QUS vs. VUG

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG).

QUS and VUG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QUS is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Factor Mix A-Series Capped (USD). It was launched on Apr 16, 2015. VUG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. Both QUS and VUG are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

QUS vs. VUG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

QUS vs. VUG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
QUS SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF	-1.46%	14.13%	18.99%	21.78%	-14.15%	26.72%	12.40%	32.45%	-3.66%	21.67%
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF	-10.37%	19.40%	32.69%	46.83%	-33.16%	27.35%	40.25%	37.03%	-3.32%	27.72%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QUS achieves a -1.46% return, which is significantly higher than VUG's -10.37% return. Over the past 10 years, QUS has underperformed VUG with an annualized return of 12.88%, while VUG has yielded a comparatively higher 16.03% annualized return.

QUS

• 1D: 1.86%
• 1M: -5.02%
• YTD: -1.46%
• 6M: 1.09%
• 1Y: 11.14%
• 3Y*: 15.75%
• 5Y*: 10.55%
• 10Y*: 12.88%

VUG

• 1D: 4.00%
• 1M: -5.12%
• YTD: -10.37%
• 6M: -8.73%
• 1Y: 18.30%
• 3Y*: 21.15%
• 5Y*: 11.43%
• 10Y*: 16.03%

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

QUS vs. VUG - Expense Ratio Comparison

QUS has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VUG's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

QUS

SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF

VUG

Vanguard Growth ETF

Return for Risk

QUS vs. VUG — Risk / Return Rank

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

QUS

QUS Risk / Return Rank: 49
QUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
QUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 45
QUS Omega Ratio Rank: 48
QUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 49
QUS Martin Ratio Rank: 61

VUG

VUG Risk / Return Rank: 50
VUG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 49
VUG Sortino Ratio Rank: 54
VUG Omega Ratio Rank: 53
VUG Calmar Ratio Rank: 49
VUG Martin Ratio Rank: 45

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.

QUS vs. VUG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG). 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.

	QUS	VUG	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.77	0.81	-0.04
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.19	1.31	-0.12
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	1.18	-0.01
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.17	1.11	+0.05
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.79	3.96	+1.83
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QUS vs. VUG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QUS Sharpe Ratio is 0.77, which is comparable to the VUG Sharpe Ratio of 0.81. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QUS and VUG, 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

	QUS	VUG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.77	0.81	-0.04
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.74	0.52	+0.22
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.79	0.75	+0.04
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.73	0.57	+0.16

Correlation

The correlation between QUS and VUG is 0.79, 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

QUS vs. VUG - Dividend Comparison

QUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.40%, more than VUG's 0.46% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QUS SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF	1.40%	1.38%	1.49%	1.57%	1.68%	1.27%	1.73%	1.81%	2.12%	1.86%	2.07%	1.48%
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF	0.46%	0.41%	0.47%	0.58%	0.70%	0.48%	0.66%	0.95%	1.32%	1.14%	1.39%	1.30%

Drawdowns

QUS vs. VUG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QUS drawdown since its inception was -33.78%, smaller than the maximum VUG drawdown of -50.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QUS and VUG.

Drawdown Indicators

	QUS	VUG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.78%	-50.68%	+16.90%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.42%	-16.53%	+6.11%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.30%	-35.61%	+13.31%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.78%	-35.61%	+1.83%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.02%	-13.20%	+8.18%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.75%	-7.13%	+3.38%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.11%	4.66%	-2.55%

Volatility

QUS vs. VUG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) is 3.79%, while Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has a volatility of 7.00%. This indicates that QUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VUG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QUS	VUG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.79%	7.00%	-3.21%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.14%	12.65%	-5.51%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.51%	22.68%	-8.17%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.38%	22.23%	-7.85%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.41%	21.38%	-4.97%