USA vs. VUG
USA (Liberty All-Star Equity Fund) is a stock, while VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) is Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. Over the past 10 years, USA returned 12.11%/yr vs 17.38%/yr for VUG. Their 0.73 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
USA vs. VUG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, USA achieves a 0.57% return, which is significantly lower than VUG's 5.02% return. Over the past 10 years, USA has underperformed VUG with an annualized return of 12.11%, while VUG has yielded a comparatively higher 17.38% annualized return.
USA
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 3.10%
- 6M
- 1.24%
- YTD
- 0.57%
- 1Y
- 0.97%
- 3Y*
- 5.91%
- 5Y*
- 2.63%
- 10Y*
- 12.11%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.78%
VUG
- 1D
- 1.10%
- 1M
- -0.35%
- 6M
- 6.39%
- YTD
- 5.02%
- 1Y
- 15.36%
- 3Y*
- 21.19%
- 5Y*
- 12.16%
- 10Y*
- 17.38%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.08%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.20M | $9.40M | $8.31M | |
| $556.11M | $661.72M | $650.91M |
USA vs. VUG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USA Liberty All-Star Equity Fund | 0.57% | 0.09% | 20.81% | 23.17% | -25.20% | 33.76% | 12.89% | 39.70% | -5.06% | 34.66% |
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 5.02% | 19.40% | 32.69% | 46.83% | -33.16% | 27.35% | 40.25% | 37.03% | -3.32% | 27.72% |
Correlation
The correlation between USA and VUG is 0.65, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.65 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.67 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.71 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.70 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 2004 | 0.73 |
The correlation between USA and VUG has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.65 to 0.73 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
USA vs. VUG — Risk / Return Rank
USA
VUG
USA vs. VUG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) 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.
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.
| USA | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.75 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.13 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.03 | 0.78 | -0.81 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.08 | 2.47 | -2.55 |
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Drawdowns
USA vs. VUG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum USA drawdown since its inception was -69.15%, which is greater than VUG's maximum drawdown of -50.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USA and VUG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| USA | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.15% | -50.68% | -18.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.65% | -16.53% | +2.88% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.69% | -22.85% | +5.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.05% | -35.61% | +1.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.07% | -35.61% | -11.46% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.83% | -5.53% | +0.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.50% | -7.08% | -4.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.16% | 5.20% | -0.04% |
Volatility
USA vs. VUG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) is 3.74%, while Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has a volatility of 5.58%. This indicates that USA 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.
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Volatility by Period
| USA | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.74% | 5.58% | -1.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.80% | 14.24% | -3.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.11% | 17.74% | -3.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.11% | 22.49% | -2.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.56% | 21.55% | +1.01% |
Dividends
USA vs. VUG - Dividend Comparison
USA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.53%, more than VUG's 0.40% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USA Liberty All-Star Equity Fund | 11.53% | 10.67% | 10.22% | 9.56% | 12.11% | 9.67% | 9.13% | 9.75% | 12.64% | 8.89% | 9.30% | 9.53% |
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 0.40% | 0.41% | 0.47% | 0.58% | 0.70% | 0.48% | 0.66% | 0.95% | 1.32% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.30% |
Frequently Asked Questions
USA and VUG have a correlation of 0.65, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VUG has higher volatility (5.58%) compared to USA (3.74%). In terms of maximum drawdown, USA dropped -69.15% vs VUG's -50.68%.
VUG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.72 vs -0.03), 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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