GFFFX vs. VOOG

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) and Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG).

GFFFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Dec 1, 1973. VOOG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Growth Index. It was launched on Apr 5, 2019.

Performance

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) and Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
GFFFX American Funds The Growth Fund of America	-8.03%	19.96%	28.28%	37.51%	-30.61%	19.55%	38.16%	28.43%	-2.96%	26.38%
VOOG Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF	-6.97%	22.11%	35.89%	29.96%	-29.48%	31.95%	33.35%	30.93%	-0.21%	27.19%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GFFFX achieves a -8.03% return, which is significantly lower than VOOG's -6.97% return. Over the past 10 years, GFFFX has underperformed VOOG with an annualized return of 14.56%, while VOOG has yielded a comparatively higher 15.86% annualized return.

GFFFX

• 1D: 3.56%
• 1M: -6.33%
• YTD: -8.03%
• 6M: -7.08%
• 1Y: 17.05%
• 3Y*: 20.50%
• 5Y*: 9.18%
• 10Y*: 14.56%

VOOG

• 1D: 1.30%
• 1M: -4.28%
• YTD: -6.97%
• 6M: -5.29%
• 1Y: 23.21%
• 3Y*: 22.32%
• 5Y*: 12.46%
• 10Y*: 15.86%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Expense Ratio Comparison

GFFFX has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than VOOG's 0.07% expense ratio.

GFFFX

American Funds The Growth Fund of America

VOOG

Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF

Return for Risk

GFFFX vs. VOOG — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

GFFFX

GFFFX Risk / Return Rank: 44
GFFFX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
GFFFX Sortino Ratio Rank: 43
GFFFX Omega Ratio Rank: 42
GFFFX Calmar Ratio Rank: 50
GFFFX Martin Ratio Rank: 47

VOOG

VOOG Risk / Return Rank: 62
VOOG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 57
VOOG Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
VOOG Omega Ratio Rank: 60
VOOG Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
VOOG Martin Ratio Rank: 66

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) and Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG). 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.

	GFFFX	VOOG	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.85	1.05	-0.19
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.36	1.62	-0.26
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.19	1.23	-0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.28	1.76	-0.48
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4.85	6.81	-1.96
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GFFFX Sharpe Ratio is 0.85, which is comparable to the VOOG Sharpe Ratio of 1.05. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GFFFX and VOOG, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GFFFX	VOOG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.85	1.05	-0.19
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.46	0.59	-0.14
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.74	0.77	-0.03
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.75	0.84	-0.09

Correlation

The correlation between GFFFX and VOOG is 0.94, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Dividend Comparison

GFFFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.90%, more than VOOG's 0.53% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
GFFFX American Funds The Growth Fund of America	11.90%	10.95%	9.23%	7.64%	4.32%	8.42%	4.51%	7.38%	12.29%	7.27%	6.87%	9.13%
VOOG Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF	0.53%	0.49%	0.49%	1.12%	0.93%	0.53%	0.88%	1.26%	1.34%	1.32%	1.47%	1.56%

Drawdowns

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GFFFX drawdown since its inception was -36.26%, which is greater than VOOG's maximum drawdown of -32.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GFFFX and VOOG.

Drawdown Indicators

	GFFFX	VOOG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-36.26%	-32.73%	-3.53%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.74%	-13.71%	-0.03%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-36.26%	-32.73%	-3.53%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.26%	-32.73%	-3.53%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.67%	-9.07%	-1.60%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.60%	-5.01%	-0.59%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.62%	3.54%	+0.08%

Volatility

GFFFX vs. VOOG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) is 6.76%, while Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) has a volatility of 7.28%. This indicates that GFFFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOOG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	GFFFX	VOOG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.76%	7.28%	-0.52%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.14%	12.68%	-0.54%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	21.02%	22.28%	-1.26%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.23%	21.16%	-0.93%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.64%	20.65%	-1.01%