VAP vs SLF: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
SLF comes out ahead on 7 of 10 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $4,891 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
VAP vs SLF side by side
| VAP leads on 3, SLF on 7 | VAPVanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF | SLFSPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index | S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index |
| Fund manager | Vanguard | State Street (SPDR) |
| Asset class | Property & infrastructure | Property & infrastructure |
| Listed | Oct 2010 | Feb 2002 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.23% | 0.16%✓ |
| AUMfund size | $2.8bn✓ | $451m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | $26m✓ | −$5.2m |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.04%✓ | 0.13% |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | −2.1% | −1.7%✓ |
| 1 year | −14.3% | −14.1%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | +8.9% | +9.3%✓ |
| 5 years p.a. | +2.3% | +2.4%✓ |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $8,566 | $8,590✓ |
| 5 years ago | $11,195 | $11,233✓ |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
VAP vs SLF price chart
Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into VAP 5 years ago is worth $11,195 today, against $11,233 in SLF. That is $38 more in SLF.
Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
What the fees cost you
SLF's lower fee leaves about $4,891 more in your pocket over 20 years.
Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.
VAP and SLF overlap
18 companies appear in both funds. Overlap is the share of the portfolio that is the same in both, counting the smaller weight of each shared company.
| Biggest shared holdings | % of VAP | % of SLF |
|---|---|---|
| 37.14% | 38.10% | |
| 12.22% | 12.87% | |
| 7.00% | 7.22% | |
| 6.22% | 6.62% | |
| 5.96% | 6.73% | |
| 5.85% | 6.45% | |
| 4.88% | 5.08% | |
| 4.11% | 4.25% | |
| 1.71% | 1.83% | |
| 1.46% | 1.51% | |
| 1.42% | 1.51% | |
| 1.34% | 1.45% |
Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs →
Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.
Get the full VAP vs SLF report
- Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
- Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
- Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
- Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, VAP or SLF?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers VAP wins on 3 measures and SLF on 7. SLF is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.16% vs 0.23%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $4,891. VAP is the larger fund at $2.8bn vs $451m. SLF has the better 1-year return: −14.1% vs −14.3%.
Which is cheaper, VAP or SLF?
VAP charges 0.23% a year and SLF charges 0.16% a year.
Can I hold both VAP and SLF?
You can, but check how much they overlap. VAP is a property & infrastructure fund and SLF is a property & infrastructure fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.