VOO vs XSLV
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Invesco S&P SmallCap Low Volatility ETF
Which is better, VOO or XSLV?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XSLV is less concentrated, with 11.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | XSLV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $249M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 2.11% |
| Holdings | 509 | 119 |
| YTD Return | +11.55% | +12.77%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.54%Best | +12.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.71%Best | +10.77% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80%Best | +3.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 16.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3%Best | -45.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,262Best | $12,155 |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.4% | 11.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Feb 12, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2013 to Sep 10, 2026 (13.6 years).
VOO vs XSLV 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 13.6 years both funds cover.
VOO vs XSLV Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Invesco S&P SmallCap Low Volatility ETF (XSLV) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year VOO returned +17.54% while XSLV returned +12.72%. Year to date, VOO is up 11.55% versus a gain of 12.77% for XSLV.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +20.71% per year against +10.77% for XSLV; over five years the annualized figures are +12.80% and +3.98% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.24% annualized vs +6.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XSLV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.3% 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 -45.3% for XSLV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while XSLV charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $25 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 2.11% for XSLV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in VOO and 115 in XSLV, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 115 in XSLV, against full books of 509 and 119.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 111 positions for XSLV that do not appear in our book for VOO (97.4% of the fund), and 496 for VOO that do not appear in XSLV (99.4%).
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 XSLV 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 XSLV?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XSLV charges 0.25%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or XSLV?
Over the past year VOO returned +17.54% vs +12.72% for XSLV, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), VOO annualized +13.24% vs +6.31% for XSLV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or XSLV?
XSLV has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs XSLV -45.3%.
Should I hold both VOO and XSLV?
VOO and XSLV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 XSLV?
VOO yields 1.04% while XSLV yields 2.11%, so XSLV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XSLV better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. XSLV is less concentrated, with 11.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.