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ETF Comparison

VOO vs VOOG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

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

Data updated July 21, 2026

Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4488B

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

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VOO and VOOG.

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Side-by-side snapshot

VOOVOOG
Full nameVanguard S&P 500 ETFVanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Last Close$682.21 as of July 21, 2026$80.98 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield1.15%0.43%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10079
Expense ratio0.03%0.10%
AUM$985B$25.7B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexS&P 500 Growth Index
ObjectiveTrack the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.Tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date09/07/201009/07/2010
Beta1.01.2
Last dividend$1.9622$0.0880
Ex-dividend date06/26/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose VOO if you want higher current income (1.15% vs 0.43% for VOOG). Choose VOOG if you want broad equity exposure.

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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

VOO has lagged VOOG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.43% total return against 20.12%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOOG has compounded at 17.36% a year, against 15.03% for VOO. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.4% for VOOG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Sep 2010Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VOO9.24%19.43%19.52%13.38%15.03%14.85%14.9%0.901.30-18.7%
VOOG9.50%20.12%24.34%13.80%17.36%16.68%19.4%0.901.29-22.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — 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

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

VOO offers the higher yield at 1.15% vs 0.43% for VOOG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.10%.

They track different benchmarks: VOO is linked to S&P 500 Index while VOOG tracks S&P 500 Growth Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($985B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VOO would generate roughly $9.58/month, while VOOG would produce $3.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VOO yield1.15%
VOOG yield0.43%
Monthly diff on $10K$6.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VOO would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $100 for VOOG (simplified, not compounded). The $70.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VOO ER0.03%
VOOG ER0.10%

Strategy & risk

VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VOOG tracks S&P 500 Growth Index. Beta is 1.0 for VOO and 1.2 for VOOG, indicating VOO is less volatile relative to the market.

VOO beta1.0
VOOG beta1.2

Fund details

VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $985B in assets. VOOG is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $25.7B in assets.

VOO AUM$985B
VOOG AUM$25.7B
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Frequently asked questions

Is VOO or VOOG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VOO 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 VOO and VOOG?

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VOOG (Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF) tracks S&P 500 Growth Index. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VOO and VOOG?

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.

Which has lower fees, VOO or VOOG?

VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VOOG charges 0.10%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in VOO vs VOOG generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VOO would generate roughly $9.58 per month ($115.00 annually). The same in VOOG would produce about $3.58 per month ($43.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VOO or VOOG?

VOO has lagged VOOG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 19.43% total return against 20.12%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOOG has compounded at 17.36% a year, against 15.03% for VOO. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.4% for VOOG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VOO vs VOOG — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

VOO and VOOG are both Vanguard ETFs tracking different slices of the S&P 500. VOO holds all 500 stocks in the index, while VOOG isolates the roughly 160 growth-tilted names within it. The funds track the same market but with different sector and style exposures, leading to materially different yields, volatility, and price momentum characteristics.

How they differ

VOO is a broad-market index fund; VOOG is a growth-stock subset. That's the fundamental split. VOO distributes 1.13% annually (the full S&P 500 dividend yield) and has a beta of 1.0, meaning it moves in lockstep with the overall market. VOOG distributes only 0.42%—growth stocks pay fewer dividends—and carries a beta of 1.2, indicating it amplifies market swings by 20%. VOOG's smaller asset base ($25.6B vs. $1033B) and higher expense ratio (0.10% vs. 0.03%) also reflect its narrower focus, though both remain ultra-low-cost funds by any standard.

Who each is best for

VOO: Fits investors seeking broad U.S. large-cap exposure with market-level volatility and a modest but steady dividend yield. The massive scale and near-zero cost make it a core holding for long-term wealth building.

VOOG: Fits investors tilting toward growth-oriented sectors and companies, willing to accept higher price swings and lower current income in exchange for potential capital appreciation and tech/communications exposure.

Key risks to know

  • Style concentration: VOOG's growth tilt means heavy exposure to information technology, communications services, and consumer discretionary sectors. A prolonged value outperformance or tech downturn will hit VOOG far harder than VOO.
  • Higher volatility: With a beta of 1.2, VOOG amplifies broad market declines. A 20% market drop would typically result in a 24% decline for VOOG versus 20% for VOO, all else equal.
  • Lower dividend cushion: VOOG's 0.42% distribution provides less ballast during market weakness and offers minimal income offset if growth stocks underperform. VOO's 1.13% yield offers a small but real margin of safety.
  • Smaller liquidity pool: VOOG's $25.6B in assets is still substantial, but VOO's $1033B ensures tighter bid-ask spreads and easier position entry/exit at scale.

Bottom line

If you want the broadest U.S. stock exposure with minimal cost and a full market-level dividend, VOO is the obvious anchor. If you're overweighting growth and can tolerate swings, VOOG offers a streamlined way to tilt toward faster-growing firms—though it's pricier to own and pays far less in dividends. Past performance doesn't 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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