VONG vs. GLD
VONG (Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF) and GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - VONG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Growth Index, while GLD is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VONG returned 18.29%/yr vs 12.15%/yr for GLD. At a 0.04 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VONG charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for GLD.
Performance
VONG vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VONG achieves a 2.96% return, which is significantly higher than GLD's -2.47% return. Over the past 10 years, VONG has outperformed GLD with an annualized return of 18.29%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively lower 12.15% annualized return.
VONG
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -2.20%
- YTD
- 2.96%
- 6M
- 3.46%
- 1Y
- 20.50%
- 3Y*
- 22.47%
- 5Y*
- 14.01%
- 10Y*
- 18.29%
GLD
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -7.37%
- YTD
- -2.47%
- 6M
- -2.25%
- 1Y
- 22.21%
- 3Y*
- 28.89%
- 5Y*
- 17.08%
- 10Y*
- 12.15%
VONG vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 2.96% | 18.45% | 33.20% | 42.67% | -29.18% | 27.60% | 38.30% | 36.06% | -1.53% | 30.05% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | -2.47% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between VONG and GLD is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 2010 | 0.04 |
The correlation between VONG and GLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.04 (all time) to 0.19 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VONG vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
VONG
GLD
VONG vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.
| VONG | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.44 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.18 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.17 | 0.98 | +0.20 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.87 | 2.81 | +1.06 |
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Drawdowns
VONG vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VONG drawdown since its inception was -32.72%, smaller than the maximum GLD drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VONG and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VONG | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.72% | -45.56% | +12.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.23% | -24.46% | +8.23% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.27% | -24.46% | +1.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.72% | -24.46% | -8.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.72% | -24.46% | -8.26% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.52% | -22.05% | +16.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.88% | -16.16% | +11.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.91% | 8.49% | -3.58% |
Volatility
VONG vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) is 5.30%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 7.79%. This indicates that VONG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VONG | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.30% | 7.79% | -2.49% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.35% | 24.10% | -11.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.87% | 27.37% | -11.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.39% | 18.22% | +3.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.91% | 16.08% | +4.83% |
VONG vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
VONG has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
VONG vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
VONG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.44%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 0.44% | 0.45% | 0.55% | 0.71% | 0.98% | 0.58% | 0.77% | 1.03% | 1.18% | 1.19% | 1.48% | 1.47% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VONG and GLD have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GLD has higher volatility (7.79%) compared to VONG (5.30%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VONG dropped -32.72% vs GLD's -45.56%.
On 10-year performance, VONG leads with 18.29% vs 12.15% for GLD. On fees, VONG is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, VONG has been the lower-risk option at 5.30%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VONG has performed better with a 18.29% return vs 12.15%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VONG is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for GLD.
VONG has the higher dividend yield at 0.44%, compared with 0.00% for GLD.
VONG is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while GLD is Gold. VONG tracks Russell 1000 Growth Index, while GLD tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for VONG and 0.40% for GLD.
VONG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.20 vs 0.87), 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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