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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF and Vanguard Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 14, 2026

Best for

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

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricSPMOVUG
Full nameInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFVanguard Growth ETF
IssuerInvescoVanguard
Last Close$153.31 as of August 14, 2026$89.34 as of August 14, 2026
Distribution yield0.64%0.41%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7290
Expense ratio0.13%0.04%
AUM$21.3B$230B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P 500 Momentum IndexCRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
ObjectiveTrack the S&P 500 Momentum Index, providing factor exposure to the highest momentum names within the S&P 500.Track the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for diversified exposure to U.S. growth equities.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/09/201501/26/2004
Beta1.331.26
Last dividend$0.2450$0.0923
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SPMO 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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Invesco
ETFs247
Total AUM$983B

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

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPMO.

See all Invesco ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4658B

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.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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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

SPMO has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 31.17% total return against 16.31%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPMO has compounded at 20.40% a year, against 17.76% for VUG. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Oct 2015Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SPMO28.67%31.17%38.77%21.32%20.40%19.57%21.8%1.311.92-20.1%
VUG10.50%16.31%24.33%12.99%17.76%17.18%19.7%0.881.26-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2015” measures every fund from October 12, 2015 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.

Quick verdict

SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) and VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SPMO offers the higher yield at 0.64% vs 0.41% for VUG. 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 0.04% compared to 0.13%.

They track different benchmarks: SPMO is linked to S&P 500 Momentum Index while VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VUG is the larger fund by assets ($230B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SPMO would generate roughly $5.33/month, while VUG would produce $3.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SPMO yield0.64%
VUG yield0.41%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.92

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SPMO would cost approximately $130 in fees vs $40 for VUG (simplified, not compounded). The $90.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SPMO ER0.13%
VUG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

SPMO tracks S&P 500 Momentum Index with an index approach, while VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.33 for SPMO and 1.26 for VUG, indicating VUG is less volatile relative to the market.

SPMO beta1.33
VUG beta1.26

Fund details

SPMO is managed by Invesco (launched 10/09/2015) with $21.3B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $230B in assets.

SPMO AUM$21.3B
VUG AUM$230B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SPMO and VUG?

SPMO currently distributes 0.64% and VUG 0.41%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SPMO or VUG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SPMO 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 SPMO and VUG?

SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) tracks S&P 500 Momentum Index with an index approach, while VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. They are issued by Invesco and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SPMO 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 SPMO 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 — VUG scores 90, SPMO scores 72, so VUG'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, SPMO or VUG?

SPMO has an expense ratio of 0.13% while VUG charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SPMO would generate roughly $5.33 per month ($64.00 annually). The same in VUG would produce about $3.42 per month ($41.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SPMO or VUG?

SPMO has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 31.17% total return against 16.31%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPMO has compounded at 20.40% a year, against 17.76% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SPMO vs VUG — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

SPMO and VUG are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs, but they target different slices of the market. SPMO tracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index, holding the highest momentum stocks within the S&P 500, while VUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for broader exposure to growth-oriented large-cap companies. The key distinction is factor tilt: SPMO explicitly concentrates on momentum as a style factor, whereas VUG pursues a growth framework that may include both momentum and valuation characteristics.

How they differ

SPMO's strategy applies a momentum filter to the S&P 500, selecting stocks with the strongest recent price trends, while VUG uses a wider growth lens that captures both growth characteristics and quality factors within the large-cap universe. SPMO has a 0.64% distribution rate compared to VUG's 0.41%, reflecting the higher turnover and cash-generation profile typical of momentum strategies. The expense ratio difference is material: VUG charges 0.04% versus SPMO's 0.13%, a 225 basis-point gap. SPMO's beta of 1.33 suggests it amplifies market movements more than VUG's 1.26 beta, consistent with momentum's historical volatility profile. VUG is substantially larger, with $230B in assets versus SPMO's $21.3B, reflecting VUG's longer tenure (inception January 2004 versus October 2015).

Who each is best for

SPMO: Fits investors seeking exposure to a specific equity style factor—momentum—and who are comfortable with higher portfolio turnover and the accompanying tax friction in taxable accounts. Also suits those who believe recent relative strength in stocks predicts near-term outperformance.

VUG: Designed for investors who want broad large-cap growth exposure without a narrow factor constraint, and who prioritize lower costs and established track record as foundations for long-term holding.

Key risks to know

  • Momentum factor concentration. SPMO's explicit focus on recent price strength carries the risk that mean reversion will erode returns when momentum unwinds; the strategy tends to underperform after periods of strong outperformance.
  • Higher turnover and tax drag. SPMO's momentum selection process typically involves faster rebalancing than broad growth or market-cap-weighted approaches, potentially generating larger taxable gains in taxable portfolios.
  • Beta amplification. SPMO's beta of 1.33 means it will likely fall harder than the broad market in downturns, and the strategy's concentration in high-momentum names may magnify drawdowns during reversals.
  • Index overlap risk. Both strategies hold large-cap U.S. equities, so significant overlap in holdings is likely; verify the degree of actual diversification before pairing them in a single portfolio.

Bottom line

If you want to harvest momentum as an explicit factor bet and are prepared for higher turnover costs, SPMO offers concentrated exposure; if you prioritize a lower-cost, diversified large-cap growth foundation with a longer proven history, VUG stands out. Neither is inherently superior—the choice depends on whether you're comfortable with momentum's concentration and volatility in exchange for potential outperformance during momentum cycles. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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