VOE vs VUG
Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF
Which is better, VOE or VUG?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
VUG has a lower expense ratio. VOE led over 1Y, VUG over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOE is less concentrated, with 13.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.6%.
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 | VOE | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $23.9B | $219.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.80% | 0.38% |
| Holdings | 176 | 146 |
| YTD Return | +14.02%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +19.44%Best | +13.30% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.51% | +26.66%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.20% | +13.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 17.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.4% | -51.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,252 | $18,844Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.1%Best | 63.6% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 17, 2006 | Jan 26, 2004 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 24, 2006 to Sep 21, 2026 (20.1 years).
VOE vs VUG 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 20.1 years both funds cover.
VOE vs VUG Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF (VUG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VOE returned +19.44% while VUG returned +13.30%. Year to date, VOE is up 14.02% versus a gain of 12.57% for VUG.
Over three years, VOE compounded at +17.51% per year against +26.66% for VUG; over five years the annualized figures are +10.20% and +13.51% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VUG has the edge at +12.53% annualized vs +7.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 17.2% for VUG. 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 -63.4% for VOE and -51.4% for VUG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOE charges 0.05% per year while VUG charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $3 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOE currently yields 1.80% against 0.38% for VUG.
Holdings Overlap
0.9% of VOE's money is in holdings VUG also owns. 0.3% of VUG's money is in holdings VOE also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 171 positions we hold weights for in VOE and 147 in VUG, against full books of 176 and 146.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 143 positions for VUG that do not appear in our book for VOE (99.5% of the fund), and 164 for VOE that do not appear in VUG (96.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOE and VUG you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VOE or VUG?
VOE has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VUG charges 0.03%. VUG is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOE or VUG?
Over the past year VOE returned +19.44% vs +13.30% for VUG, so VOE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), VOE annualized +7.76% vs +12.53% for VUG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOE or VUG?
VOE has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 17.2% for VUG. Worst drawdown: VOE -63.4% vs VUG -51.4%.
Should I hold both VOE and VUG?
VOE and VUG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOE or VUG?
VOE yields 1.80% while VUG yields 0.38%, so VOE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VUG better than VOE?
VUG has a lower expense ratio. VOE led over 1Y, VUG over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOE is less concentrated, with 13.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.