SABA vs VOO
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SABA or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SABA | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.71% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $247M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 8.41% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 153 | 506 |
| YTD Return | -1.83% | +13.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.73% | +17.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.90% | +22.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.80% | +13.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.5%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,933 | $18,654Best |
| Fund Family | Saba Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 17, 1988 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.1 years).
SABA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SABA vs VOO Performance
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II (SABA) is an ETF from Saba Capital and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SABA returned -6.73% while VOO returned +17.55%. Year to date, SABA is down 1.83% versus a gain of 13.57% for VOO.
Over three years, SABA compounded at +7.90% per year against +22.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +1.80% and +13.28% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.40% annualized vs -3.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 11.5% for SABA. 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 -62.0% for SABA 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SABA charges 0.71% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $3 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SABA currently yields 8.41% against 1.06% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 9.5% of VOO's money is in holdings SABA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SABA, our book for it covers 41.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VOO and SABA share little of their money.
21 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in SABA and 504 in VOO, against full books of 153 and 506.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SABA | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.91% | 5.70% | 4.79% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 1.77% | 0.12% | 1.65% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc Crm Us Equity | 1.53% | 0.32% | 1.21% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 1.49% | 0.08% | 1.41% |
| PGRProgressive Corporation | 1.37% | 0.19% | 1.18% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.30% | 0.18% | 1.12% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.84% | 0.55% | 0.29% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 1.13% | 0.24% | 0.89% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 1.05% | 0.28% | 0.77% |
| BSXBoston Scientific Corp. | 1.18% | 0.11% | 1.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SABA 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, SABA or VOO?
SABA has an expense ratio of 0.71% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SABA or VOO?
Over the past year SABA returned -6.73% vs +17.55% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SABA annualized -3.28% vs +13.40% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SABA or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 11.5% for SABA. Worst drawdown: SABA -62.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both SABA and VOO?
SABA and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SABA and VOO?
At least 9.5% of VOO's money is in holdings SABA also owns. Our book for SABA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in SABA and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SABA or VOO?
SABA yields 8.41% while VOO yields 1.06%, so SABA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SABA?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.