VOO vs WOOD
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs iShares Global Timber & Forestry ETF
Which is better, VOO or WOOD?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.3%.
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 | WOOD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $1.0T | $260M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 2.35% |
| Holdings | 506 | 42 |
| YTD Return | +13.59%Best | -8.09% |
| 1Y Return | +16.33%Best | -7.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.81%Best | -0.57% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.02%Best | -2.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 19.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3%Best | -52.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,271Best | $8,609 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6%Best | 57.3% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Jun 24, 2008 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 2, 2026 (16.1 years).
VOO vs WOOD 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 WOOD Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and iShares Global Timber & Forestry ETF (WOOD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year VOO returned +16.33% while WOOD returned -7.87%. Year to date, VOO is up 13.59% versus a loss of 8.09% for WOOD.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +23.81% per year against -0.57% for WOOD; over five years the annualized figures are +14.02% and -2.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.43% annualized vs +3.79%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WOOD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% 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 -52.4% for WOOD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while WOOD charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $39 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 2.35% for WOOD.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings WOOD also owns. 10.9% of WOOD's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
WOOD and VOO share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 26 in WOOD, against full books of 506 and 42.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for WOOD that do not appear in our book for VOO (13.1% of the fund), and 485 for VOO that do not appear in WOOD (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 WOOD 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 WOOD?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WOOD charges 0.39%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or WOOD?
Over the past year VOO returned +16.33% vs -7.87% for WOOD, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VOO annualized +13.43% vs +3.79% for WOOD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or WOOD?
WOOD has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs WOOD -52.4%.
Should I hold both VOO and WOOD?
VOO and WOOD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 WOOD?
10.9% of WOOD's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 10.9% of WOOD's is in holdings VOO also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 26 in WOOD.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or WOOD?
VOO yields 1.04% while WOOD yields 2.35%, so WOOD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WOOD better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.