NUGO vs VTI
Nuveen Growth Opportunities ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NUGO or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.4%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 86 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +2.88% | +12.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.83% | +12.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.84% | +21.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.40% | +10.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.5% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.0% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,671 | $16,722Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.4% | 34.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 27, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2021 to Nov 11, 2026 (5.1 years).
NUGO vs VTI 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
NUGO vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Growth Opportunities ETF (NUGO) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUGO returned +0.83% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, NUGO is up 2.88% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.
Over three years, NUGO compounded at +19.84% per year against +21.44% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.40% and +10.83% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUGO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 15.7% for VTI. 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 -25.4% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. 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 VTI 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 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.8% of NUGO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 43.1% of VTI's money is in holdings NUGO also owns.
Most of NUGO is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
42 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in NUGO and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 86 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,087 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for NUGO (53.8% of the fund), and 1 for NUGO that do not appear in VTI (0.2%).
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 VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 15.28% | 7.13% | 8.15% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.45% | 6.63% | 0.82% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 10.56% | 2.76% | 7.80% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 7.58% | 5.19% | 2.39% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.00% | 2.28% | 3.72% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co | 4.20% | 1.34% | 2.86% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.97% | 3.30% | 1.33% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.17% | 2.18% | 0.01% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.64% | 1.64% | 1.00% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.83% | 1.36% | 1.47% |
99.8% of NUGO is already inside VTI.
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 VTI?
NUGO has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUGO or VTI?
Over the past year NUGO returned +0.83% vs +12.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUGO or VTI?
NUGO has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 15.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NUGO -38.0% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both NUGO and VTI?
NUGO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 VTI?
99.8% of NUGO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 43.1% of VTI's is in holdings NUGO also owns. They hold 42 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in NUGO and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUGO or VTI?
NUGO yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NUGO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.