For long-term investors looking to track the U.S. stock market, S&P 500 ETFs are a popular choice. Two of the most widely held options are the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) from Vanguard and the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) (earlier SPLG) from State Street. Using TipRanks’ ETF Comparison Tool, we have compared VOO and SPYM to determine the best ETF for investors in 2026.
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VOO or SPYM : The Differences
The primary difference between VOO and SPYM lies in cost and trading style. SPYM has a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.02%, compared with VOO’s 0.03%. For long-term investors, that fee gap can add up, giving SPYM a small edge when it comes to compounding returns.
When it comes to liquidity and trading, VOO is highly liquid and generally easier to trade, especially for larger orders. Even though VOO trades less than SPYM, it is still very liquid due to its large size and strong underlying market liquidity.
In terms of size, VOO is significantly larger, with more assets under management, giving it a longer track record and stronger market presence. SPYM is smaller but still a stable and reliable option, though it doesn’t have the same scale advantage as VOO. Notably, VOO includes 507 stocks with total assets of around $865.31 billion, while SPYM holds 506 stocks totaling roughly $128.88 billion in assets.
VOO and SPYM: Key Similarities
Both VOO and SPYM track the S&P 500 Index (SPX), a widely used benchmark that reflects the overall U.S. stock market and the health of the broader economy.
In terms of holdings, both ETFs are heavily weighted toward the technology sector, with their top five positions being Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL).
According to TipRanks’ ETF analyst consensus, which aggregates analyst ratings on each ETF’s holdings, both VOO and SPYM carry Moderate Buy ratings. VOO’s average price target of $763.70 implies a potential upside of 22.3%, and SPYM’s target of $97.36 also suggests an upside of 22%.
Conclusion
VOO and SPYM are very similar—they both track the S&P 500 and deliver nearly the same returns. The main difference is cost and size: SPYM is slightly cheaper, while VOO is much larger and more liquid.
For long-term investors, either ETF works well. But if you want the lowest cost, SPYM has a small edge, while VOO stands out for its scale and ease of trading.