Generated September 19, 2026.
Overview
VOOG and VOOV are both Vanguard ETFs tracking distinct segments of the S&P 500, split by growth and value style factors. VOOG holds the 500's fastest-growing companies, while VOOV holds the most attractively valued ones. The two funds diverge sharply in volatility, dividend yield, and momentum sensitivity—making them fundamentally different bets on the same underlying market.
How they differ
The core difference is strategy: VOOG tilts toward companies with higher earnings and revenue growth, while VOOV tilts toward companies trading at lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book multiples. VOOG carries a 1.22 beta versus 0.77 for VOOV, meaning growth stocks amplify market moves significantly more than value stocks do. On income, VOOV yields 1.63% against 0.41% for VOOG—a spread driven by value stocks' stronger cash dividends and lower multiples. Both funds charge 0.07% in expenses and distribute quarterly. VOOG's $27.3B in AUM dwarfs VOOV's $6.66B, reflecting the wider popularity of growth-tilted products over the past decade.
Who each is best for
VOOG: Fits investors with higher risk tolerance who expect earnings growth to lead returns and are comfortable with above-market sensitivity to downturns and rallies in tech and discretionary stocks.
VOOV: Fits investors prioritizing current income and steadier price moves, or those who believe value-factor returns will mean-revert after a prolonged growth outperformance cycle.
Key risks to know
- Growth concentration and earnings sensitivity. VOOG's high beta and growth tilt mean it will fall harder in recessions, rising-rate environments, or earnings disappointments in mega-cap tech—the sector's heaviest weight.
- Value trap and mean reversion timing. VOOV's lower valuation multiples reflect market skepticism about future returns in its holdings; betting on value mean-reversion can be costly if fundamentals continue to deteriorate or growth stocks extend their dominance.
- Style factor volatility and overlap. Both funds track the same 500 companies but segment them differently; if the market rotates sharply between growth and value, one fund can significantly outperform the other for years, creating regret risk regardless of which you hold.
- Low dividend income in absolute terms. Even VOOV's 1.63% yield is modest relative to historical equity yields, leaving both funds unsuitable as standalone income replacements.
Bottom line
If you expect accelerating growth and can tolerate above-market volatility, VOOG aligns with that view; if you prioritize current income and lower volatility, VOOV offers a meaningful yield advantage and a dampened beta. The tradeoff is permanent: holding both means continuously managing style drift and regret from whichever factor underperforms. Past performance doesn't predict future results—and the S&P 500's split between growth and value has swung dramatically over multiple decades.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.