VOO vs VT: fees, holdings and returns
VOO holds the about 500 large US companies in the S&P 500. VT holds about 10,000 companies from around the world, with about 60% of its value in the US. VT adds smaller US companies and companies from Europe, Japan, China and other countries. Over the same dates since September 2010, VOO returned about 14.8% a year and VT returned about 10.9% a year.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 16, 2026. Prices through October 20, 2026.
Key points
- VOO costs less: 0.03% a year against 0.06%.
- VOO started trading in September 2010. VT started in June 2008.
- Worst drops since 2010: VOO −34.0%, VT −34.2%.
- Daily correlation: 0.97 (1 means they always move together).
What is the difference between VOO and VT?#
VOO is large US companies only. VT is every country and every size, weighted by company value. When large US stocks lead, as they did for much of the 2010s, VOO tends to do better. When foreign or smaller stocks lead, VT tends to. VT’s value also moves with foreign currencies against the dollar, and it charges a little more.
| Fact | VOO | VT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard Total World Stock ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% a year | 0.06% a year |
| Started trading | September 7, 2010 | June 24, 2008 |
| Tracks | S&P 500 Index | FTSE Global All Cap Index |
| Holdings | 505 holdings as of September 30, 2026 | 10,185 holdings as of September 30, 2026 |
| Type | US stocks, ETF | Global stocks, ETF |
Fund facts checked on the Vanguard VOO page and the Vanguard VT page.
Is VOO or VT cheaper?#
VOO costs less: 0.03% a year against 0.06%. On $10,000, that is about $3 a year for VOO and $6 for VT. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.
VOO vs VT performance over the same dates#
Both funds are measured from September 2010 to October 2026, the dates both traded. VOO returned about 14.8% a year and VT returned about 10.9% a year. VOO came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.
| Measure | VOO | VT |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 grew to | $92,857 | $52,841 |
| Total return | 828.6% | 428.4% |
| Return per year (CAGR) | 14.8% | 10.9% |
| Worst drop from a high | −34.0% | −34.2% |
| Volatility (how much it swings) | 16.9% | 17.0% |
| Last 12 months | 15.8% | 15.0% |
| Last 3 years, per year | 23.8% | 22.5% |
| Last 5 years, per year | 12.8% | 10.3% |
| Last 10 years, per year | 15.5% | 12.4% |
Prices through October 20, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.
VOO and VT returns by year#
| Year | VOO | VT |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (part of the year) | 13.7% | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 17.8% | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 25.0% | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 26.3% | 22.0% |
| 2022 | −18.2% | −18.0% |
| 2021 | 28.8% | 18.3% |
| 2020 | 18.3% | 16.6% |
| 2019 | 31.4% | 26.8% |
| 2018 | −4.5% | −9.8% |
| 2017 | 21.8% | 24.5% |
| 2016 | 12.2% | 8.5% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | −1.9% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | 3.7% |
| 2013 | 32.4% | 22.9% |
| 2012 | 16.0% | 17.1% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | −7.5% |
| 2010 (part of the year) | 14.8% | 13.6% |
Which fell further in bad times?#
A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. VOO’s worst fall was −34.0%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 10, 2020.
VT’s worst fall was −34.2%, from February 12, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 24, 2020.
Their daily moves had a correlation of 0.97. A correlation of 1 means two funds always move up and down together. Near 0 means they move on their own. So holding both adds little variety.
Why people choose VOO or VT#
VOO. People who want large US companies, often as the core of a portfolio, tend to pick VOO.
VT. People who want the whole world in one fund, without choosing between countries, tend to pick VT.
Strategies that hold VOO or VT#
No classic strategy holds VOO or VT yet.
Other funds like VOO and VT#
Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: VOO alternatives and VT alternatives.
Test a mix of VOO and VT#
Open the builder, add VOO and VT, and give each a weight, such as 50% and 50%. The backtest shows how the mix would have done, with its worst drop, on daily prices. You can also add a rule, for example to switch between them, and compare. Read the full pages for VOO and VT, or see more ETF comparisons.
The details#
Both funds use Tactfolio’s stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They are compared only on days both traded, starting the later fund’s first day, so neither gets a head start. Correlation uses daily returns over the same days. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.
Common questions#
Does VT include the S&P 500?#
Yes. The S&P 500 companies are the largest part of VT. They make up about half of it, and the rest is smaller US companies and foreign stocks.
Why would VT and VOO return different amounts?#
VT holds foreign stocks and smaller companies that VOO does not. When those do better or worse than large US companies, the two funds pull apart.
Which is cheaper, VOO or VT?#
VOO costs less: 0.03% a year against 0.06%. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 16, 2026.
Which did better, VOO or VT?#
From September 2010 to October 2026, VOO returned about 14.8% a year and VT returned about 10.9% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −34.0% and −34.2%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.