ESGV vs. VNQ
ESGV (Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF) and VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ESGV is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index, while VNQ is a REIT fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ESGV returned 11.52%/yr vs 2.52%/yr for VNQ. A 0.60 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ESGV charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for VNQ.
Performance
ESGV vs. VNQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ESGV achieves a 7.69% return, which is significantly lower than VNQ's 10.80% return.
ESGV
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- -1.17%
- YTD
- 7.69%
- 6M
- 6.35%
- 1Y
- 21.75%
- 3Y*
- 20.56%
- 5Y*
- 11.52%
- 10Y*
- —
VNQ
- 1D
- -0.87%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- YTD
- 10.80%
- 6M
- 10.46%
- 1Y
- 10.33%
- 3Y*
- 10.98%
- 5Y*
- 2.52%
- 10Y*
- 5.35%
ESGV vs. VNQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESGV Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF | 7.69% | 16.48% | 24.69% | 30.79% | -24.04% | 26.55% | 25.69% | 33.36% | -14.45% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 10.80% | 3.24% | 4.81% | 11.85% | -26.25% | 40.54% | -4.61% | 28.91% | -6.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between ESGV and VNQ is 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 20, 2018 | 0.60 |
Over the past year, the correlation between ESGV and VNQ has dropped to 0.26 - well below their long-term average of 0.60, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
ESGV vs. VNQ — Risk / Return Rank
ESGV
VNQ
ESGV vs. VNQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ESGV | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.80 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.14 | +0.14 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 1.24 | +0.64 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.84 | 3.92 | +3.91 |
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Drawdowns
ESGV vs. VNQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESGV drawdown since its inception was -33.66%, smaller than the maximum VNQ drawdown of -73.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESGV and VNQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ESGV | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.66% | -73.07% | +39.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.60% | -8.34% | -3.26% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.41% | -17.46% | -2.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.81% | -34.48% | +5.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -42.40% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.61% | -1.52% | -2.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.40% | -13.60% | +7.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.78% | 2.66% | +0.12% |
Volatility
ESGV vs. VNQ - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) has a higher volatility of 5.59% compared to Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) at 5.27%. This indicates that ESGV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VNQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ESGV | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.59% | 5.27% | +0.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.22% | 10.24% | +0.98% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.12% | 13.79% | +0.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.48% | 18.87% | -0.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.59% | 20.75% | -0.16% |
ESGV vs. VNQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESGV has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than VNQ's 0.13% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
ESGV vs. VNQ - Dividend Comparison
ESGV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.89%, less than VNQ's 3.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESGV Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF | 0.89% | 0.91% | 1.04% | 1.16% | 1.42% | 0.95% | 1.11% | 1.27% | 0.28% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 3.59% | 3.92% | 3.85% | 3.95% | 3.91% | 2.56% | 3.93% | 3.39% | 4.74% | 4.23% | 4.82% | 3.92% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ESGV and VNQ have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ESGV has higher volatility (5.59%) compared to VNQ (5.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ESGV dropped -33.66% vs VNQ's -73.07%.
On 5-year performance, ESGV leads with 11.52% vs 2.52% for VNQ. On fees, ESGV is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, VNQ has been the lower-risk option at 5.27%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, ESGV has performed better with a 11.52% return vs 2.52%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ESGV is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.13% for VNQ.
VNQ has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.89% for ESGV.
ESGV is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while VNQ is REIT. ESGV tracks FTSE US All Cap Choice Index, while VNQ tracks MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for ESGV and 0.13% for VNQ.
ESGV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs 0.75), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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