ETF Comparison

IWF vs VUG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

IWFInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
VUGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

IWF has lagged VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 7.22% total return against 12.93%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VUG has compounded at 17.93% a year, against 17.92% for IWF. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Jan 2004	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
IWF	4.78%	7.22%	21.84%	12.15%	17.92%	12.07%	19.6%	0.78	1.12	-23.4%
VUG	9.77%	12.93%	23.98%	12.56%	17.93%	12.31%	19.7%	0.87	1.25	-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 30, 2004 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	IWF	VUG
Full name	iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF	Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF
Issuer	iShares	Vanguard
Underlying index	Russell 1000 Growth Index	Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index
Last Close	$123.25 as of September 18, 2026	$88.75 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	0.35%	0.42%
Distribution Safety Score™	90	90
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.31%	0.38%
Expense ratio	0.18%	0.03%
AUM	$123B	$228B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	Seeks to track the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	05/22/2000	01/26/2004
Beta	1.21	1.27
Last dividend	$0.1089 payable today	$0.0923
Ex-dividend date	09/15/2026	06/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose IWF if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VUG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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iShares

ETFs466

Total AUM$4551B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IWF.

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Vanguard

ETFs116

Total AUM$4663B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VUG.

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Quick verdict

IWF (iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF) and VUG (Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VUG offers the higher yield at 0.42% vs 0.35% for IWF. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VUG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.18%.

They have different reference exposures: IWF is linked to Russell 1000 Growth Index while VUG is linked to Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VUG is the larger fund by assets ($228B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IWF would generate roughly $2.92/month, while VUG would produce $3.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IWF yield0.35%

VUG yield0.42%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IWF would cost approximately $180 in fees vs $30 for VUG (simplified, not compounded). The $150.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IWF ER0.18%

VUG ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

IWF tracks Russell 1000 Growth Index with an index approach, while VUG tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.21 for IWF and 1.27 for VUG, making IWF the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IWF beta1.21

VUG beta1.27

Fund details

IWF is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $123B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $228B in assets.

IWF AUM$123B

VUG AUM$228B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IWF and VUG?

IWF currently distributes 0.35% and VUG 0.42%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IWF or VUG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VUG currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between IWF and VUG?

IWF (iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF) tracks Russell 1000 Growth Index with an index approach, while VUG (Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF) tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both IWF and VUG?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is IWF or VUG safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: IWF scores 90, VUG scores 90. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IWF or VUG?

IWF has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VUG charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IWF vs VUG generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IWF would generate roughly $2.92 per month ($35.00 annually). The same in VUG would produce about $3.50 per month ($42.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IWF or VUG?

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IWF vs VUG — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

IWF and VUG are both large-cap growth equity ETFs tracking different indexes—Russell 1000 Growth and Morningstar US Large Cap Growth respectively. The funds compete on cost and yield, with VUG holding a significant asset advantage and a considerably lower expense ratio, while IWF uses a more established index framework with a slightly lower volatility profile. IWF's yield sits at 0.35%, trailing VUG's 0.42%, though both distributions are modest by any standard. On volatility, IWF's beta of 1.21 suggests marginally less sensitivity to broad market moves than VUG's 1.27, though the practical difference is small.

Who each is best for

IWF: Fits investors drawn to the Russell 1000 Growth Index's philosophy and comfortable with a modestly higher fee for a fund with deeper historical roots (inception 05/22/2000).

Key risks to know

Concentration in large-cap growth sectors. Both funds overweight technology and similar mega-cap names; their underlying indexes may overlap substantially, creating correlated portfolio risk if large-cap growth loses favor.
Beta above 1.0 amplifies downturns. IWF's 1.21 and VUG's 1.27 mean both will decline more steeply than the broad market during corrections, a structural feature of growth-stock indexing rather than active mismanagement.
Low yields offer limited downside cushion. At 0.35% and 0.42% respectively, neither fund provides meaningful income to offset equity volatility, leaving total return entirely dependent on capital appreciation.
Index methodology risk. Russell and Morningstar use different criteria for inclusion and weighting; shifts in their methodologies can trigger unexpected rebalancing that differs between the two funds.

Bottom line

VUG's 0.03% expense ratio and $228B in assets appeal to fee-conscious investors seeking a large-cap growth core holding. IWF remains viable for those already committed to the Russell 1000 Growth framework or those preferring a slightly lower beta, though the cost advantage shifts the economics toward VUG for most equity allocators. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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