OriginaveVOO — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF: what it is, what it costs, and what it actually returned — dividends reinvested.
VOO in plain words
VOO is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF from Vanguard. It tracks the S&P 500 Index and costs 0.03% a year, quietly deducted from returns. Yes — VOO is a distributing fund: the dividends its holdings pay are passed on to you as cash.
$10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $39,747 by the end of 2025 — an average of 14.8% per year over 10 full years, dividends reinvested. Its best full year so far was 2013 (+32.39%), its worst 2022 (-18.17%) — the range you sign up for.
VOO fund facts
| Fund | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF |
|---|---|
| Provider | Vanguard |
| Tracks | S&P 500 Index |
| Yearly cost (TER) | 0.03% |
| Dividends | Distributing — paid out as cash |
| Launched | 7 Sept 2010 |
Curious what the index actually holds? Read our S&P 500 Index profile.
VOO returns by year (USD)
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | +10.18% |
| 2025 | +17.82% |
| 2024 | +24.98% |
| 2023 | +26.32% |
| 2022 | -18.17% |
| 2021 | +28.79% |
| 2020 | +18.32% |
| 2019 | +31.37% |
| 2018 | -4.50% |
| 2017 | +21.77% |
| 2016 | +12.17% |
| 2015 | +1.33% |
| 2014 | +12.93% |
| 2013 | +32.39% |
| 2012 | +15.99% |
| 2011 | +1.90% |
| 2010 | +14.78% |
Calendar-year total returns of VOO in USD, dividends reinvested — the ETF tracking this index, not the raw index level.
Frequently asked
Is VOO a good investment?
VOO is a broad, low-effort way to own the S&P 500 Index at 0.03% a year. $10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $39,747 by the end of 2025 — an average of 14.8% per year over 10 full years, dividends reinvested. Whether it fits depends on your goals and horizon — past returns don't promise future ones, but this is the actual track record.
What is VOO's TER?
VOO's total expense ratio (TER) is 0.03% per year, deducted continuously from the fund's assets — you never get a bill, the returns are simply quoted after costs.
Does VOO pay dividends?
Yes — VOO is a distributing fund: the dividends its holdings pay are passed on to you as cash.
What would $10,000 invested in VOO be worth?
$10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $39,747 by the end of 2025 — an average of 14.8% per year over 10 full years, dividends reinvested.
Curious about other amounts or start years? Try the VOO what-if calculator.