VOO vs. GDE
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and GDE (WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while GDE is a Gold fund actively managed by WisdomTree. VOO is passively managed, while GDE is actively managed. Over the past 3 years, VOO returned 20.95%/yr vs 42.64%/yr for GDE. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VOO charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for GDE.
Performance
VOO vs. GDE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VOO achieves a 9.08% return, which is significantly higher than GDE's 3.16% return.
VOO
- 1D
- 0.55%
- 1M
- -0.84%
- YTD
- 9.08%
- 6M
- 9.44%
- 1Y
- 25.76%
- 3Y*
- 20.95%
- 5Y*
- 13.43%
- 10Y*
- 15.50%
GDE
- 1D
- 0.67%
- 1M
- -9.22%
- YTD
- 3.16%
- 6M
- 4.00%
- 1Y
- 40.98%
- 3Y*
- 42.64%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VOO vs. GDE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 9.08% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -10.81% |
GDE WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund | 3.16% | 73.76% | 44.79% | 33.85% | -8.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between VOO and GDE is 0.58, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 17, 2022 | 0.65 |
The correlation between VOO and GDE has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.58 to 0.65 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VOO vs. GDE — Risk / Return Rank
VOO
GDE
VOO vs. GDE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund (GDE). 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.
| VOO | GDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.60 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.89 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.26 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.75 | 1.83 | +0.92 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.42 | 5.36 | +7.06 |
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Drawdowns
VOO vs. GDE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VOO drawdown since its inception was -33.99%, which is greater than GDE's maximum drawdown of -32.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VOO and GDE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VOO | GDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.99% | -32.01% | -1.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -22.66% | +13.76% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.69% | -22.66% | +3.97% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.52% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.99% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.34% | -16.53% | +14.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.68% | -7.93% | +4.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.97% | 7.73% | -5.76% |
Volatility
VOO vs. GDE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is 4.34%, while WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund (GDE) has a volatility of 10.77%. This indicates that VOO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GDE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VOO | GDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.34% | 10.77% | -6.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.58% | 25.97% | -16.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.27% | 29.88% | -17.61% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.88% | 27.09% | -10.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.03% | 27.09% | -9.06% |
VOO vs. GDE - Expense Ratio Comparison
VOO has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than GDE's 0.20% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VOO vs. GDE - Dividend Comparison
VOO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.05%, less than GDE's 4.19% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDE WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund | 4.19% | 4.32% | 7.14% | 2.22% | 0.81% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.05% | 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
VOO and GDE have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GDE has higher volatility (10.77%) compared to VOO (4.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VOO dropped -33.99% vs GDE's -32.01%.
On 3-year performance, GDE leads with 42.64% vs 20.95% for VOO. On fees, VOO is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VOO has been the lower-risk option at 4.34%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, GDE has performed better with a 42.64% return vs 20.95%. 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 0.20% for GDE.
GDE has the higher dividend yield at 4.19%, compared with 1.05% for VOO.
VOO is categorized as S&P 500, while GDE is Gold. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VOO and 0.20% for GDE.
VOO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 1.39), 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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