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 22, 2026.
Compare the entire market against VOO live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top VOO: The S&P 500 was difficult to outperform consistently. Of 954 eligible ETFs, 44, or 4.6%, cleared the consistency bar, and 5 were all-weather. Among 1,502 eligible stocks, 226, or 15%, qualified, and 82 were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: QQQ outperformed in 2 of 5 short-term periods and 3 of 3 long-term periods, while SCHD led in 5 of 5 short-term periods but 0 of 3 long-term periods. RSP also had a recent edge, with 4 of 5 short-term periods and 0 of 3 long-term periods. IVV and SPY, which track the same index as VOO, tied it in every period.
- Top ETFs: Technology and commodity funds were prominent among the leaders. CIBR and HACK, which focus on cybersecurity, and UGA and BNO, which invest in gasoline and Brent oil, outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods. SMH, a semiconductor ETF, also led in all 3 long-term periods.
- Top stocks: 226 stocks made the consistency cut. The top stocks shown include healthcare companies NTRA, MEDP, and LLY, along with BWLP from the industrials sector. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: The leading investments were generally more volatile than VOO over 5 years. None of the top 15 ETFs or top 10 stocks had lower volatility, and the median volatility was 26.6% for ETFs and 47.0% for stocks, compared with 16.9% for VOO. About half had a higher Sharpe ratio, a measure of return relative to risk: 7 of 15 ETFs and 5 of 10 stocks.
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) | — | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 16.9% | 0.79 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 2/5 short3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0%1.4× VOO | 0.69 |
| VUG Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 0/5 short2/3 long | −4.2% | +1.8% | +5.2% | +7.9% | +9.2% | +96.1% | +75.4% | +407% | 22.6%1.3× VOO | 0.61 |
| SCHD Fell shortSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 5/5 short0/3 long | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4%0.9× VOO | 0.75 |
| RSP Fell shortInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 4/5 short0/3 long | +2.5% | +3.0% | +8.6% | +14.5% | +16.8% | +68.3% | +49.6% | +214% | 16.1%1.0× VOO | 0.58 |
| DIA Fell shortState Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust | 1/5 short0/3 long | +1.9% | +1.6% | +7.4% | +10.4% | +15.0% | +68.1% | +61.3% | +251% | 14.8%0.9× VOO | 0.72 |
| VEA Fell shortVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | −4.7% | −1.5% | +2.1% | +10.6% | +17.1% | +79.6% | +54.8% | +152% | 16.9%1.0× VOO | 0.60 |
| IVV Same indexiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | ≈ Same returns | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.8% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 17.0%1.0× VOO | 0.79 |
| SPY Same indexState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | ≈ Same returns | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2%1.0× VOO | 0.78 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5%1.0× VOO | 0.71 |
| ITOT Fell shortiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.5% | +1.8% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.4% | +71.5% | +297% | 17.4%1.0× VOO | 0.71 |
| IWV Fell shortiShares Russell 3000 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.3% | +2.1% | +7.4% | +12.4% | +15.1% | +86.5% | +70.9% | +293% | 17.3%1.0× VOO | 0.71 |
| ACWI Fell shortiShares MSCI ACWI ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.0% | +0.8% | +5.5% | +11.2% | +14.9% | +83.1% | +63.7% | +223% | 16.2%1.0× VOO | 0.69 |
| VB Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.0% | −2.3% | +2.1% | +11.4% | +15.1% | +68.6% | +35.2% | +179% | 20.6%1.2× VOO | 0.40 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.7% | −5.6% | +0.6% | +12.0% | +14.8% | +73.3% | +29.4% | +157% | 22.4%1.3× VOO | 0.34 |
| VXUS Fell shortVanguard Total International Stock ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −5.4% | −1.9% | +0.8% | +8.9% | +14.3% | +75.1% | +47.2% | +137% | 16.4%1.0× VOO | 0.56 |
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) | — | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 16.9% | 0.79 | ||
| 1 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2%1.5× VOO | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 2 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1%2.1× VOO | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 3 | HACK TechnologyAmplify Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.6% | +15.7% | +51.5% | +54.8% | +42.0% | +142% | +87.4% | +381% | 25.8%1.5× VOO | 0.62 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| 4 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1%2.2× VOO | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 5 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1%1.5× VOO | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 6 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −13.8% | −10.8% | +9.8% | +40.2% | +55.0% | +272% | +304% | +1,570% | 37.0%2.2× VOO | 0.94 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 7 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −17.0% | −14.3% | +10.3% | +51.9% | +68.0% | +219% | +221% | +1,297% | 39.0%2.3× VOO | 0.80 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 8 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −16.0% | −12.2% | +9.3% | +56.8% | +81.8% | +234% | +220% | +1,019% | 39.0%2.3× VOO | 0.79 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 9 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.4% | +2.4% | +16.3% | +24.7% | +26.1% | +138% | +135% | +773% | 26.7%1.6× VOO | 0.78 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 10 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1%1.5× VOO | 0.77 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 11 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1%1.5× VOO | 0.80 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 12 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.6% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.9% | +136% | +132% | +737% | 26.1%1.5× VOO | 0.78 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 13 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.8% | −0.5% | +14.3% | +28.7% | +31.1% | +140% | +137% | +693% | 26.2%1.5× VOO | 0.79 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 14 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.3% | −1.9% | +13.0% | +23.3% | +24.8% | +159% | +115% | +691% | 29.3%1.7× VOO | 0.67 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 15 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −7.9% | +0.2% | +11.0% | +21.4% | +23.1% | +149% | +126% | +686% | 26.6%1.6× VOO | 0.75 | 0.37% | $11B |
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) | — | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 16.9% | 0.79 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6%3.4× VOO | 0.73 | $58B |
| 2 | BWLP Marine ShippingBW LPG Limited | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9%3.0× VOO | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| 3 | MEDP Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchMedpace Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +3.8% | +23.8% | +28.6% | +14.5% | +19.6% | +187% | +250% | +2,003% | 52.1%3.1× VOO | 0.73 | $18B |
| 4 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8%1.9× VOO | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| 5 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0%2.2× VOO | 1.11 | $14B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4%2.0× VOO | 1.39 | $129B |
| 7 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4%3.1× VOO | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| 8 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4%2.6× VOO | 0.72 | $31B |
| 9 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7%2.9× VOO | 1.12 | $11B |
| 10 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.2% | +60.0% | +82.1% | +77.1% | +89.4% | +258% | +220% | +1,255% | 40.4%2.4× VOO | 0.78 | $14B |
What stands out
The ETF leaders were concentrated in technology, especially cybersecurity and semiconductors, with commodities also represented. That leadership was not limited to recent periods: CIBR, HACK, UGA, and BNO outperformed in all 3 long-term and all 5 short-term periods. By contrast, SMH and SOXX outperformed in all 3 long-term periods but only 3 of 5 short-term periods. The stock leaders came from several sectors, although healthcare appeared among the top names more than once.
The risk figures show that these returns came with a bumpier ride. The top ETFs' median Sharpe ratio was 0.78, close to VOO's 0.79, while the top stocks' median was 0.95. Still, higher Sharpe ratios were not universal: 7 of 15 ETFs and 5 of 10 stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than VOO. Past outperformance therefore came with substantially higher volatility for many of the names.
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.