VOO vs XPH
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF
Which is better, VOO or XPH?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, XPH over 1Y. XPH is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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 | XPH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $607M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 0.47% |
| Holdings | 509 | 67 |
| YTD Return | +12.37% | +21.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.61% | +43.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.37%Best | +18.26% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.49%Best | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 20.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3%Best | -52.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,827Best | $15,260 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6% | 25.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
VOO vs XPH 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 XPH Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VOO returned +16.61% while XPH returned +43.00%. Year to date, VOO is up 12.37% versus a gain of 21.50% for XPH.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +21.37% per year against +18.26% for XPH; over five years the annualized figures are +13.49% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +7.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XPH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% 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 -52.7% for XPH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while XPH charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $35 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 0.47% for XPH.
Holdings Overlap
3.4% of VOO's money is in holdings XPH also owns. 10.9% of XPH's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
XPH and VOO share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 65 in XPH, against full books of 509 and 67.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 55 positions for XPH that do not appear in our book for VOO (83.5% of the fund), and 480 for VOO that do not appear in XPH (95.8%).
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
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOO and XPH 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 XPH?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XPH charges 0.35%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or XPH?
Over the past year VOO returned +16.61% vs +43.00% for XPH, so XPH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VOO annualized +13.39% vs +7.89% for XPH. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or XPH?
XPH has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs XPH -52.7%.
Should I hold both VOO and XPH?
VOO and XPH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 XPH?
10.9% of XPH's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 10.9% of XPH's is in holdings VOO also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 65 in XPH.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or XPH?
VOO yields 1.04% while XPH yields 0.47%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XPH better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, XPH over 1Y. XPH is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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.