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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 August 21, 2026

Best for

  • VOOInvestors who want higher current income (1.12% vs 0.42% for VOOG).
  • VOOGInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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 21.39% total return against 22.84%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOOG has compounded at 17.53% a year, against 15.27% for VOO. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.5% for VOOG. 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 Sep 2010Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VOO12.68%21.39%21.93%13.13%15.27%14.99%14.9%1.031.49-18.7%
VOOG12.85%22.84%26.42%13.45%17.53%16.80%19.5%0.971.40-22.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 21, 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricVOOVOOG
Full nameVanguard S&P 500 ETFVanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexS&P 500 Growth Index
Last Close$703.71 as of August 21, 2026$83.46 as of August 21, 2026
Distribution yield1.12%0.42%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10080
Expense ratio0.03%0.07%
AUM$1034B$27.0B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
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
Beta1.01.21
Last dividend$1.9622$0.0880
Ex-dividend date06/26/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose VOO if you want higher current income (1.12% vs 0.42% for VOOG). Choose VOOG if you want broad equity exposure.

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Income calculator

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Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4656B

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.

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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 1.12% vs 0.42% 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 0.07%.

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 ($1034B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VOO would generate roughly $9.33/month, while VOOG would produce $3.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VOO yield1.12%
VOOG yield0.42%
Monthly diff on $10K$5.83

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VOO would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $70 for VOOG (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VOO ER0.03%
VOOG ER0.07%

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 1.21 for VOOG, making VOO the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VOO beta1.0
VOOG beta1.21

Fund details

VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1034B in assets. VOOG is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $27.0B in assets.

VOO AUM$1034B
VOOG AUM$27.0B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for VOO and VOOG?

VOO currently distributes 1.12% and VOOG 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 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.

Is VOO or VOOG safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VOO scores 100, VOOG scores 80, so VOO's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VOO has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.00 vs 1.21 for VOOG). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VOO or VOOG?

VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VOOG charges 0.07%. 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 $9.33 per month ($112.00 annually). The same in VOOG would produce about $3.50 per month ($42.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VOO or VOOG?

VOO has lagged VOOG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.39% total return against 22.84%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOOG has compounded at 17.53% a year, against 15.27% for VOO. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.5% 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 August 15, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

VOO and VOOG are both Vanguard ETFs tracking S&P 500–related indexes, but they pursue opposite style tilts. VOO tracks the broad S&P 500 Index and holds the full 500-stock universe in cap-weighted fashion. VOOG isolates the growth subset of that index—companies with higher earnings and sales growth rates—and concentrates the portfolio accordingly. The key distinction: VOO is a core holding; VOOG is a style bet within large-cap U.S. equities.

How they differ

The core difference is style exposure. VOO holds all 500 S&P constituents in market-cap weighting, while VOOG holds only the growth-classified stocks within that universe, making it a concentrated subset. This translates to sharply different yield profiles: VOO distributes at 1.10% annually versus VOOG's 0.41%, reflecting growth stocks' lower dividend propensity. VOOG carries higher risk, with a beta of 1.21 compared to VOO's 1.0, meaning it amplifies market moves. The expense ratio gap is modest but real—0.03% for VOO versus 0.10% for VOOG—though both remain very cheap. Asset base matters too: VOO manages $1032B, making it one of the largest equity ETFs globally, while VOOG's $27.2B reflects its narrower appeal as a growth-focused satellite holding.

Who each is best for

VOO: Fits investors seeking a single, diversified holding for the broad U.S. large-cap market, with minimal tracking error and income suitable for reinvestment-focused allocations. Works well as a core equity anchor needing no other U.S. equity exposure.

VOOG: Designed for investors who already hold broad-market exposure and want to overweight the growth segment of the S&P 500, or who have a higher risk tolerance and believe growth companies will outperform value over their time horizon. Suits investors seeking capital appreciation over current yield.

Key risks to know

  • Growth-cycle risk. VOOG's beta of 1.21 means it will decline faster than the broader market in downturns and rise faster in rallies. During periods when value stocks outperform (a structural shift that can persist for years), VOOG will lag VOO.
  • Concentration within the index. VOOG's growth tilt means fewer holdings carry outsized weights compared to the full 500. If those growth leaders underperform, the impact is magnified versus a market-cap-weighted portfolio.
  • Yield drag on total return. VOOG's 0.41% distribution rate is less than one-third of VOO's 1.10%, implying lower cash payout and potentially higher reinvestment friction for income-focused investors, though this is a minor effect.
  • Sector and correlation overlap. Both ETFs are heavily weighted to technology and consumer-discretionary sectors (where growth companies cluster). Holdings overlap significantly, so they move together in most market conditions; owning both doesn't add meaningful diversification.

Bottom line

VOO provides broad market exposure at minimal cost and fits investors building a diversified equity foundation. VOOG makes sense only if you already own broad-market exposure and want to tactically tilt toward growth or believe growth will outperform over your time horizon. The beta and yield difference matters most during style rotations—periods when growth underperforms tend to be painful for VOOG holders. 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.

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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