The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares (BND) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VOO is a Vanguard Large Blend fund and BND is a Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond fund. So, what’s the difference between VOO and BND? And which fund is better?
VOO vs BND have the same expense ratio: 0.03%. VOO also has a high exposure to the technology sector while BND is mostly comprised of AAA bonds. Overall, VOO has provided higher returns than BND over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare VOO vs. BND. We’ll look at performance and industry exposure, as well as at their portfolio growth and fund composition. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VOO’s and BND’s risk metrics, annual returns, and holdings and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary VOO vs BND
| VOO | BND | |
| Name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Category | Large Blend | Intermediate-Term Bond |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| AUM | 753.41B | 312.15B |
| Avg. Return | 14.45% | 4.09% |
| Div. Yield | 1.34% | 2.02% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is a Large Blend fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 753.41B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.45% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.34% with an expense ratio of 0.03%.
The Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares (BND) is a Intermediate-Term Bond fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 312.15B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 4.09% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.02% with an expense ratio of 0.03%.
VOO’s dividend yield is 0.68% lower than that of BND (1.34% vs. 2.02%). Also, VOO yielded on average 10.35% more per year over the past decade (14.45% vs. 4.09%). VOO and BND have the same expense ratio: 0.03%.
Fund Composition VOO vs BND
Holdings
| VOO Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 5.92% |
| Microsoft Corp | 5.62% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 4.06% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 2.29% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.02% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 1.97% |
| Tesla Inc | 1.44% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B | 1.44% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 1.37% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 1.3% |
VOO’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 5.92%, 5.62%, 4.06%, 2.29%, and 2.02%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (1.97%), Tesla Inc (1.44%), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (1.44%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. NVIDIA Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co are also represented in the VOO’s holdings at 1.37% and 1.3%.
| BND Bond Sectors | Weight |
| AAA | 68.72% |
| BBB | 16.17% |
| A | 11.87% |
| AA | 3.34% |
| Below B | 0.01% |
| B | 0.0% |
| BB | 0.0% |
| US Government | 0.0% |
| Others | -0.11% |
BND’s Top Bond Sectors are ratings of AAA, BBB, A, AA, and Below B at 68.72%, 16.17%, 11.87%, 3.34%, and 0.01%. The fund is less weighted towards B (0.0%), BB (0.0%), and US Government (0.0%) rated bonds.
Performance VOO vs BND
Annual Returns
| Year | VOO | BND |
| 2020 | 18.35% | 7.71% |
| 2019 | 31.46% | 8.71% |
| 2018 | -4.42% | -0.04% |
| 2017 | 21.78% | 3.62% |
| 2016 | 11.93% | 2.57% |
| 2015 | 1.35% | 0.39% |
| 2014 | 13.63% | 5.96% |
| 2013 | 32.33% | -2.14% |
| 2012 | 15.98% | 4.04% |
| 2011 | 2.09% | 7.71% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | 6.51% |
VOO had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 32.33%. VOO’s worst year over the past decade yielded -4.42% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2016, 2014, and 2012 where annual returns amounted to 11.93%, 13.63%, and 15.98% respectively.
The year 2019 was the strongest year for BND, returning 8.71% on an annual basis. The poorest year for BND in the last ten years was 2013, with a yield of -2.14%. Most years the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2017, 2012, and 2014, when gains were 3.62%, 4.04%, and 5.96% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| VOO | $10,000 | $36,575 | 14.45% |
| BND | $10,000 | $14,511 | 4.09% |
A $10,000 investment in VOO would have resulted in a final balance of $36,575. This is a profit of $26,575 over 10 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.45%.
With a $10,000 investment in BND, the end total would have been $14,511. This equates to a $4,511 profit over 10 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.09%.
VOO’s CAGR is 10.35 percentage points higher than that of BND and as a result, would have yielded $22,064 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VOO outperformed BND by 10.35% annually.
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