VOO vs SCHB ETF Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VOO and SCHB are near-identical for most investors — both 0.03% expense ratio, both dominated by the same mega-cap technology stocks, and both with high correlations to S&P 500 performance. The primary difference is breadth: VOO holds 500 large-cap companies; SCHB holds ~2,500 including mid and small-cap. For practical purposes, the two ETFs will behave almost identically over most time periods. The choice is a matter of brokerage preference more than investment philosophy.
VOO vs SCHB — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (the world's most widely held S&P 500 index fund tracking 500 large-cap US stocks with the recognized benchmark at 0.03% expense ratio) versus Schwab US Broad Market ETF (the total US market ETF covering 2,500 large, mid, and small-cap US companies at identical 0.03% cost).
VOO holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. SCHB has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+27.17% vs +26.79% for VOO).
- →want pure S&P 500 index exposure — the recognized US equity benchmark most commonly used for portfolio performance comparison and financial planning projections
- →hold at Vanguard or prefer Vanguard's $1T+ ETF ecosystem with maximum institutional liquidity for the core US equity holding
- →prefer simplicity: the S&P 500 is the most understood, most discussed US equity index — financial media, advisors, and benchmarks all reference it constantly
- →are comfortable with large-cap concentration excluding mid and small-cap companies — acceptable for most investors given S&P 500 companies represent 80% of US market cap
- →prefer total US market coverage from a single ETF — holding VOO equivalents plus 2,000+ mid and small-cap companies provides theoretically complete diversification
- →hold accounts at Schwab where SCHB is commission-free and optimally integrated with Schwab's portfolio tools and automatic investing features
- →believe in small-cap factor potential — SCHB's small and mid-cap exposure positions the portfolio to benefit if/when small-cap valuation premiums appear vs large-cap
- →are comfortable with the near-identical performance to VOO in most market environments — the total market exposure difference is meaningful in theory but small in practice for most time horizons
| Metric | VOO | SCHB |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 90.0 | 88.0 |
| Latest close | $688.11 | $28.97 |
| 1M return | +2.00% | +2.77% |
| 6M return | +12.13% | +12.59% |
| 1Y return | +26.79% | +27.17% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VOO | SCHB |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.83K (+28.3%) started 2025-06-18 | $12.87K (+28.7%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $20.78K (+107.8%) started 2021-06-18 | $19.72K (+97.2%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $50.87K (+408.7%) started 2016-06-20 | $48.57K (+385.7%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VOO | SCHB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $1.7T | $43.31B |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 1.01% |
| Trailing P/E | 26.85 | 26.51 |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.03 |
| 52-week change | 26.79% | 27.17% |
| Metric | VOO | SCHB |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +26.79% | +27.17% |
| 6M return | +12.13% | +12.59% |
| 1M return | +2.00% | +2.77% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.63 | 1.61 |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.03 |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 1.01% |
| 5Y CAGR | +14.06% | +12.93% |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | VOO | SCHB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +26.79% | +27.17% |
| CAGR | +26.81% | +27.19% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.63 | 1.61 | |
| Max drawdown | 8.90% | 8.91% | |
| Max daily drop | 2.69% | 2.70% | |
| Max wkly drop | 3.79% | 3.71% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +93.04% | +83.66% |
| CAGR | +14.06% | +12.93% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.60 | 0.53 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.52% | 25.41% | |
| Max daily drop | 5.80% | 5.90% | |
| Max wkly drop | 11.45% | 11.62% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +324.44% | +307.09% |
| CAGR | +15.56% | +15.08% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.64 | 0.61 | |
| Max drawdown | 33.99% | 35.27% | |
| Max daily drop | 11.74% | 11.99% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.11% | 18.80% |
| Category | VOO | SCHB |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $1.7T | $43.31B |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 1.01% |
- →S&P 500 benchmark standard: VOO tracks the most widely recognized US equity benchmark — portfolio performance vs S&P 500 is the universal comparison metric for US equity investors
- →0.03% expense ratio: among the world's lowest expense ratios — competitive with IVV (iShares) and SPY (SPDR) while offering lower cost than most active funds
- →Massive liquidity and institutional ownership: $1T+ AUM makes VOO one of the most liquid ETFs globally — minimal bid-ask spreads, no impact cost for large trades
- →Total US market in one ETF: SCHB's 2,500 stocks capture large, mid, and small-cap US equities — eliminating the need for separate large-cap and small-cap ETFs
- →Identical 0.03% expense ratio to VOO: SCHB provides broader coverage at the same price — marginally more comprehensive than VOO at equal cost
- →Small and mid-cap diversification: SCHB's inclusion of 2,000+ smaller companies beyond the S&P 500 provides exposure to growth companies before they reach S&P 500 inclusion
- →Excludes small-cap and mid-cap: VOO's 500-stock large-cap focus misses the 3,500+ smaller US companies — investors seeking total market exposure need SCHB or VTI alongside or instead of VOO
- →Technology concentration: Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta alone represent 25%+ of VOO — more concentrated in technology mega-caps than a total market index
- →Index Committee discretion: S&P 500 membership requires profitability screening by a committee — some newer profitable companies may be included or excluded based on qualitative criteria
- →S&P 500 dominance in total market returns: approximately 80% of SCHB's return comes from the same large-cap companies as VOO — the practical performance difference is minimal despite the broader index
- →Less liquid than VOO: SCHB has lower AUM and daily trading volume than VOO — wider bid-ask spreads for large institutional trades, though negligible for individual investors
- →Smaller company return drag in certain periods: small and mid-cap components can underperform large-cap during technology bull markets (as in 2023-2024), slightly dragging SCHB vs VOO
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