VGUS vs. VIG
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG).
VGUS and VIG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VGUS is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. It was launched on Feb 7, 2025. VIG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ US Dividend Achievers Select Index. It was launched on Dec 19, 2013. Both VGUS and VIG 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
VGUS vs. VIG - Performance Comparison
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VGUS vs. VIG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF | 0.81% | 3.77% |
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | -1.77% | 9.49% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGUS achieves a 0.81% return, which is significantly higher than VIG's -1.77% return.
VGUS
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- YTD
- 0.81%
- 6M
- 1.82%
- 1Y
- 4.00%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VIG
- 1D
- 2.07%
- 1M
- -5.18%
- YTD
- -1.77%
- 6M
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 12.67%
- 3Y*
- 13.80%
- 5Y*
- 9.76%
- 10Y*
- 12.25%
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VGUS vs. VIG - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGUS has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than VIG's 0.04% 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%.
Return for Risk
VGUS vs. VIG — Risk / Return Rank
VGUS
VIG
VGUS vs. VIG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG). 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.
| VGUS | VIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 11.39 | 0.83 | +10.55 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 31.34 | 1.28 | +30.06 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 8.64 | 1.18 | +7.46 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 55.20 | 1.28 | +53.92 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 367.74 | 5.73 | +362.01 |
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
| VGUS | VIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.39 | 0.83 | +10.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.69 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.77 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 11.78 | 0.57 | +11.20 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGUS and VIG is -0.12. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
VGUS vs. VIG - Dividend Comparison
VGUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.66%, more than VIG's 1.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF | 3.66% | 3.12% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | 1.61% | 1.62% | 1.73% | 1.88% | 1.96% | 1.55% | 1.63% | 1.71% | 2.08% | 1.88% | 2.14% | 2.34% |
Drawdowns
VGUS vs. VIG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGUS drawdown since its inception was -0.07%, smaller than the maximum VIG drawdown of -46.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGUS and VIG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGUS | VIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -0.07% | -46.81% | +46.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.07% | -10.83% | +10.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -20.39% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -31.72% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -6.00% | +6.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | 0.00% | -5.55% | +5.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.01% | 2.42% | -2.41% |
Volatility
VGUS vs. VIG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS) is 0.07%, while Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) has a volatility of 4.07%. This indicates that VGUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VIG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGUS | VIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.07% | 4.07% | -4.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.16% | 7.84% | -7.68% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.35% | 15.31% | -14.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.35% | 14.26% | -13.91% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.35% | 16.05% | -15.70% |