The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VOO is a Vanguard Large Blend fund and VEA is a Vanguard Foreign Large Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between VOO and VEA? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of VOO is 0.02 percentage points lower than VEA’s (0.03% vs. 0.05%). VOO also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, VOO has provided higher returns than VEA over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare VOO vs. VEA. We’ll look at holdings and industry exposure, as well as at their risk metrics and annual returns. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VOO’s and VEA’s fund composition, portfolio growth, and performance and examine how these affect their overall returns.
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Summary
| VOO | VEA | |
| Name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Category | Large Blend | Foreign Large Blend |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| AUM | 753.41B | 157.48B |
| Avg. Return | 14.45% | 7.05% |
| Div. Yield | 1.34% | 2.49% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% | 0.05% |
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 FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) is a Foreign Large Blend fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 157.48B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 7.05% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.49% with an expense ratio of 0.05%.
VOO’s dividend yield is 1.15% lower than that of VEA (1.34% vs. 2.49%). Also, VOO yielded on average 7.40% more per year over the past decade (14.45% vs. 7.05%). The expense ratio of VOO is 0.02 percentage points lower than VEA’s (0.03% vs. 0.05%).
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Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| VOO | VEA | |
| Technology | 24.24% | 11.67% |
| Industrials | 8.86% | 15.47% |
| Energy | 2.84% | 4.17% |
| Communication Services | 11.14% | 5.41% |
| Utilities | 2.43% | 3.1% |
| Healthcare | 13.1% | 10.6% |
| Consumer Defensive | 6.32% | 8.61% |
| Real Estate | 2.58% | 4.04% |
| Financial Services | 14.2% | 17.39% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 12.01% | 11.31% |
| Basic Materials | 2.27% | 8.24% |
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 24.24%. This is followed by Financial Services and Healthcare at 14.2% and 13.1% respectively. Utilities (2.43%), Real Estate (2.58%), and Energy (2.84%) only make up 7.85% of the fund’s total assets.
VOO’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Industrials, Communication Services, Consumer Cyclical, and Healthcare stocks at 6.32%, 8.86%, 11.14%, 12.01%, and 13.1%.
The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 17.39%. This is followed by Industrials and Technology at 15.47% and 11.67% respectively. Real Estate (4.04%), Energy (4.17%), and Communication Services (5.41%) only make up 13.62% of the fund’s total assets.
VEA’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Basic Materials, Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, Consumer Cyclical, and Technology stocks at 8.24%, 8.61%, 10.6%, 11.31%, and 11.67%.
VOO is 12.57% more exposed to the Technology sector than VEA (24.24% vs 11.67%). VOO’s exposure to Financial Services and Healthcare stocks is 3.19% lower and 2.50% higher respectively (14.2% vs. 17.39% and 13.1% vs. 10.6%). In total, Utilities, Real Estate, and Energy also make up 3.46% less of the fund’s holdings compared to VEA (7.85% vs. 11.31%).
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%.
| VEA Holdings | Weight |
| Nestle SA | 1.5% |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 1.4% |
| ASML Holding NV | 1.16% |
| Roche Holding AG | 1.1% |
| Toyota Motor Corp | 0.92% |
| LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE | 0.84% |
| Novartis AG | 0.82% |
| Shopify Inc A | 0.7% |
| AstraZeneca PLC | 0.67% |
| SAP SE | 0.66% |
VEA’s Top Holdings are Nestle SA, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, ASML Holding NV, Roche Holding AG, and Toyota Motor Corp at 1.5%, 1.4%, 1.16%, 1.1%, and 0.92%.
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (0.84%), Novartis AG (0.82%), and Shopify Inc A (0.7%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. AstraZeneca PLC and SAP SE are also represented in the VEA’s holdings at 0.67% and 0.66%.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | VOO | VEA |
| 2020 | 18.35% | 10.29% |
| 2019 | 31.46% | 22.08% |
| 2018 | -4.42% | -14.47% |
| 2017 | 21.78% | 26.44% |
| 2016 | 11.93% | 2.51% |
| 2015 | 1.35% | -0.21% |
| 2014 | 13.63% | -5.71% |
| 2013 | 32.33% | 22.12% |
| 2012 | 15.98% | 18.6% |
| 2011 | 2.09% | -12.57% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | 8.47% |
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 2017 was the strongest year for VEA, returning 26.44% on an annual basis. The poorest year for VEA in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -14.47%. Most years the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2016, 2010, and 2020, when gains were 2.51%, 8.47%, and 10.29% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| VOO | $10,000 | $36,575 | 14.45% |
| VEA | $10,000 | $17,784 | 7.05% |
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 VEA, the end total would have been $17,784. This equates to a $7,784 profit over 10 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.05%.
VOO’s CAGR is 7.40 percentage points higher than that of VEA and as a result, would have yielded $18,791 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VOO outperformed VEA by 7.40% annually.
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