VOO vs ZTR
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Virtus Total Return Fund Inc
Which is better, VOO or ZTR?
Large Cap Blend against Allocation/Balanced.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | ZTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 2.53% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $372M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 8.06% |
| Holdings | 509 | 796 |
| YTD Return | +13.37% | +13.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.08%Best | +19.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.29%Best | +20.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.89%Best | +3.71% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 18.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3%Best | -67.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,335Best | $11,998 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Feb 24, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
VOO vs ZTR 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
VOO vs ZTR Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Virtus Total Return Fund Inc (ZTR) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year VOO returned +20.08% while ZTR returned +19.04%. Year to date, VOO is up 13.37% versus a gain of 13.56% for ZTR.
Over three years, VOO compounded at +21.29% per year against +20.01% for ZTR; over five years the annualized figures are +12.89% and +3.71% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs -1.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ZTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% 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 -67.4% for ZTR. 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 ZTR charges 2.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $253 annually, a gap of $250 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.08% against 8.06% for ZTR.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.4% of VOO's money is in holdings ZTR also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for ZTR, our book for it lists positions totalling 129.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VOO and ZTR share little of their money.
24 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 514 in ZTR, against full books of 509 and 796.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VOO | Weight in ZTR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.25% | 5.21% | 4.96% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.28% | 4.56% | 4.28% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 0.14% | 3.54% | 3.40% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 0.14% | 3.40% | 3.26% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 0.17% | 3.34% | 3.17% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.09% | 2.97% | 2.88% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.08% | 2.71% | 2.63% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.08% | 2.69% | 2.61% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 0.12% | 2.51% | 2.39% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 0.09% | 2.47% | 2.38% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOO and ZTR 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 ZTR?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while ZTR charges 2.53%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $250 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or ZTR?
Over the past year VOO returned +20.08% vs +19.04% for ZTR, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VOO annualized +13.48% vs -1.05% for ZTR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or ZTR?
ZTR has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VOO -34.3% vs ZTR -67.4%.
Should I hold both VOO and ZTR?
VOO and ZTR 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 ZTR?
At least 2.4% of VOO's money is in holdings ZTR also owns. Our book for ZTR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 514 in ZTR.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or ZTR?
VOO yields 1.08% while ZTR yields 8.06%, so ZTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZTR better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.