VOO vs WCMI
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs First Trust WCM International Equity ETF
Which is better, VOO or WCMI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. WCMI led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%.
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 | WCMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $2.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 0.53% |
| Holdings | 509 | 97 |
| YTD Return | +12.50% | +13.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.58% | +21.18%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.27% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.7% | -12.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,691 | $14,243Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.4%Best | 41.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Mar 31, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.9 years).
VOO vs WCMI 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
VOO vs WCMI Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and First Trust WCM International Equity ETF (WCMI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year VOO returned +17.58% while WCMI returned +21.18%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.50% versus a gain of 13.67% for WCMI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WCMI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 12.8% 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 -18.7% for VOO and -12.8% for WCMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while WCMI charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $85 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 0.53% for WCMI.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of VOO's money is in holdings WCMI also owns. 4.7% of WCMI's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
WCMI and VOO share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 44 in WCMI, against full books of 509 and 97.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for WCMI that do not appear in our book for VOO (5.4% of the fund), and 493 for VOO that do not appear in WCMI (99.1%).
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 WCMI 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 WCMI?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WCMI charges 0.85%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or WCMI?
Over the past year VOO returned +17.58% vs +21.18% for WCMI, so WCMI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VOO annualized +17.98% vs +20.46% for WCMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or WCMI?
WCMI has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 12.8% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -18.7% vs WCMI -12.8%.
Should I hold both VOO and WCMI?
VOO and WCMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 WCMI?
4.7% of WCMI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 4.7% of WCMI's is in holdings VOO also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 44 in WCMI.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or WCMI?
VOO yields 1.04% while WCMI yields 0.53%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WCMI better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. WCMI led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.