# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)

> Source: BetterThanSPY research, https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo
> Data as of October 22, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform VOO in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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](https://betterthanspy.com/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 |
| [VUG](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vug): Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | −4.2% | +1.8% | +5.2% | +7.9% | +9.2% | +96.1% | +75.4% | +407% | 22.6% | 0.61 |
| [SCHD](https://betterthanspy.com/research/schd): Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Fell short | 5/5 short, 0/3 long | +5.8% | +8.5% | +16.0% | +30.8% | +35.7% | +72.3% | +62.8% | +256% | 14.4% | 0.75 |
| [RSP](https://betterthanspy.com/research/rsp): Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | Fell short | 4/5 short, 0/3 long | +2.5% | +3.0% | +8.6% | +14.5% | +16.8% | +68.3% | +49.6% | +214% | 16.1% | 0.58 |
| [DIA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/dia): State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.9% | +1.6% | +7.4% | +10.4% | +15.0% | +68.1% | +61.3% | +251% | 14.8% | 0.72 |
| [VEA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vea): Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | −4.7% | −1.5% | +2.1% | +10.6% | +17.1% | +79.6% | +54.8% | +152% | 16.9% | 0.60 |
| [IVV](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ivv): iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | Same index | about the same returns | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.8% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 17.0% | 0.79 |
| [SPY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Same index | about the same returns | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2% | 0.78 |
| [VTI](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [ITOT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/itot): iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.5% | +1.8% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.4% | +71.5% | +297% | 17.4% | 0.71 |
| IWV: iShares Russell 3000 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.3% | +2.1% | +7.4% | +12.4% | +15.1% | +86.5% | +70.9% | +293% | 17.3% | 0.71 |
| ACWI: iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.0% | +0.8% | +5.5% | +11.2% | +14.9% | +83.1% | +63.7% | +223% | 16.2% | 0.69 |
| [VB](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vb): Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.0% | −2.3% | +2.1% | +11.4% | +15.1% | +68.6% | +35.2% | +179% | 20.6% | 0.40 |
| [IWM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/iwm): iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.7% | −5.6% | +0.6% | +12.0% | +14.8% | +73.3% | +29.4% | +157% | 22.4% | 0.34 |
| [VXUS](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vxus): Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −5.4% | −1.9% | +0.8% | +8.9% | +14.3% | +75.1% | +47.2% | +137% | 16.4% | 0.56 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed VOO

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |  |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2% | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1% | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
| HACK: Amplify Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.6% | +15.7% | +51.5% | +54.8% | +42.0% | +142% | +87.4% | +381% | 25.8% | 0.62 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1% | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1% | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| [SMH](https://betterthanspy.com/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −13.8% | −10.8% | +9.8% | +40.2% | +55.0% | +272% | +304% | +1,570% | 37.0% | 0.94 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://betterthanspy.com/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −17.0% | −14.3% | +10.3% | +51.9% | +68.0% | +219% | +221% | +1,297% | 39.0% | 0.80 | 0.33% | $39B |
| FTXL: First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −16.0% | −12.2% | +9.3% | +56.8% | +81.8% | +234% | +220% | +1,019% | 39.0% | 0.79 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.4% | +2.4% | +16.3% | +24.7% | +26.1% | +138% | +135% | +773% | 26.7% | 0.78 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1% | 0.77 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1% | 0.80 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.6% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.9% | +136% | +132% | +737% | 26.1% | 0.78 | 0.08% | $22B |
| IXN: iShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.8% | −0.5% | +14.3% | +28.7% | +31.1% | +140% | +137% | +693% | 26.2% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| XNTK: State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.3% | −1.9% | +13.0% | +23.3% | +24.8% | +159% | +115% | +691% | 29.3% | 0.67 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| IGM: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.9% | +0.2% | +11.0% | +21.4% | +23.1% | +149% | +126% | +686% | 26.6% | 0.75 | 0.37% | $11B |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed VOO

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |
| [NTRA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6% | 0.73 | $58B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| MEDP: Medpace Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +3.8% | +23.8% | +28.6% | +14.5% | +19.6% | +187% | +250% | +2,003% | 52.1% | 0.73 | $18B |
| [LLY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8% | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0% | 1.11 | $14B |
| [MPC](https://betterthanspy.com/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4% | 1.39 | $129B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4% | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4% | 0.72 | $31B |
| FRO: Frontline Plc | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7% | 1.12 | $11B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +8.2% | +60.0% | +82.1% | +77.1% | +89.4% | +258% | +220% | +1,255% | 40.4% | 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.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-dia)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IWM (Russell 2000 Small Caps)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VXUS (International Stocks)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AAPL (Apple)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-aapl)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GOOG (Alphabet)](https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-goog)
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## Explore further

- Full page: https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo
- All research pages: https://betterthanspy.com/llms.txt