RSP vs VGHAX
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF vs Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares
Which is better, RSP or VGHAX?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
RSP has a lower expense ratio. RSP led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | RSP | VGHAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20%Best | 0.27% |
| AUM | $99.6B | $32.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.46% | 6.15% |
| Holdings | 511 | 109 |
| YTD Price Return | +10.53%Best | +1.44% |
| 1Y Price Return | +13.68%Best | +13.44% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +12.97%Best | -0.44% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +6.72%Best | -2.56% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.5%Best | -32.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,843Best | $8,784 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 24, 2003 | Nov 12, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VGHAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. RSP yields 1.46% and VGHAX 6.15% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Sep 9, 2026 (5 years).
RSP vs VGHAX 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. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
RSP vs VGHAX Performance
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RSP returned +13.68% while VGHAX returned +13.44%. Year to date, RSP is up 10.53% versus a gain of 1.44% for VGHAX.
Over three years, RSP compounded at +12.97% per year against -0.44% for VGHAX; over five years the annualized figures are +6.72% and -2.56% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RSP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.3% for VGHAX. 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 -22.5% for RSP and -32.7% for VGHAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RSP charges 0.20% per year while VGHAX charges 0.27%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $27 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RSP currently yields 1.46% against 6.15% for VGHAX.
Structure and taxes
VGHAX is a mutual fund and RSP is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 34.7% of VGHAX's money is in holdings RSP also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RSP, our book for it covers 91.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 127 days apart, RSP as of Aug 5, 2026 and VGHAX as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
18 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in RSP and 86 in VGHAX, against full books of 511 and 109.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RSP | Weight in VGHAX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.18% | 9.16% | 8.98% |
| EWEdwards Lifesciences Corp | 0.20% | 3.23% | 3.03% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.19% | 2.91% | 2.72% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc | 0.17% | 2.54% | 2.37% |
| BSXBoston Scientific Corp. | 0.19% | 2.47% | 2.28% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.22% | 2.31% | 2.09% |
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 0.21% | 1.98% | 1.77% |
| ELVElevance Health Inc | 0.18% | 1.50% | 1.32% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.24% | 1.42% | 1.18% |
| CAHCardinal Health Inc. | 0.20% | 1.38% | 1.18% |
34.7% of VGHAX is already inside RSP.
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, RSP or VGHAX?
RSP has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VGHAX charges 0.27%. RSP is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RSP or VGHAX?
Over the past year RSP returned +13.68% vs +13.44% for VGHAX, so RSP leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RSP or VGHAX?
RSP has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VGHAX. Worst drawdown: RSP -22.5% vs VGHAX -32.7%.
Should I hold both RSP and VGHAX?
RSP and VGHAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between RSP and VGHAX?
At least 34.7% of VGHAX's money is in holdings RSP also owns. Our book for RSP is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in RSP and 86 in VGHAX.
Which pays a higher dividend, RSP or VGHAX?
RSP yields 1.46% while VGHAX yields 6.15%, so VGHAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VGHAX or RSP in a taxable account?
RSP is an ETF and VGHAX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VGHAX better than RSP?
RSP has a lower expense ratio. RSP led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.