VOT vs XLE
Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF vs State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, VOT or XLE?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VOT has a lower expense ratio. VOT led over 3Y and the full window, XLE over 1Y and 5Y. VOT is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.1%.
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 | VOT | XLE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.08% |
| AUM | $19.6B | $39.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.60% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 126 | 48 |
| YTD Return | +5.34% | +40.07%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.00% | +44.37%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.93%Best | +15.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.01% | +22.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.5%Best | 26.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -60.3%Best | -76.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,769 | $27,777Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.9%Best | 74.1% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 17, 2006 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 24, 2006 to Oct 1, 2026 (20.1 years).
VOT vs XLE 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 20.1 years both funds cover.
VOT vs XLE Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year VOT returned +1.00% while XLE returned +44.37%. Year to date, VOT is up 5.34% versus a gain of 40.07% for XLE.
Over three years, VOT compounded at +15.93% per year against +15.89% for XLE; over five years the annualized figures are +5.01% and +22.67% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VOT has the edge at +9.35% annualized vs +5.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.4% compared with 18.5% for VOT. 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 -60.3% for VOT and -76.7% for XLE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOT charges 0.05% per year while XLE charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $8 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOT currently yields 0.60% against 2.37% for XLE.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of VOT's money is in holdings XLE also owns. 6.7% of XLE's money is in holdings VOT also owns.
XLE and VOT share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 123 positions we hold weights for in VOT and 22 in XLE, against full books of 126 and 48.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 19 positions for XLE that do not appear in our book for VOT (93.3% of the fund), and 116 for VOT that do not appear in XLE (96.3%).
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 VOT and XLE 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, VOT or XLE?
VOT has an expense ratio of 0.05% while XLE charges 0.08%. VOT is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOT or XLE?
Over the past year VOT returned +1.00% vs +44.37% for XLE, so XLE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), VOT annualized +9.35% vs +5.01% for XLE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOT or XLE?
XLE has been the more volatile fund at 26.4% annualized versus 18.5% for VOT. Worst drawdown: VOT -60.3% vs XLE -76.7%.
Should I hold both VOT and XLE?
VOT and XLE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 VOT and XLE?
6.7% of XLE's money is in holdings VOT also owns. 6.7% of XLE's is in holdings VOT also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 123 positions we hold weights for in VOT and 22 in XLE.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOT or XLE?
VOT yields 0.60% while XLE yields 2.37%, so XLE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLE better than VOT?
VOT has a lower expense ratio. VOT led over 3Y and the full window, XLE over 1Y and 5Y. VOT is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.