ASIA vs VOO
Matthews Pacific Tiger Active ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ASIA or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ASIA led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.1%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ASIA | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $52M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 61 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +13.45% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.42%Best | +18.67% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.40% | +22.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 12.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.9% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.1 years | $15,991 | $18,950Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.1% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Matthews Asia Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 21, 2023 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2023 to Oct 13, 2026 (3.1 years).
ASIA vs VOO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 3.1 years both funds cover.
ASIA vs VOO Performance
Matthews Pacific Tiger Active ETF (ASIA) is an ETF from Matthews Asia Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ASIA returned +19.42% while VOO returned +18.67%. Year to date, ASIA is up 13.45% versus a gain of 14.82% for VOO.
Over three years, ASIA compounded at +17.40% per year against +22.93% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASIA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 12.3% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -23.9% for ASIA and -18.7% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASIA charges 0.79% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $3 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASIA currently yields 0.86% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 64 holdings in ASIA and 494 in VOO, totalling 100.9% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, ASIA as of Sep 15, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in ASIA and 494 in VOO, against full books of 61 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ASIA (99.2% of the fund), and 3 for ASIA that do not appear in VOO (5.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ASIA and VOO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ASIA or VOO?
ASIA has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASIA or VOO?
Over the past year ASIA returned +19.42% vs +18.67% for VOO, so ASIA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASIA or VOO?
ASIA has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 12.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ASIA -23.9% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both ASIA and VOO?
ASIA and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASIA or VOO?
ASIA yields 0.86% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ASIA?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ASIA led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.