SPY vs VOO: returns, risk and drawdowns compared
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust against Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, over the same 6 years (July 2020 to October 2026) with dividends reinvested.
Data updated October 2026
From July 2020 to October 2026, SPY returned 17.0% a year and VOO 17.1% a year on average, so VOO came out ahead by 0.1% a year. VOO was the more volatile of the two (15.4% against 15.4% a year), and the deepest falls from a month-end high were 23.9% for SPY and 23.9% for VOO.
The correlation of monthly returns was 1.00: they moved almost in lockstep. Over 41 rolling 3-year periods, SPY did better in 0% and VOO in 100%.
Both funds follow the same index, so differences come mostly from ongoing charges, tracking and how dividends are handled.
Side by side
| SPY | VOO | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return (CAGR) | +17.0% | +17.1% |
| Total return | +171% | +172% |
| Annual volatility | 15.4% | 15.4% |
| Maximum drawdown (month-end) | −23.9% | −23.9% |
| Worst month | −9.2% | −9.2% |
| Best month | +10.9% | +10.9% |
| Positive months | 66% | 64% |
| Best year | 2021: +28.7% | 2021: +28.8% |
| Worst year | 2022: −18.2% | 2022: −18.2% |
| 1-year return | +16.6% | +16.7% |
| 5 years, a year | +12.7% | +12.8% |
| 10 years, a year | +15.4% | — |
| Trading currency | USD | USD |
First nine rows: the same 76 months for both funds. Trailing returns: to each fund’s last close.
Growth of 10,000: SPY vs VOO
Returns by calendar year
| Year | SPY | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +17.7% | +17.8% |
| 2024 | +24.9% | +25.0% |
| 2023 | +26.2% | +26.3% |
| 2022 | −18.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +28.7% | +28.8% |
How the figures are calculated
Total return in the fund’s trading currency, from end-of-day prices with dividends reinvested on the ex-date. The fund’s own ongoing charges are already reflected in its price; trading costs, taxes and currency conversion are not included. Past returns do not predict future returns.
The comparison uses only the months in which both funds have prices, so the figures cover the same period even when one fund is older.
Questions
Which has returned more, SPY or VOO?
From July 2020 to October 2026, SPY returned +17.0% a year and VOO +17.1% a year, with dividends reinvested. Over rolling 3-year periods SPY did better in 0% of cases. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SPY or VOO?
Over the same months annual volatility was 15.4% for SPY and 15.4% for VOO; the deepest fall from a month-end high was 23.9% and 23.9%, and the worst single month −9.2% and −9.2%.
How correlated are SPY and VOO?
The correlation of their monthly returns was 1.00: they moved almost in lockstep. Holding both adds little diversification compared with holding one.
More comparisons
Source: MarketStack end-of-day prices, total return with dividends reinvested. Figures are historical and descriptive; they are not forecasts and not investment advice. MEDGE Capital does not recommend buying or selling any instrument. Risk disclaimer.