.4% 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 620 in VSDB, against full books of 509 and 1,413.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOO and VSDB 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 VSDB?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VSDB charges 0.15%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or VSDB?
Over the past year VOO returned +17.03% vs -0.40% for VSDB, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VOO annualized +28.44% vs +2.79% for VSDB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or VSDB?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 2.2% for VSDB. Worst drawdown: VOO -8.9% vs VSDB -2.6%.
Should I hold both VOO and VSDB?
VOO and VSDB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 VSDB?
VOO yields 1.04% while VSDB yields 4.22%, so VSDB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSDB better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.