GARP vs VOO
iShares MSCI USA Quality GARP ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GARP or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GARP led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.2%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | GARP | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.0B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.26% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 135 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +20.04%Best | +11.55% |
| 1Y Return | +29.09%Best | +17.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.75%Best | +20.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.51%Best | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 17.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.3%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,407Best | $18,262 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.2% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 14, 2020 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 16, 2020 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.7 years).
GARP vs VOO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 6.7 years both funds cover.
GARP vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI USA Quality GARP ETF (GARP) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GARP returned +29.09% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, GARP is up 20.04% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Over three years, GARP compounded at +30.75% per year against +20.71% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +17.51% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, GARP has the edge at +20.13% annualized vs +14.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GARP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 17.1% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -31.3% for GARP and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GARP charges 0.15% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GARP currently yields 0.26% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
94.1% of GARP's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 51.5% of VOO's money is in holdings GARP also owns.
Most of GARP is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
94 positions in common, counted across the 132 positions we hold weights for in GARP and 505 in VOO, against full books of 135 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 403 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GARP (47.9% of the fund), and 33 for GARP that do not appear in VOO (5.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GARP | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.53% | 7.51% | 2.98% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.74% | 6.59% | 1.85% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.33% | 4.30% | 1.03% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.36% | 2.77% | 1.59% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.67% | 2.02% | 2.65% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.90% | 3.25% | 0.35% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 3.48% | 1.92% | 1.56% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.70% | 3.62% | 1.92% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.62% | 1.47% | 2.15% |
| VVisa Inc | 3.98% | 0.87% | 3.11% |
94.1% of GARP is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GARP or VOO?
GARP has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GARP or VOO?
Over the past year GARP returned +29.09% vs +17.54% for VOO, so GARP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), GARP annualized +20.13% vs +14.61% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GARP or VOO?
GARP has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 17.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GARP -31.3% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GARP and VOO?
GARP and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GARP and VOO?
94.1% of GARP's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 51.5% of VOO's is in holdings GARP also owns. They hold 94 positions in common, counted across the 132 positions we hold weights for in GARP and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GARP or VOO?
GARP yields 0.26% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GARP?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GARP led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.