SPY vs. VOO — ETF comparison tool (2024)

FAQs

SPY vs. VOO — ETF comparison tool? ›

Average Return

The primary difference between SPY, VOO and IVV is cost. SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VOO and IVV only cost 0.03%.

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) are two of the most popular large cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the investment industry. Both are commonly found in professionally managed portfolios, including both traditional human-guided portfolios and those of robo-advisors.

It provides exposure to the largest and most established US companies; that enhances the diversification as well as the quality of the portfolio. So, when the market is up, the portfolio is up; when the market is down, the portfolio is down, but you're holding the best and the brightest of all the US companies.

In the past year, QQQ returned a total of 31.84%, which is significantly higher than VOO's 26.14% return. Over the past 10 years, QQQ has had annualized average returns of 18.88% , compared to 12.89% for VOO. These numbers are adjusted for stock splits and include dividends.

VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03%, which means that for every $10,000, they charge a $3 management fee. If you were to invest $10,000 and VOO provided a 5% return each year, your total costs would be $39 over 5 years.

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 0.08%) is one of the best ways to invest in the S&P 500, which has been a pretty smart strategy over the long term. Since 1965, the S&P 500 has produced a total return of 10.2% annualized. The Vanguard ETF has an expense ratio of just 0.03%, so you get to keep most of your gains.

Is QQQ better than SPY? ›

In the past year, QQQ returned a total of 29.88%, which is higher than SPY's 26.19% return. Over the past 10 years, QQQ has had annualized average returns of 18.31% , compared to 12.50% for SPY. These numbers are adjusted for stock splits and include dividends.

Since QQQM starts with a 0.05% advantage on the annual expense ratio, that means it would take just 7 trades per year for QQQ to come out ahead on a total cost basis. If you're a buy-and-hold investor looking to put money to work in the Nasdaq 100, QQQM is likely the better choice.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY offers a well-diversified, market-cap-weighted portfolio of 500 of the largest US stocks. It accurately represents the US large-cap opportunity set while charging a rock-bottom fee—a recipe for success over the long run.

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.

Bottom line. The SPY ETF is a cost-effective investment option for investors looking to gain exposure to about 500 large US companies. However, it is also subject to the same risks as any other investment in the stock market, including market volatility, and economic and geopolitical risks.

When it comes to choosing between Vanguard and State Street SPDR for passive sector exposure, you really can't go wrong with either. Both offer low-cost options, but your selection should be based on your specific investment objectives. For buy-and-hold investors, Vanguard's sector ETFs may be the preferable choice.