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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF and Vanguard Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 13, 2026

Best for

  • SPYGInvestors 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.
MetricSPYGVUG
Full nameState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETFVanguard Growth ETF
IssuerState StreetVanguard
Last Close$122.47 as of August 13, 2026$88.87 as of August 13, 2026
Distribution yield0.48%0.42%
Distribution Safety Score™ 8290
Expense ratio0.04%0.04%
AUM$54.7B$230B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P 500 Growth IndexCRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Track the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for diversified exposure to U.S. growth equities.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date09/25/200001/26/2004
Beta1.211.26
Last dividend$0.1480$0.0923
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SPYG 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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See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

State Street
ETFs180
Total AUM$2127B

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

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPYG.

See all State Street ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4657B

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

SPYG has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.15% total return against 16.87%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPYG has compounded at 17.75% a year, against 17.72% 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 Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SPYG15.02%24.15%26.78%14.18%17.75%12.21%19.6%0.991.43-22.1%
VUG9.91%16.87%24.16%13.06%17.72%12.37%19.8%0.871.25-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 30, 2004 — 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

SPYG (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF) and VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SPYG offers the higher yield at 0.48% vs 0.42% for VUG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They track different benchmarks: SPYG is linked to S&P 500 Growth 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, SPYG would generate roughly $4.00/month, while VUG would produce $3.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SPYG yield0.48%
VUG yield0.42%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.50

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SPYG would cost approximately $40 in fees vs $40 for VUG (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

SPYG ER0.04%
VUG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

SPYG tracks S&P 500 Growth Index with an index approach, while VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.21 for SPYG and 1.26 for VUG, indicating SPYG is less volatile relative to the market.

SPYG beta1.21
VUG beta1.26

Fund details

SPYG is managed by State Street (launched 09/25/2000) with $54.7B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $230B in assets.

SPYG AUM$54.7B
VUG AUM$230B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SPYG and VUG?

SPYG currently distributes 0.48% and VUG 0.42%, 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 SPYG or VUG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SPYG 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 SPYG and VUG?

SPYG (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF) tracks S&P 500 Growth 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 State Street and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SPYG 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 SPYG 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, SPYG scores 82, 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, SPYG or VUG?

SPYG and VUG both charge the same expense ratio of 0.04%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SPYG would generate roughly $4.00 per month ($48.00 annually). The same in VUG would produce about $3.50 per month ($42.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SPYG or VUG?

SPYG has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.15% total return against 16.87%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPYG has compounded at 17.75% a year, against 17.72% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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SPYG vs VUG — at a glance

Generated August 8, 2026.

Overview

SPYG and VUG are both ultra-low-cost large-cap growth ETFs that track different growth indexes. SPYG follows the S&P 500 Growth Index via State Street, while VUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index via Vanguard. The key distinction is their underlying methodology: S&P's approach versus CRSP's construction rules will produce different sector weights, holding counts, and slightly different volatility profiles.

How they differ

Both charge 0.04% in expenses and distribute quarterly, but their index rules diverge. SPYG tracks the S&P 500 Growth subset, while VUG uses the broader CRSP US Large Cap Growth methodology—meaning the two indexes weight holdings differently and may exclude or include different companies within the growth universe. VUG is substantially larger, with $230B in AUM versus SPYG's $54.7B, which typically translates to tighter spreads and more trading liquidity. SPYG carries a beta of 1.2, while VUG's is 1.26, suggesting VUG amplifies broad market swings slightly more; both distributions are minimal (0.48% for SPYG, 0.41% for VUG), confirming these are growth-focused funds that prioritize capital appreciation over income.

Who each is best for

SPYG: Fits investors seeking the S&P's methodology for growth selection, preferring State Street's portfolio construction and willing to accept the slightly smaller fund size in exchange for a tighter index tracking universe.

VUG: Fits investors who value the largest, most liquid growth ETF available and prefer Vanguard's fund structure; the $230B AUM and CRSP's large-cap growth rules appeal to those prioritizing execution efficiency and deep secondary-market depth.

Key risks to know

  • Index methodology mismatch: Holdings and sector concentrations will differ between the S&P 500 Growth and CRSP US Large Cap Growth indexes; investors comparing performance should account for these structural divergences rather than attributing differences solely to fund management.
  • Growth volatility amplification: Both ETFs carry betas above 1.2, meaning they will likely amplify downturns during risk-off periods—particularly acute if growth stocks underperform value in a rising-rate environment.
  • Minimal income offset: With distribution yields below 0.50%, neither fund provides cushion against price declines through dividend reinvestment; total return depends almost entirely on capital appreciation.
  • Sector concentration risk: Both track growth indexes that can concentrate heavily in technology and communication services; a sector downturn affects both similarly, though weighting differences may cause modest divergence in drawdowns.

Bottom line

Both are ultra-cheap, liquid vehicles for large-cap growth exposure. If you prioritize S&P's growth methodology and accept a smaller fund, SPYG delivers identical expense ratios; if maximum liquidity and Vanguard's CRSP framework appeal to you, VUG's $230B scale offers a meaningful advantage. Index construction differs between the two, so understanding how each defines growth stocks within the large-cap universe matters for your portfolio fit.

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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