MARB vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
MARB and VOO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. MARB is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Feb 4, 2020. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
MARB vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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MARB vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MARB First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF | 0.29% | 7.02% | 0.73% | 2.16% | 3.89% | 0.26% | -2.35% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -4.42% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 14.44% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MARB achieves a 0.29% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's -4.42% return.
MARB
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -0.00%
- YTD
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 2.63%
- 1Y
- 6.85%
- 3Y*
- 3.46%
- 5Y*
- 2.72%
- 10Y*
- —
VOO
- 1D
- 2.86%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- -4.42%
- 6M
- -1.84%
- 1Y
- 17.67%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.05%
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MARB vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
MARB has a 2.30% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
MARB vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
MARB
VOO
MARB vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| MARB | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.29 | 0.98 | +0.31 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.00 | 1.50 | +0.50 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.23 | +0.10 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.13 | 1.53 | +1.60 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 21.28 | 7.29 | +13.99 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MARB | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.29 | 0.98 | +0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.70 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.78 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.34 | 0.83 | -0.49 |
Correlation
The correlation between MARB and VOO is 0.24, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
MARB vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
MARB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.01%, more than VOO's 1.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MARB First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF | 3.01% | 3.01% | 2.11% | 2.20% | 0.99% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.19% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
MARB vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MARB drawdown since its inception was -11.99%, smaller than the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MARB and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MARB | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.99% | -33.99% | +22.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.43% | -11.98% | +9.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -3.67% | -24.52% | +20.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.99% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.24% | -6.29% | +6.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.44% | -3.72% | +2.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 2.52% | -2.16% |
Volatility
MARB vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB) is 1.15%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that MARB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MARB | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.15% | 5.29% | -4.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.17% | 9.44% | -6.27% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.36% | 18.10% | -12.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.23% | 16.82% | -12.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.64% | 17.99% | -12.35% |