VOO vs VUG: Which Should You Buy?
Same fund company (Vanguard), same 0.03% fee.
Over the period we can measure, VUG has returned about 2.5% a year more and overlap about 57% by weight. Pick VUG for the tighter 166-holding portfolio; pick VOO to own 505 instead. Both cost 0.03% per year.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
VOO wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 505 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
VUG wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 166 holdings rather than 505, tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index.
VOO vs VUG, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF | VUGVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | Standard & Poor's 500 Index | CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 166 |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Dividend yield | 1.05% | 0.38% |
| AUM | $1.80T | $384.60B |
| Top 10 concentration | 37.8% | 63.5% |
| 10-yr total return | 15.4% | 17.9% |
| 5-yr total return | 13.5% | 13.0% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 1.01 | 1.23 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -34.0% | -35.6% |
| Market-cap coverage | Large cap | Large + mid cap |
| Inception | 2010 | 2004 |
VUG holds 166 positions tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. VOO holds 505, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do VOO and VUG overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 57.4%
- VUG-only
- 42.6%
~57% identical by weight
122 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 57% of the two portfolios is the same exposure. Where a stock sits in both, the shared share is whichever weight is smaller. That is the part of a dollar that behaves identically in either fund.
The difference is VOO's remaining 339 positions, which VUG does not hold at all. They are smaller by weight, which is why the two track each other closely and drift apart only at the margins.
Growth of $10,000: VOO vs VUG
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want the wider net: 505 holdings against 166
- You want to track the Standard & Poor's 500 Index
- You want the higher yield: 1.05% against 0.38%
- You want the larger, more heavily traded fund ($1.8T)
- You want concentrated exposure: 166 holdings, not 505
- You want to track the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("VOO","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("VOO","expense ratio") in Excel or Google Sheets and the fund's data lands in your sheet, ready to be refreshed when you want.
Get The Add-in - FreeVOO vs VUG frequently asked questions
VUG has the stronger record, by about 2.5% a year and they overlap roughly 57% by weight. Both charge 0.03%, so cost is not the deciding factor.
VUG holds 166 positions tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. VOO holds 505, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 57% by weight. 122 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
Yes. At about 57% overlap the two hold substantially different positions, so holding both does broaden the exposure.