VOO vs VOOG: Which Should You Buy?
Same fund company (Vanguard), 0.03% vs 0.07% fee.
Over the period we can measure, VOOG has returned about 2.4% a year more and overlap about 66% by weight. Pick VOOG for the tighter 212-holding portfolio; pick VOO to own 505 instead. VOO is the cheaper of the two at 0.03% against 0.07%.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
VOO wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 505 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, at a lower 0.03% fee.
VOOG wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 212 holdings rather than 505, tracking the Standard & Poor's 500 Growth Index.
VOO vs VOOG, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF | VOOGVanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | Standard & Poor's 500 Index | Standard & Poor's 500 Growth Index |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 212 |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Dividend yield | 1.05% | 0.44% |
| AUM | $1.80T | $27.10B |
| Top 10 concentration | 37.8% | 59.4% |
| 10-yr total return | 15.4% | 17.8% |
| 5-yr total return | 13.5% | 14.0% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 1.01 | 1.18 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -34.0% | -32.7% |
| Market-cap coverage | Large cap | Large cap |
| Inception | 2010 | 2010 |
VOOG holds 212 positions tracking the Standard & Poor's 500 Growth Index. VOO holds 505, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do VOO and VOOG overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 66.1%
- VOOG-only
- 33.9%
~66% identical by weight
148 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 66% of the two portfolios is the same exposure. Where a stock sits in both, the shared share is whichever weight is smaller. That is the part of a dollar that behaves identically in either fund.
The difference is VOO's remaining 293 positions, which VOOG does not hold at all. They are smaller by weight, which is why the two track each other closely and drift apart only at the margins.
Growth of $10,000: VOO vs VOOG
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want the wider net: 505 holdings against 212
- You want to track the Standard & Poor's 500 Index
- You want the lower fee: 0.03% against 0.07%
- You want the higher yield: 1.05% against 0.44%
- You want concentrated exposure: 212 holdings, not 505
- You want to track the Standard & Poor's 500 Growth Index
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("VOO","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("VOO","expense ratio") in Excel or Google Sheets and the fund's data lands in your sheet, ready to be refreshed when you want.
Get The Add-in - FreeVOO vs VOOG frequently asked questions
VOOG has the stronger record, by about 2.4% a year and they overlap roughly 66% by weight. Compare the fee and the holdings count below and pick the one that matches how broad you want the exposure to be.
VOOG holds 212 positions tracking the Standard & Poor's 500 Growth Index. VOO holds 505, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 66% by weight. 148 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
Yes. At about 66% overlap the two hold substantially different positions, so holding both does broaden the exposure.