ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated July 4, 2026

Vanguard

ETFs115

Total AUM$4484B

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 VUG.

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Side-by-side snapshot

	VOO	VUG
Full name	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	Vanguard Growth ETF
Issuer	Vanguard	Vanguard
Last Close	$684.84 as of July 4, 2026	$85.50 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	1.15%	0.43%
Distribution Safety Score	100	91
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.04%
AUM	$1033B	$222B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	S&P 500 Index	CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
Objective	Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.	Track the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for diversified exposure to U.S. growth equities.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	09/07/2010	01/26/2004
Beta	1.0	1.24
Last dividend	$1.9622	$0.0923
Ex-dividend date	06/26/2026	06/26/2026

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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 outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.69% total return against 18.59%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VUG has compounded at 17.84% a year, ahead of VOO at 15.38%. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 19.6% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Sep 2010	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
VOO	9.34%	21.69%	20.30%	13.11%	15.38%	14.91%	14.9%	0.95	1.36	-18.7%
VUG	5.63%	18.59%	22.52%	12.88%	17.84%	16.68%	19.6%	0.81	1.16	-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 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 VUG (Vanguard 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 VUG. 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 0.04%.

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

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1033B), 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 VUG would produce $3.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VOO yield1.15%

VUG yield0.43%

Monthly diff on $10K$6.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VOO would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $40 for VUG (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VOO ER0.03%

VUG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.0 for VOO and 1.24 for VUG, indicating VOO is less volatile relative to the market.

VOO beta1.0

VUG beta1.24

Fund details

VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1033B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $222B in assets.

VOO AUM$1033B

VUG AUM$222B

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Frequently asked questions

Is VOO or VUG 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 VUG?

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VOO and VUG?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, VOO or VUG?

VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% 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 VOO vs VUG generate?

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

Which has performed better historically, VOO or VUG?

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VOO vs VUG — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

VOO and VUG are both Vanguard equity index ETFs tracking different slices of the U.S. large-cap market. VOO follows the S&P 500 (500 largest companies across all styles), while VUG targets the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index (growth-oriented companies only). The fundamental difference is that VOO is a broad-market blend fund, whereas VUG concentrates on growth stocks—a subset that has historically carried higher volatility and lower dividend yields.

How they differ

VOO's S&P 500 mandate includes value and dividend-paying stocks alongside growth names, making it a true market-cap-weighted blend. VUG explicitly tilts toward growth characteristics—companies with higher earnings growth expectations and lower dividend payout ratios—which explains why VUG's distribution rate sits at 0.45% versus VOO's 1.17%. The second key difference is volatility: VUG carries a beta of 1.24, meaning it swings about 24% more than the market, while VOO's beta is 1.0. Third, VUG's $222B in AUM is substantially smaller than VOO's $1033B, though both are enormous funds with near-negligible expense ratios (0.04% and 0.03%, respectively).

Who each is best for

VOO: Fits investors seeking broad U.S. large-cap exposure with a modest but meaningful dividend stream—those comfortable holding the entire market without tilting toward or away from growth.

VUG: Designed for investors who believe growth stocks will outpace value over their time horizon and who can tolerate higher volatility; also suits those seeking capital appreciation over income and who want to overweight secular growth trends.

Key risks to know

Style concentration risk in VUG: A tilt toward growth stocks amplifies exposure to rising interest rates and falling earnings multiples. When the growth premium contracts, VUG will underperform VOO by a wider margin than the beta alone suggests.

VUG's higher volatility: The 1.24 beta indicates VUG will experience sharper drawdowns in market corrections. Investors with shorter time horizons or lower risk tolerance may find the swings uncomfortable relative to VOO's market-tracking stability.

Valuation sensitivity: Growth stocks (VUG's core holding) trade at higher price-to-earnings multiples. If growth stocks fall out of favor or the market reprices earnings expectations downward, VUG faces larger potential capital losses than a blend fund.

Lower income offset by total return: VUG's 0.45% yield is half VOO's, so income-focused investors will need to rely on capital appreciation to meet spending goals—a strategy that works only if growth stocks deliver the expected returns.

Bottom line

If you want broad market exposure with a balanced yield and lower volatility, VOO's simplicity and $1033B scale stand out. If you're tilting toward growth and can stomach higher swings, VUG offers a concentrated bet on the companies driving earnings expansion. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results; neither growth nor value dominance is assured over any given period.

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