VOO vs WSML
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, VOO or WSML?
WSML has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. WSML 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 | WSML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $665M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 2.82% |
| Holdings | 509 | 3,540 |
| YTD Return | +12.37% | +13.27%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.61% | +16.62%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.37% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.49% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 13.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -10.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $14,561 | $14,973Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| 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 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
VOO vs WSML 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 WSML Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF (WSML) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year VOO returned +16.61% while WSML returned +16.62%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.37% versus a gain of 13.27% for WSML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WSML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 12.2% 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 -8.9% for VOO and -10.7% for WSML. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while WSML charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $30 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 2.82% for WSML.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of VOO's money is in holdings WSML also owns.
Stated as a floor: for WSML, our book for it covers 68.7% 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.
53 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 1,643 in WSML, against full books of 509 and 3,540.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VOO | Weight in WSML | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 0.03% | 0.43% | 0.40% |
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 0.03% | 0.17% | 0.14% |
| ZBRAZebra Technologies Corp | 0.02% | 0.16% | 0.14% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 0.03% | 0.14% | 0.11% |
| ALBAlbemarle Corp. | 0.02% | 0.15% | 0.13% |
| TYLTyler Technologies Inc | 0.02% | 0.15% | 0.13% |
| APAApa Corp | 0.02% | 0.14% | 0.12% |
| HSTHost Hotels & Resorts Inc | 0.02% | 0.14% | 0.12% |
| SWKStanley Black Decker Inc. | 0.02% | 0.14% | 0.12% |
| AIZAssurant, Inc. | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOO and WSML 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 WSML?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WSML charges 0.30%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or WSML?
Over the past year VOO returned +16.61% vs +16.62% for WSML, so WSML leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VOO annualized +28.47% vs +30.88% for WSML. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or WSML?
WSML has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 12.2% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -8.9% vs WSML -10.7%.
Should I hold both VOO and WSML?
VOO and WSML have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 WSML?
VOO yields 1.04% while WSML yields 2.82%, so WSML currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WSML better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. WSML 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.