VIS vs. VPU
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) and Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU).
VIS and VPU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VIS is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index. It was launched on Sep 23, 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 VIS 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
VIS vs. VPU - Performance Comparison
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VIS vs. VPU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIS Vanguard Industrials ETF | 4.90% | 18.57% | 16.85% | 22.50% | -8.57% | 20.80% | 12.34% | 30.09% | -14.01% | 21.47% |
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 7.79% | 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, VIS achieves a 4.90% return, which is significantly lower than VPU's 7.79% return. Over the past 10 years, VIS has outperformed VPU with an annualized return of 13.16%, while VPU has yielded a comparatively lower 9.62% annualized return.
VIS
- 1D
- 3.42%
- 1M
- -8.44%
- YTD
- 4.90%
- 6M
- 5.93%
- 1Y
- 27.43%
- 3Y*
- 19.38%
- 5Y*
- 11.84%
- 10Y*
- 13.16%
VPU
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- -3.12%
- YTD
- 7.79%
- 6M
- 6.07%
- 1Y
- 19.23%
- 3Y*
- 13.81%
- 5Y*
- 10.49%
- 10Y*
- 9.62%
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VIS vs. VPU - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VIS 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
VIS vs. VPU — Risk / Return Rank
VIS
VPU
VIS vs. VPU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) 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.
| VIS | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.35 | 1.25 | +0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.95 | 1.70 | +0.26 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.23 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.23 | 2.30 | -0.07 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.80 | 5.48 | +3.32 |
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
| VIS | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.35 | 1.25 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.62 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | 0.51 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.55 | -0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between VIS and VPU is 0.49, 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
VIS vs. VPU - Dividend Comparison
VIS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.97%, less than VPU's 2.57% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIS Vanguard Industrials ETF | 0.97% | 1.01% | 1.23% | 1.36% | 1.52% | 1.11% | 1.38% | 1.68% | 1.90% | 1.60% | 1.81% | 1.94% |
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 2.57% | 2.73% | 3.02% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 2.83% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.63% |
Drawdowns
VIS vs. VPU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VIS drawdown since its inception was -63.51%, which is greater than VPU's maximum drawdown of -46.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VIS and VPU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VIS | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.51% | -46.31% | -17.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.63% | -8.90% | -3.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.96% | -25.15% | +2.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.42% | -36.42% | -6.00% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.29% | -3.12% | -6.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.42% | -7.82% | -0.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.20% | 3.74% | -0.54% |
Volatility
VIS vs. VPU - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) has a higher volatility of 7.06% compared to Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) at 4.99%. This indicates that VIS'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
| VIS | VPU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.06% | 4.99% | +2.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.65% | 10.18% | +2.47% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.47% | 15.54% | +4.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.18% | 16.91% | +1.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.33% | 19.07% | +1.26% |