Benchmark research · S&P 500
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF), we screened VOO against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against VOO live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top VOO: Across a screen of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, 41 of 954 eligible ETFs (4.3%) and 224 of 1,502 eligible stocks (15%) outperformed in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. A smaller group held up across nearly every period: 14 ETFs and 80 stocks were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: QQQ qualified with outperformance in 3 of 5 short-term periods and 3 of 3 long-term periods. VUG fell short with 0 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, while SCHD outperformed in all 5 short-term periods but none of the 3 long-term periods. IVV and SPY, which track the same index as VOO, tied it in every period.
- Top ETFs: Technology funds led the displayed group, with 7 of the top ETFs in that category. DXJ, BNO, CRAK, and IYW each outperformed in all 3 long-term periods and all but one or none of the short-term periods; 41 ETFs qualified overall.
- Top stocks: 224 stocks qualified, more than the number of qualifying ETFs. The leaders shown include healthcare stocks NTRA and LLY, energy stocks CVI and MPC, and consumer-staples stock COKE.
- The risk trade-off: The displayed winners took a bumpier ride than VOO. Over 5 years, none of the top 15 ETFs or top 10 stocks was less volatile than the benchmark. About half of each group had a higher Sharpe ratio, a measure of return relative to risk, so higher volatility did not always come with better risk-adjusted performance.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against VOO, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 |
| QQQ Made the listInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%1.4× VOO | 0.71 |
| VUG Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 0/5 short2/3 long | −2.5% | +4.0% | +8.2% | +9.8% | +10.2% | +100% | +78.6% | +419% | 22.5%1.3× VOO | 0.63 |
| SCHD Fell shortSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 5/5 short0/3 long | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3%0.8× VOO | 0.72 |
| DIA Fell shortState Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust | 1/5 short0/3 long | +0.9% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.6% | +13.9% | +66.1% | +60.6% | +250% | 14.8%0.9× VOO | 0.72 |
| RSP Fell shortInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | +1.5% | +2.0% | +6.7% | +13.3% | +15.5% | +65.4% | +48.6% | +211% | 16.1%1.0× VOO | 0.57 |
| VEA Fell shortVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | −3.5% | +1.0% | +1.4% | +11.5% | +17.0% | +81.0% | +55.9% | +153% | 16.9%1.0× VOO | 0.61 |
| IVV Same indexiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | ≈ Same returns | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 17.0%1.0× VOO | 0.80 |
| SPY Same indexState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | ≈ Same returns | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%1.0× VOO | 0.79 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5%1.0× VOO | 0.71 |
| ITOT Fell shortiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.2% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +88.0% | +72.7% | +301% | 17.4%1.0× VOO | 0.72 |
| IWV Fell shortiShares Russell 3000 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −0.7% | +3.3% | +8.2% | +12.9% | +15.0% | +86.9% | +72.0% | +297% | 17.3%1.0× VOO | 0.72 |
| ACWI Fell shortiShares MSCI ACWI ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.9% | +2.8% | +6.2% | +12.1% | +15.1% | +84.5% | +65.1% | +227% | 16.2%1.0× VOO | 0.70 |
| VB Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −0.8% | −1.8% | +1.3% | +11.2% | +13.7% | +66.8% | +35.2% | +179% | 20.6%1.2× VOO | 0.40 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4%1.3× VOO | 0.34 |
| VXUS Fell shortVanguard Total International Stock ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.9% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +10.2% | +14.6% | +77.2% | +48.6% | +140% | 16.4%1.0× VOO | 0.57 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed VOO
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed VOO in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 | ||
| 1 | DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | 0.0% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +25.0% | +36.4% | +127% | +225% | +428% | 19.1%1.1× VOO | 1.34 | 0.48% | $8.1B |
| 2 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%2.2× VOO | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 3 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%1.2× VOO | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 4 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%1.6× VOO | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 5 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%1.5× VOO | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 6 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.5× VOO | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 7 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%1.5× VOO | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 8 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%1.5× VOO | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 9 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%1.6× VOO | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 10 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%1.5× VOO | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 11 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%1.4× VOO | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 12 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1%1.5× VOO | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 13 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1%2.1× VOO | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 14 | GREK InternationalGlobal X - MSCI Greece ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −5.6% | +8.8% | +14.9% | +21.4% | +32.7% | +175% | +234% | +380% | 24.6%1.5× VOO | 1.11 | 0.56% | $327M |
| 15 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9%2.2× VOO | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed VOO
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%3.4× VOO | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%1.9× VOO | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 3 | CORT Medical - PharmaceuticalsCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9%4.5× VOO | 0.81 | $13B |
| 4 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%2.2× VOO | 1.10 | $14B |
| 5 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%3.1× VOO | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%2.0× VOO | 1.41 | $133B |
| 7 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%2.6× VOO | 0.71 | $30B |
| 8 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%2.4× VOO | 0.79 | $14B |
| 9 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7%2.9× VOO | 1.10 | $11B |
| 10 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%3.7× VOO | 0.77 | $6.9B |
What stands out
Technology was the largest category among the displayed top ETFs, while healthcare and energy feature prominently among the leading stocks. The results also show that the lead was not limited to recent periods: several highlighted ETFs and stocks outperformed in all 3 long-term periods as well as most or all short-term periods. Still, the market-wide screen found far more qualifying stocks than ETFs, and the top stocks shown span several sectors rather than one narrow theme.
The return advantage came with larger price swings. Over 5 years, median volatility was 26.1% for the top ETFs and 47.0% for the top stocks, compared with 16.9% for VOO. Median Sharpe ratios were 0.81 for ETFs and 0.80 for stocks, close to VOO's 0.80. In other words, the higher returns did not translate into a clear risk-adjusted edge for every winner.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than VOO's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of VOO's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- 3 ETFs that track essentially the same returns as VOO (IVV, SPY, SPYM) are excluded, since tiny fee differences decide whether they finish ahead.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.