How does this VOO calculator work?

You enter an initial investment, a monthly contribution, an investment horizon, an expected annual price growth rate, and a dividend yield. The calculator compounds your contributions and price growth monthly, pays dividends quarterly, and — if DRIP is on — reinvests those dividends to buy more shares.

Why are price growth and dividend yield separate inputs?

Combining them into a single 'total return' number and then adding a dividend yield on top would double-count dividends. Keeping them separate lets the calculator model DRIP accurately and show you dividend income on its own.

What is DRIP and should I use it?

DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) automatically uses your dividend payments to buy more shares instead of paying them out as cash. Over long horizons, DRIP typically produces a larger ending balance because reinvested dividends compound alongside your other contributions. Compare both scenarios on our dividend reinvestment calculator.

Does this calculator account for VOO's expense ratio?

VOO's returns are already reported net of its expense ratio (currently 0.03%), so we don't subtract it again from your projection. We show the estimated dollar cost of the expense ratio separately as an informational figure.

What are the limitations of this projection?

This is a simplified model using constant assumed growth and yield rates. Real markets are volatile year to year, dividend yields and payout policies can change, and this tool doesn't account for taxes on capital gains, brokerage fees, or your specific tax situation. Treat the output as a rough planning estimate, not a guarantee.

Can I share or export my projection?

Yes. Use "Copy shareable link" to generate a URL that encodes your inputs, or "Export CSV" to download the full year-by-year schedule.

VOO Calculator

Project how your VOO investment could grow over time, including contributions, price growth, and reinvested dividends.

Initial investment

Monthly contribution

Investment horizon20 yrs

Annual price growth8%

Price appreciation only, excluding dividends. Historical average shown is VOO’s long-run price return.

Dividend yield

Modeled separately from price growth so dividends are never double-counted.

Reinvest dividends (DRIP)

When off, dividends accumulate as uninvested cash instead of buying more shares.

Final balance

$398,083

Total contributed

$130,000

Total growth

$229,074

Total dividends

$39,009

Annual dividend income (final year)

$4,936

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What is VOO?

VOO is the ticker for the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, a low-cost fund that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 index. It’s a popular choice for a voo investment calculator scenario because it offers broad diversification across roughly 500 of the largest U.S. companies at an expense ratio of just 0.03%. The fund has paid dividends quarterly since it launched in 2010.

VOO vs. VTI vs. SPY

VOO is often compared with VTI (which adds mid- and small-cap stocks alongside the S&P 500) and SPY (an older S&P 500 ETF with a different fund structure and typically higher costs). All three are broad, low-cost ways to invest in U.S. stocks, but their expense ratios and underlying indexes differ:

Ticker	Fund	Issuer	Index tracked	Expense ratio
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	Vanguard	S&P 500	0.03%
VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF	Vanguard	CRSP US Total Market	0.03%
SPY	SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust	State Street	S&P 500	0.09%

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How this VOO growth calculator works

This voo compound interest calculator separates two sources of return: price growth and dividend yield. Each month, your contribution is added and the balance compounds at the monthly-equivalent of your chosen annual price growth rate. Every quarter — matching VOO’s real dividend schedule — a dividend is calculated on your balance. With DRIP on, that dividend buys more shares; with DRIP off, it’s set aside as cash.

Worked example: starting with $10,000, contributing $500/month for 20 years at an 8% historical average price growth rate and a 1.3% dividend yield with DRIP on, the default inputs above show how contributions, price growth, and dividends each contribute to your ending balance.

VOO growth over time

Use the growth rate presets in the voo calculator over time above — Conservative, Historical average, and Optimistic — to see a range of outcomes rather than relying on a single guess. No one can predict future returns, so comparing scenarios is more useful than a single-point estimate from a voo return calculator.

Dividends & DRIP explained

VOO pays dividends quarterly based on the underlying companies’ earnings distributions. For a deeper look at projected income, try our VOO dividend calculator. To directly compare reinvesting versus taking dividends as cash, see the VOO DRIP calculator.

Limitations of this projection

Markets don’t grow in a smooth, constant line — this voo stock calculator assumes a fixed annual growth rate and dividend yield for simplicity. Actual returns will vary year to year, and past performance is not indicative of future results. See our methodology page for full details on formulas and assumptions.

Frequently asked questions

VOO is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, a fund that tracks the S&P 500 index of roughly 500 large U.S. companies. It's one of the most widely held funds for long-term, low-cost index investing.

This calculator provides hypothetical estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. voocalculator.app is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Vanguard Group. VOO is a trademark of its respective owner. See our full disclaimer.