VONG vs. SPYM

Last updated Jul 22, 2026

VONG (Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF) and SPYM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VONG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Growth Index, while SPYM is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VONG returned 17.71%/yr vs 15.13%/yr for SPYM. Their correlation of 0.87 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VONG charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.02%/yr for SPYM.

Performance

VONG vs. SPYM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VONG achieves a 2.86% return, which is significantly lower than SPYM's 10.37% return. Over the past 10 years, VONG has outperformed SPYM with an annualized return of 17.71%, while SPYM has yielded a comparatively lower 15.13% annualized return.

VONG

• 1D: 1.58%
• 1M: -1.54%
• 6M: 6.09%
• YTD: 2.86%
• 1Y: 11.99%
• 3Y*: 20.93%
• 5Y*: 12.39%
• 10Y*: 17.71%
• ALL TIME*: 16.66%

SPYM

• 1D: 0.82%
• 1M: 0.22%
• 6M: 11.07%
• YTD: 10.37%
• 1Y: 20.44%
• 3Y*: 19.85%
• 5Y*: 13.02%
• 10Y*: 15.13%
• ALL TIME*: 11.19%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VONG vs. SPYM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF	2.86%	18.45%	33.20%	42.67%	-29.18%	27.60%	38.30%	36.06%	-1.53%	30.05%
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF	10.37%	17.79%	25.00%	26.24%	-18.09%	28.78%	18.49%	31.99%	-4.78%	21.30%

Correlation

The correlation between VONG and SPYM is 0.93, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.93
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.93
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.95
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.93
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 2010	0.87

The correlation between VONG and SPYM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.

VONG vs. SPYM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VONG	SPYM
Technology	54.3%	38.5%
Communication Services	16.2%	9.9%
Industrials	9.0%	8.4%
Consumer Cyclical	8.4%	9.5%
Healthcare	5.4%	8.9%
Financial Services	4.2%	11.6%
Consumer Defensive	1.2%	4.5%
Energy	0.5%	3.0%
Real Estate	0.4%	1.8%
Utilities	0.3%	2.2%
Basic Materials	0.3%	1.7%

Return for Risk

VONG vs. SPYM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VONG

VONG Risk / Return Rank: 25
VONG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 27
VONG Sortino Ratio Rank: 25
VONG Omega Ratio Rank: 25
VONG Calmar Ratio Rank: 23
VONG Martin Ratio Rank: 25

SPYM

SPYM Risk / Return Rank: 67
SPYM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
SPYM Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
SPYM Omega Ratio Rank: 66
SPYM Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
SPYM Martin Ratio Rank: 75

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VONG vs. SPYM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). 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	SPYM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.71	1.63	-0.92
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.07	2.26	-1.19
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.13	1.29	-0.16
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.74	2.31	-1.56
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.31	10.01	-7.70

VONG vs. SPYM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VONG Sharpe Ratio is 0.71, which is lower than the SPYM Sharpe Ratio of 1.63. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VONG and SPYM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

VONG vs. SPYM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VONG drawdown since its inception was -32.72%, smaller than the maximum SPYM drawdown of -54.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VONG and SPYM.

Drawdown Indicators

	VONG	SPYM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-32.72%	-54.46%	+21.74%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-16.23%	-8.90%	-7.33%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.27%	-18.72%	-4.55%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.72%	-24.48%	-8.24%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-32.72%	-33.87%	+1.15%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.62%	-1.20%	-4.42%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.88%	-7.12%	+2.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.20%	2.05%	+3.15%

Volatility

VONG vs. SPYM - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) has a higher volatility of 6.42% compared to State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) at 3.37%. This indicates that VONG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPYM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VONG	SPYM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.42%	3.37%	+3.05%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.67%	10.07%	+3.60%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.96%	12.59%	+4.37%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.58%	16.90%	+4.68%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.97%	18.00%	+2.97%

VONG vs. SPYM - Expense Ratio Comparison

VONG has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is higher than SPYM's 0.02% 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%.

Dividends

VONG vs. SPYM - Dividend Comparison

VONG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.47%, less than SPYM's 1.03% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF	1.03%	1.13%	1.28%	1.44%	1.69%	1.25%	1.54%	1.79%	2.23%	1.75%	1.97%	1.98%
VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF	0.47%	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

Can I hold both VONG and SPYM in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.93, VONG and SPYM move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which is riskier, VONG or SPYM?

VONG has higher volatility (6.42%) compared to SPYM (3.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VONG dropped -32.72% vs SPYM's -54.46%.

Which ETF is better, VONG or SPYM?

On 10-year performance, VONG leads with 17.71% vs 15.13% for SPYM. On fees, SPYM is cheaper at 0.02% per year. On volatility, SPYM has been the lower-risk option at 3.37%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, VONG or SPYM?

Over the 10-year period, VONG has performed better with a 17.71% return vs 15.13%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, VONG or SPYM?

SPYM is cheaper with a 0.02% expense ratio, compared with 0.06% for VONG.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, VONG or SPYM?

SPYM has the higher dividend yield at 1.03%, compared with 0.47% for VONG.

What is the main difference between VONG and SPYM?

VONG is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while SPYM is S&P 500. VONG tracks Russell 1000 Growth Index, while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for VONG and 0.02% for SPYM.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPYM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.63 vs 0.71), 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.