QDEC vs. VOO
QDEC (FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - QDEC is a Nasdaq-100 fund actively managed by FT Vest, while VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. QDEC is actively managed, while VOO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, QDEC returned 10.47%/yr vs 13.58%/yr for VOO. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. QDEC charges 0.90%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VOO.
Performance
QDEC vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with QDEC having a 9.31% return and VOO slightly higher at 9.75%.
QDEC
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- 0.71%
- YTD
- 9.31%
- 6M
- 8.98%
- 1Y
- 25.39%
- 3Y*
- 17.13%
- 5Y*
- 10.47%
- 10Y*
- —
VOO
- 1D
- -0.29%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 9.75%
- 6M
- 9.30%
- 1Y
- 26.77%
- 3Y*
- 21.36%
- 5Y*
- 13.58%
- 10Y*
- 15.77%
QDEC vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QDEC FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December | 9.31% | 18.12% | 16.40% | 29.29% | -22.26% | 17.23% | 1.26% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 9.75% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 1.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between QDEC and VOO is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 21, 2020 | 0.89 |
The correlation between QDEC and VOO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.89 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
QDEC vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
QDEC
VOO
QDEC vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December (QDEC) 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| QDEC | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.36 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.62 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.48 | 1.39 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.37 | 3.02 | +0.35 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.85 | 13.58 | +2.27 |
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Drawdowns
QDEC vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QDEC drawdown since its inception was -25.25%, smaller than the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QDEC and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QDEC | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -25.25% | -33.99% | +8.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.58% | -8.90% | +1.32% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.08% | -18.69% | +2.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.25% | -24.52% | -0.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.99% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.42% | -1.74% | +1.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.00% | -3.68% | -1.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.61% | 1.98% | -0.37% |
Volatility
QDEC vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December (QDEC) is 3.01%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 4.60%. This indicates that QDEC 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
| QDEC | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.01% | 4.60% | -1.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.91% | 9.73% | -1.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.10% | 12.39% | -2.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.74% | 16.90% | -2.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.59% | 18.05% | -3.46% |
QDEC vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
QDEC has a 0.90% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio.
Dividends
QDEC vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
QDEC has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VOO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.04%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QDEC FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF – December | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.04% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, QDEC and VOO move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VOO has higher volatility (4.60%) compared to QDEC (3.01%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QDEC dropped -25.25% vs VOO's -33.99%.
On 5-year performance, VOO leads with 13.58% vs 10.47% for QDEC. On fees, VOO is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, QDEC has been the lower-risk option at 3.01%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, VOO has performed better with a 13.58% return vs 10.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VOO is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for QDEC.
VOO has the higher dividend yield at 1.04%, compared with 0.00% for QDEC.
QDEC is categorized as Nasdaq-100, while VOO is S&P 500. They also come from different issuers: FT Vest and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.90% for QDEC and 0.03% for VOO.
QDEC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.53 vs 2.17), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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