VOO vs VXF
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard Extended Market ETF
Which is better, VOO or VXF?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. VXF is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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 | VXF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | $1.0T | $31.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 506 | 3,385 |
| YTD Return | +12.75%Best | +11.02% |
| 1Y Return | +15.60%Best | +12.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.95%Best | +19.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.55%Best | +6.04% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3%Best | -41.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,877Best | $13,408 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6% | 6.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Dec 27, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 1, 2026 (16.1 years).
VOO vs VXF 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
VOO vs VXF Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Extended Market ETF (VXF) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VOO returned +15.60% while VXF returned +12.22%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.75% versus a gain of 11.02% for VXF.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +22.95% per year against +19.51% for VXF; over five years the annualized figures are +13.55% and +6.04% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.38% annualized vs +11.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% 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 -41.7% for VXF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while VXF charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $5 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 1.01% for VXF.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings VXF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 3,278 in VXF, against full books of 506 and 3,385.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,722 positions for VXF that do not appear in our book for VOO (92.3% of the fund), and 485 for VOO that do not appear in VXF (99.0%).
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 VXF 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 VXF?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VXF charges 0.05%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or VXF?
Over the past year VOO returned +15.60% vs +12.22% for VXF, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VOO annualized +13.38% vs +11.25% for VXF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or VXF?
VXF has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs VXF -41.7%.
Should I hold both VOO and VXF?
VOO and VXF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or VXF?
VOO yields 1.04% while VXF yields 1.01%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXF better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. VXF is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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.