VAW vs. VPU
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) and Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU).
VAW and VPU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VAW is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. VPU is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both VAW and VPU 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
VAW vs. VPU - Performance Comparison
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VAW vs. VPU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 10.45% | 12.30% | 0.48% | 13.67% | -11.80% | 27.43% | 19.44% | 23.53% | -17.49% | 23.76% |
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 8.24% | 16.46% | 23.04% | -7.45% | 1.06% | 17.40% | -0.74% | 24.89% | 4.38% | 12.44% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VAW achieves a 10.45% return, which is significantly higher than VPU's 8.24% return. Over the past 10 years, VAW has outperformed VPU with an annualized return of 10.70%, while VPU has yielded a comparatively lower 9.67% annualized return.
VAW
- 1D
- 1.35%
- 1M
- -5.90%
- YTD
- 10.45%
- 6M
- 13.21%
- 1Y
- 22.50%
- 3Y*
- 10.54%
- 5Y*
- 7.38%
- 10Y*
- 10.70%
VPU
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -2.05%
- YTD
- 8.24%
- 6M
- 5.69%
- 1Y
- 19.37%
- 3Y*
- 13.96%
- 5Y*
- 10.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.67%
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VAW vs. VPU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VAW and VPU have an expense ratio of 0.10%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VAW vs. VPU — Risk / Return Rank
VAW
VPU
VAW vs. VPU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) and Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU). 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.
| VAW | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.06 | 1.25 | -0.20 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.59 | 1.71 | -0.12 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.23 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.60 | 2.22 | -0.62 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.48 | 5.27 | +0.21 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VAW | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.06 | 1.25 | -0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 | 0.63 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.55 | -0.16 |
Correlation
The correlation between VAW and VPU is 0.46, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VAW vs. VPU - Dividend Comparison
VAW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.40%, less than VPU's 2.56% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 1.40% | 1.55% | 1.70% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 1.44% | 1.67% | 1.94% | 2.03% | 1.63% | 1.67% | 2.30% |
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 2.56% | 2.73% | 3.02% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 2.83% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.63% |
Drawdowns
VAW vs. VPU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VAW drawdown since its inception was -62.17%, which is greater than VPU's maximum drawdown of -46.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VAW and VPU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VAW | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.17% | -46.31% | -15.86% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.33% | -8.90% | -5.43% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.50% | -25.15% | -0.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | -36.42% | -4.71% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.10% | -2.71% | -3.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.67% | -7.82% | -1.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.17% | 3.74% | +0.43% |
Volatility
VAW vs. VPU - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) has a higher volatility of 6.71% compared to Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) at 4.99%. This indicates that VAW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VPU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VAW | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.71% | 4.99% | +1.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.38% | 10.18% | +3.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.41% | 15.51% | +5.90% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.57% | 16.91% | +2.66% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.14% | 19.07% | +2.07% |