MGK
Safe
High confidence
ETF Comparison
MGK vs VUG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Updated November 6, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- MGKInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
- VUGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
VUG
Safe
High confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  MGK | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Underlying index | Morningstar US Mega Cap Growth Index | Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index |
| Last Close | $83.64 as of November 6, 2026 | $82.17 as of November 6, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 0.37% | 0.44% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 0.36% | 0.42% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 100 | 90 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 0.37% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| AUM | $32.7B | $220B |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Objective | Seeks to track the Morningstar US Mega Cap Growth Index. | Seeks to track the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 12/17/2007 | 01/26/2004 |
| Beta | 1.19 | 1.24 |
| Last dividend | $0.0765 | $0.091 |
| Ex-dividend date | 09/28/2026 | 09/28/2026 |
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
MGK has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -0.34% total return against -0.68%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: MGK has compounded at 18.18% a year, against 17.32% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Dec 2007 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGK | 0.46% | -0.34% | 21.27% | 10.24% | 18.18% | 13.16% | 20.5% | 0.75 | 1.06 | -23.4% |
| VUG | 0.47% | -0.68% | 20.95% | 9.33% | 17.32% | 12.53% | 20.0% | 0.75 | 1.07 | -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 November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Dec 2007” measures every fund from December 21, 2007 — 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.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineChoose MGK if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VUG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs116
Total AUM$4.66T
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 MGK and VUG.
Quick verdict
MGK (Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap 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 0.44% vs 0.37% for MGK. 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 0.05%.
They have different reference exposures: MGK is linked to Morningstar US Mega Cap 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 ($220B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
10 shared positions
MGK 65.2% of its top-10 weight
VUG 61.3% of its top-10 weight
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, MGK would pay about $37.00 a year (about $9.25 per quarterly distribution), while VUG would pay about $44.00 a year (about $11.00 per quarterly distribution). Both pay quarterly distributions.
MGK yield0.37%
VUG yield0.44%
Annual cash diff on $10K$7.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, MGK would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $30 for VUG (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
MGK ER0.05%
VUG ER0.03%
Strategy & risk
MGK tracks Morningstar US Mega Cap Growth Index with an index approach, while VUG tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.19 for MGK and 1.24 for VUG, making MGK the less sensitive to market moves of the two by this measure.
MGK beta1.19
VUG beta1.24
Fund details
MGK is managed by Vanguard (launched 12/17/2007) with $32.7B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $220B in assets.
MGK AUM$32.7B
VUG AUM$220B
Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for MGK and VUG?
MGK currently distributes 0.37% and VUG 0.44%, based on fund data updated November 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is MGK 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 MGK and VUG?
MGK (Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF) tracks Morningstar US Mega Cap 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 Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both MGK and VUG?
You can, but expect meaningful overlap: 10 of the disclosed top-10 positions are shared (see the holdings-overlap section above). Holding both may double up on the same underlying names rather than diversify.
Is MGK 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 — MGK scores 100, VUG scores 90, so MGK's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, MGK or VUG?
MGK has an expense ratio of 0.05% 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 MGK vs VUG generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in MGK would pay about $37.00 a year (about $9.25 per quarterly distribution). $10,000 in VUG would pay about $44.00 a year (about $11.00 per quarterly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, MGK or VUG?
MGK has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -0.34% total return against -0.68%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: MGK has compounded at 18.18% a year, against 17.32% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.