VOOvsSMAXETF Comparison
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Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF (SMAX) is part of the Options Strategies segment. VOO's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Consumer Non-Cyclicals. In contrast, SMAX's top sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Healthcare. VOO is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.03%, versus 0.53% for SMAX. VOO is up 12.68% year-to-date (YTD) with +$138.04B in YTD flows. SMAX performs worse with 5.54% YTD performance, and -$34M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VOO and SMAX below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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VOO vs SMAX performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/18/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VOO SMAX | -0.42%+0.61% | +2.27%+2.04% | +12.68%+5.54% | +16.67%+7.32% | +78.53%n/a | +88.24%n/a |
| Flows | VOO SMAX | +$46.96B-$1M | +$18.36B-$4M | +$138.04B-$34M | +$152.56B+$515K | +$405.04B- | +$482.36B- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VOO SMAX | +11.15%+1.97% | +12.91%+2.77% | +14.96%n/a | +17.17%n/a |
| Max drawdown | VOO SMAX | -3.40%-0.43% | -8.90%-1.93% | -18.75%n/a | -24.52%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | VOO SMAX | 19d15d | 76d44d | 126dn/a | 708dn/a |
Trading data
VOO | SMAX | |
Last sale 9/18/2026 at 1:30 PM | $701.78 | $28.39 |
| Previous close 09/17/2026 | $701.03 | $28.37 |
| Consolidated volume 09/17/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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SMAX
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexVOO | SMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/18/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VOO | SMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $701.78 | $28.39 |
| 1D performance | +0.11% | +0.07% |
| AuM | $1,075.95 B | $88.55 M |
| E/R | 0.03% | 0.53% |
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Exposure
Countries
VOO
USA
97.42%
Other
2.58%
SMAX
USA
102.01%
Other
-2.01%
Sectors
VOO
Technology
44.7%
Finance
13.84%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
9.41%
Healthcare
8.88%
Industrials
7.86%
Other
15.32%
SMAX
Technology
46.23%
Finance
14.48%
Healthcare
9.28%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
9.23%
Industrials
8.09%
Other
12.68%
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Diversification
VOO
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
44.02%
SMAX
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
45.4%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
VOO
NVIDIA Corp.
7.55%
Apple, Inc.
7.04%
Microsoft Corp.
5.36%
Amazon.com, Inc.
4.13%
Alphabet, Inc.
3.24%
Broadcom Inc.
2.86%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.62%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.90%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.46%
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
1.46%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.44%
Eli Lilly & Co.
1.41%
Tesla, Inc.
1.36%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
1.21%
ExxonMobil Holdings Corp.
1.00%
SMAX
Apple, Inc.
7.90%
NVIDIA Corp.
7.62%
Microsoft Corp.
5.40%
Amazon.com, Inc.
3.72%
Alphabet, Inc.
3.16%
Broadcom Inc.
2.96%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.54%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.91%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.59%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.52%
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
1.51%
Eli Lilly & Co.
1.47%
BlackRock Cash Funds - Treasury
1.42%
Tesla, Inc.
1.40%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
1.28%
Frequently asked questions about VOO and SMAX
How have the VOO and SMAX ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 18, 2026, VOO is up 12.68% year-to-date (YTD), while SMAX has returned 5.54%. That puts VOO better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VOO or SMAX?
Year-to-date, the VOO ETF saw +$138.04B in flows, compared to -$34M for SMAX.
Which ETF is more volatile: VOO or SMAX?
Over the past year, VOO had a volatility of 12.91%, while SMAX experienced 2.77%.
Which ETF is bigger: VOO or SMAX?
As of September 18, 2026, VOO holds $1,075.95 B in assets under management (AUM), while SMAX manages $88.55 M.
What sectors do the VOO and SMAX ETFs invest in?
VOO leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Consumer Non-Cyclicals. Meanwhile, SMAX focuses on Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the VOO ETF and SMAX ETF?
VOO top holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc. and Microsoft Corp.. SMAX holds in its top three: Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Microsoft Corp..
Which ETF is more diversified: VOO or SMAX?
VOO holds 503 securities with 44.02% of its assets in the top 15. SMAX has 504 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.4%.
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Latest news about VOO & SMAX
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