BSEP vs VOO
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BSEP or VOO?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. BSEP is less concentrated, with 37.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | BSEP | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $470M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,520 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +10.32% | +13.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.43% | +17.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.86% | +22.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.29% | +13.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6%Best | 16.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.0%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,072 | $18,654Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.7%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 30, 2019 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 3, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.1 years).
BSEP 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 7.1 years both funds cover.
BSEP vs VOO Performance
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September (BSEP) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BSEP returned +13.43% while VOO returned +17.55%. Year to date, BSEP is up 10.32% versus a gain of 13.57% for VOO.
Over three years, BSEP compounded at +16.86% per year against +22.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.29% and +13.28% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +15.98% annualized vs +12.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 11.6% for BSEP. 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 -24.0% for BSEP and -34.3% 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSEP 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, BSEP currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
97.4% of BSEP's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 98.5% of VOO's money is in holdings BSEP also owns.
Most of VOO is already inside BSEP. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
491 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in BSEP and 504 in VOO, against full books of 1,520 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 11 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for BSEP (1.5% of the fund), and 3 for BSEP that do not appear in VOO (0.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BSEP | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.91% | 8.09% | 0.18% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.30% | 7.04% | 0.26% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.51% | 5.70% | 0.19% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.76% | 3.85% | 0.09% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 2.97% | 3.01% | 0.04% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.56% | 2.65% | 0.09% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.37% | 2.40% | 0.03% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.13% | 1.90% | 0.23% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.64% | 1.64% | 0.00% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.54% | 1.57% | 0.03% |
98.5% of VOO is already inside BSEP.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BSEP or VOO?
BSEP 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, BSEP or VOO?
Over the past year BSEP returned +13.43% vs +17.55% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSEP annualized +12.08% vs +15.98% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSEP or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 11.6% for BSEP. Worst drawdown: BSEP -24.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both BSEP and VOO?
BSEP and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BSEP and VOO?
98.5% of VOO's money is in holdings BSEP also owns. 98.5% of VOO's is in holdings BSEP also owns. They hold 491 positions in common, counted across the 494 positions we hold weights for in BSEP and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, BSEP or VOO?
BSEP yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.06%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than BSEP?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. BSEP is less concentrated, with 37.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.