the gap between themVOO ahead by $55
VOO solid · SPY dashed · weekly closes, dividends reinvested
VOO wins 1 of 4. Which matters depends on what you need it for.
- Grew more over five yearsVOO +87% · SPY +87%tie
- Fell less at its worstVOO −24% · SPY −24%tie
- Calmer rideVOO 16% vol · SPY 16% voltie
- Cheaper to holdVOO 0.03% a year · SPY 0.09% a year
VOO
near twins · correlation 1.00
Side by side, line by line
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | $715.59 | $778.57 |
| Fund size | $1.73T | $809.22B |
| 1-year return | +20.5% | +20.5% |
| 3-year return, a year | +23.3% (ahead) | +23.2% |
| 5-year return, a year | +13.4% (ahead) | +13.3% |
| Volatility, a year | 16% | 16% |
| Worst drawdown | −24% | −24% |
| Worst week | −8.9% (ahead)Mar 2025 | −9.1%Mar 2025 |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Dividend yield | 1.06% | 0.99% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% (ahead) | 0.09% |
Do VOO and SPY move together?
Correlation compares VOO’s and SPY’s weekly returns from Oct 2021 to Oct 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.
How far each one fell
VOO
−24%
From its Dec 2021 high to Sep 2022. Back at that high by Dec 2023.
SPY
−24%
From its Dec 2021 high to Sep 2022. Back at that high by Dec 2023.
Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested
How much of it is the same money
- same money
- same companies, extra weight
- only in this fund
VOO vs SPY: what people ask
Is VOO better than SPY?
Over the past five years, VOO delivered the higher return: +13.4% a year against +13.3% for SPY, dividends reinvested. Both fell about as far at their worst (−24% and −24%). Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.
What is the difference between VOO and SPY?
VOO is Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, a fund with $1.73T in assets. SPY is SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, a fund with $809.22B in assets. VOO charges 0.03% a year and SPY 0.09%.
Should I own both VOO and SPY?
Their weekly returns had a correlation of 1.00 over the past five years. They rise and fall in lockstep, so holding both adds almost no diversification. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.
Which is riskier, VOO or SPY?
SPY swung more: 16% annual volatility against 16% for VOO. At their worst, VOO fell 24% and SPY 24% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 1.00 and 1.00.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or SPY?
VOO currently yields 1.06%, against 0.99% for SPY. Yields move with price, so a higher yield can also mean a falling price.
Which is cheaper to hold, VOO or SPY?
VOO charges 0.03% a year and SPY 0.09%. On $10,000, that is $6.45 a year in favor of VOO. Left for 30 years at 7% a year before fees, $10,000 would end $1,447 higher in VOO.
Compare something else
Any two stocks or ETFs. Keep VOO or swap both.
Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Oct 2021 to Oct 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh daily. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.