VPU vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
VPU and VOO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010. Both VPU and VOO 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
VPU vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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VPU vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 8.24% | 16.46% | 23.04% | -7.45% | 1.06% | 17.40% | -0.74% | 24.89% | 4.38% | 12.44% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -3.66% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VPU achieves a 8.24% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's -3.66% return. Over the past 10 years, VPU has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 9.67%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.14% annualized return.
VPU
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -2.05%
- YTD
- 8.24%
- 6M
- 5.69%
- 1Y
- 19.37%
- 3Y*
- 13.96%
- 5Y*
- 10.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.67%
VOO
- 1D
- 0.79%
- 1M
- -4.29%
- YTD
- -3.66%
- 6M
- -1.41%
- 1Y
- 18.17%
- 3Y*
- 18.58%
- 5Y*
- 11.93%
- 10Y*
- 14.14%
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VPU vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VPU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% 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
VPU vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
VPU
VOO
VPU vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| VPU | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.25 | 1.01 | +0.25 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.71 | 1.53 | +0.17 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.23 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.22 | 1.55 | +0.66 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.27 | 7.31 | -2.04 |
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
| VPU | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.25 | 1.01 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 | 0.71 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.79 | -0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.83 | -0.28 |
Correlation
The correlation between VPU and VOO is 0.46, 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
VPU vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
VPU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.56%, more than VOO's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 2.56% | 2.73% | 3.02% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 2.83% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.63% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.18% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
VPU vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VPU drawdown since its inception was -46.31%, which is greater than VOO's maximum drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VPU and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VPU | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.31% | -33.99% | -12.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -11.98% | +3.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.15% | -24.52% | -0.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.42% | -33.99% | -2.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.71% | -5.55% | +2.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.82% | -3.72% | -4.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.74% | 2.55% | +1.19% |
Volatility
VPU vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) is 4.99%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.34%. This indicates that VPU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VPU | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.99% | 5.34% | -0.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.18% | 9.47% | +0.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.51% | 18.11% | -2.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.91% | 16.82% | +0.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.07% | 17.99% | +1.08% |