VGG.TO vs. DGRO
VGG.TO (Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF) and DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VGG.TO is a Dividend fund tracking the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, while DGRO is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VGG.TO returned 13.76%/yr vs 14.74%/yr for DGRO. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VGG.TO charges 0.31%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for DGRO.
Performance
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
VGG.TO is traded in CAD, while DGRO is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the DGRO values have been converted to CAD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGG.TO achieves a 10.93% return, which is significantly lower than DGRO's 12.89% return. Over the past 10 years, VGG.TO has underperformed DGRO with an annualized return of 13.76%, while DGRO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.74% annualized return.
VGG.TO
- 1D
- 0.37%
- 1M
- 3.81%
- YTD
- 10.93%
- 6M
- 10.63%
- 1Y
- 22.41%
- 3Y*
- 18.34%
- 5Y*
- 13.54%
- 10Y*
- 13.76%
DGRO
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- 3.60%
- YTD
- 12.89%
- 6M
- 11.75%
- 1Y
- 25.95%
- 3Y*
- 19.85%
- 5Y*
- 14.16%
- 10Y*
- 14.74%
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGG.TO Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF | 10.93% | 8.61% | 26.49% | 11.58% | -4.21% | 22.23% | 12.67% | 23.32% | 5.20% | 13.99% |
DGRO iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 12.89% | 10.41% | 26.49% | 7.84% | -2.07% | 26.58% | 6.90% | 24.51% | 5.83% | 14.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGG.TO and DGRO is 0.73, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 12, 2014 | 0.64 |
The correlation between VGG.TO and DGRO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.64 to 0.73 - a consistent structural relationship.
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Sectors Allocation Comparison
Sectors
VGG.TO
DGRO
Technology
Financial Services
Healthcare
Industrials
Consumer Defensive
Consumer Cyclical
Basic Materials
Energy
Utilities
Communication Services
Real Estate
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Technology
VGG.TO
DGRO
Financial Services
VGG.TO
DGRO
Healthcare
VGG.TO
DGRO
Industrials
VGG.TO
DGRO
Consumer Defensive
VGG.TO
DGRO
Consumer Cyclical
VGG.TO
DGRO
Basic Materials
VGG.TO
DGRO
Energy
VGG.TO
DGRO
Utilities
VGG.TO
DGRO
Communication Services
VGG.TO
DGRO
Real Estate
VGG.TO
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DGRO
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Return for Risk
VGG.TO vs. DGRO — Risk / Return Rank
VGG.TO
DGRO
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF (VGG.TO) and iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO). 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.
| VGG.TO | DGRO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.45 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.18 | 4.23 | -1.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.87 | 15.73 | -3.86 |
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Drawdowns
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGG.TO drawdown since its inception was -24.58%, smaller than the maximum DGRO drawdown of -29.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGG.TO and DGRO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGG.TO | DGRO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.58% | -29.39% | +4.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.07% | -6.16% | -0.91% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.56% | -15.15% | -0.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.52% | -16.54% | -1.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.58% | -29.39% | +4.81% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.92% | -3.05% | +0.13% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.89% | 1.65% | +0.24% |
Volatility
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF (VGG.TO) is 2.61%, while iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) has a volatility of 2.89%. This indicates that VGG.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DGRO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGG.TO | DGRO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.61% | 2.89% | -0.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.89% | 7.81% | +0.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.26% | 10.32% | -0.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.67% | 15.02% | -2.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.99% | 17.73% | -2.74% |
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGG.TO has a 0.31% expense ratio, which is higher than DGRO's 0.08% expense ratio.
Dividends
VGG.TO vs. DGRO - Dividend Comparison
VGG.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.00%, less than DGRO's 1.97% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DGRO iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 1.97% | 2.09% | 2.26% | 2.45% | 2.34% | 1.93% | 2.30% | 2.21% | 2.44% | 2.03% | 2.27% | 2.52% |
VGG.TO Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF | 1.00% | 1.16% | 1.23% | 1.37% | 1.35% | 1.21% | 1.25% | 1.24% | 1.50% | 1.45% | 1.63% | 1.70% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGG.TO and DGRO have a correlation of 0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, DGRO is cheaper at 0.08% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
DGRO is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.31% for VGG.TO.
VGG.TO is categorized as Dividend, while DGRO is Large Cap Growth Equities. VGG.TO tracks S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, while DGRO tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.31% for VGG.TO and 0.08% for DGRO.
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