VOO vs. SGOL
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and SGOL (abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while SGOL is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VOO returned 14.95%/yr vs 11.62%/yr for SGOL. Their 0.05 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. VOO charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for SGOL.
Performance
VOO vs. SGOL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VOO achieves a 8.95% return, which is significantly higher than SGOL's -6.06% return. Over the past 10 years, VOO has outperformed SGOL with an annualized return of 14.95%, while SGOL has yielded a comparatively lower 11.62% annualized return.
VOO
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.80%
- 6M
- 7.80%
- YTD
- 8.95%
- 1Y
- 17.35%
- 3Y*
- 19.06%
- 5Y*
- 12.51%
- 10Y*
- 14.95%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.72%
SGOL
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- 6M
- -18.71%
- YTD
- -6.06%
- 1Y
- 21.20%
- 3Y*
- 27.11%
- 5Y*
- 17.42%
- 10Y*
- 11.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.34%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $79.87M | $79.24M | $102.39M | |
| $3.42B | $4.58B | $5.39B |
VOO vs. SGOL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 8.95% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -6.06% | 63.99% | 26.90% | 12.99% | -0.51% | -3.94% | 25.03% | 18.21% | -1.94% | 12.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between VOO and SGOL is 0.31, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.31 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.13 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2010 | 0.05 |
Over the past year, VOO and SGOL have become more correlated (0.31) than their long-term average of 0.05, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
VOO vs. SGOL — Risk / Return Rank
VOO
SGOL
VOO vs. SGOL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL). 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 | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.69 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.92 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.15 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.01 | 0.77 | +1.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.67 | 1.73 | +6.94 |
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Drawdowns
VOO vs. SGOL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VOO drawdown since its inception was -33.99%, smaller than the maximum SGOL drawdown of -45.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VOO and SGOL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VOO | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.99% | -45.51% | +11.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -26.32% | +17.42% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.69% | -26.32% | +7.63% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.52% | -26.32% | +1.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.99% | -26.32% | -7.67% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.45% | -24.94% | +22.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.67% | -18.45% | +14.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.06% | 11.64% | -9.58% |
Volatility
VOO vs. SGOL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is 3.22%, while abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) has a volatility of 6.07%. This indicates that VOO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SGOL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VOO | SGOL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.22% | 6.07% | -2.85% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.84% | 23.69% | -13.85% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.62% | 27.79% | -15.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.90% | 18.34% | -1.44% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.00% | 16.08% | +1.92% |
VOO vs. SGOL - Expense Ratio Comparison
VOO has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than SGOL's 0.17% 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. SGOL - Dividend Comparison
VOO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, while SGOL has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 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 | 1.08% | 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 SGOL have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SGOL has higher volatility (6.07%) compared to VOO (3.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VOO dropped -33.99% vs SGOL's -45.51%.
On 10-year performance, VOO leads with 14.95% vs 11.62% for SGOL. On fees, VOO is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VOO has been the lower-risk option at 3.22%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VOO has performed better with a 14.95% return vs 11.62%. 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 0.17% for SGOL.
VOO has the higher dividend yield at 1.08%, compared with 0.00% for SGOL.
VOO is categorized as S&P 500, while SGOL is Gold. VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, while SGOL tracks LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt). They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and abrdn. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VOO and 0.17% for SGOL.
VOO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.42 vs 0.73), 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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