VOO vs. VWELX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX).
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. VWELX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 1, 1929.
Performance
VOO vs. VWELX - Performance Comparison
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VOO vs. VWELX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -3.55% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | -2.63% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VOO achieves a -3.55% return, which is significantly lower than VWELX's -2.63% return. Over the past 10 years, VOO has outperformed VWELX with an annualized return of 14.19%, while VWELX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.41% annualized return.
VOO
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- -4.01%
- YTD
- -3.55%
- 6M
- -1.41%
- 1Y
- 23.49%
- 3Y*
- 18.47%
- 5Y*
- 11.96%
- 10Y*
- 14.19%
VWELX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -2.95%
- YTD
- -2.63%
- 6M
- 0.24%
- 1Y
- 17.85%
- 3Y*
- 12.69%
- 5Y*
- 7.74%
- 10Y*
- 9.41%
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VOO vs. VWELX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VOO has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than VWELX's 0.24% 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%.
Return for Risk
VOO vs. VWELX — Risk / Return Rank
VOO
VWELX
VOO vs. VWELX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX). 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.
| VOO | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.98 | 1.23 | -0.25 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.49 | 1.81 | -0.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.27 | -0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.53 | 1.87 | -0.34 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.13 | 8.23 | -1.11 |
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
| VOO | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.98 | 1.23 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | 0.70 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.82 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.83 | 0.83 | +0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between VOO and VWELX is 0.96, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VOO vs. VWELX - Dividend Comparison
VOO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.18%, less than VWELX's 11.83% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.18% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 11.83% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
Drawdowns
VOO vs. VWELX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VOO drawdown since its inception was -33.99%, smaller than the maximum VWELX drawdown of -36.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VOO and VWELX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VOO | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.99% | -36.12% | +2.13% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -6.78% | -2.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.52% | -20.88% | -3.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.99% | -25.33% | -8.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.44% | -4.19% | -1.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.72% | -3.93% | +0.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.57% | 1.82% | +0.75% |
Volatility
VOO vs. VWELX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a higher volatility of 5.27% compared to Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) at 4.07%. This indicates that VOO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VWELX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VOO | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.27% | 4.07% | +1.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.46% | 6.68% | +2.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.11% | 11.88% | +6.23% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.81% | 11.11% | +5.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.98% | 11.50% | +6.48% |