NUGO vs VOO
Nuveen Growth Opportunities ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, NUGO or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NUGO led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.6%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | NUGO | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.5B | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 46 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +12.45% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.90% | +16.33%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.76%Best | +23.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.64% | +14.02%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.0% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,952 | $19,271Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.6% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 27, 2021 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2021 to Oct 2, 2026 (5 years).
NUGO vs VOO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 5 years both funds cover.
NUGO vs VOO Performance
Nuveen Growth Opportunities ETF (NUGO) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUGO returned +12.90% while VOO returned +16.33%. Year to date, NUGO is up 12.45% versus a gain of 13.59% for VOO.
Over three years, NUGO compounded at +26.76% per year against +23.81% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +13.64% and +14.02% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUGO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 15.5% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -38.0% for NUGO and -24.5% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUGO charges 0.50% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUGO currently yields 0.00% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
97.6% of NUGO's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 47.3% of VOO's money is in holdings NUGO also owns.
Most of NUGO is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, NUGO as of Sep 15, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
41 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in NUGO and 494 in VOO, against full books of 46 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 446 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for NUGO (51.8% of the fund), and 4 for NUGO that do not appear in VOO (2.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NUGO | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 15.31% | 7.55% | 7.76% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.33% | 7.05% | 0.28% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 10.44% | 3.24% | 7.20% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 7.41% | 5.36% | 2.05% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.37% | 2.86% | 3.51% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.02% | 4.13% | 2.11% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.94% | 1.41% | 2.53% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.32% | 0.72% | 2.60% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.60% | 1.21% | 1.39% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.36% | 1.44% | 0.92% |
97.6% of NUGO is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NUGO or VOO?
NUGO has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUGO or VOO?
Over the past year NUGO returned +12.90% vs +16.33% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUGO or VOO?
NUGO has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 15.5% for VOO. Worst drawdown: NUGO -38.0% vs VOO -24.5%.
Should I hold both NUGO and VOO?
NUGO and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between NUGO and VOO?
97.6% of NUGO's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 47.3% of VOO's is in holdings NUGO also owns. They hold 41 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in NUGO and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUGO or VOO?
NUGO yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than NUGO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. NUGO led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.