VOO vs VSS
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, VOO or VSS?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Growth.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VSS is less concentrated, with 9.6% 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 | VOO | VSS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.06% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $13.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 3.10% |
| Holdings | 509 | 4,906 |
| YTD Return | +12.23%Best | +10.81% |
| 1Y Return | +18.60%Best | +16.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.98%Best | +16.76% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.76%Best | +5.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 16.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3%Best | -46.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,230Best | $13,256 |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.4% | 9.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Apr 2, 2009 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 9, 2026 (16 years).
VOO vs VSS 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 VSS Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VOO returned +18.60% while VSS returned +16.41%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.23% versus a gain of 10.81% for VSS.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +20.98% per year against +16.76% for VSS; over five years the annualized figures are +12.76% and +5.80% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.40% annualized vs +4.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VSS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% 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 -46.8% for VSS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while VSS charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 3.10% for VSS.
Holdings Overlap
5.5% of VSS's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
VSS and VOO share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 4,653 in VSS, against full books of 509 and 4,906.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 30 positions for VSS that do not appear in our book for VOO (3.2% of the fund), and 495 for VOO that do not appear in VSS (99.4%).
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 VOO | Weight in VSS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VEAVanguard Ftse Developed Markets ETF | 0.01% | 5.52% | 5.51% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOO and VSS 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 VSS?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VSS charges 0.06%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or VSS?
Over the past year VOO returned +18.60% vs +16.41% for VSS, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VOO annualized +13.40% vs +4.98% for VSS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or VSS?
VSS has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs VSS -46.8%.
Should I hold both VOO and VSS?
VOO and VSS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 VOO and VSS?
5.5% of VSS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 5.5% of VSS's is in holdings VOO also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 4,653 in VSS.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or VSS?
VOO yields 1.04% while VSS yields 3.10%, so VSS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSS better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VSS is less concentrated, with 9.6% 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.