VTEB vs. VUG

Last updated Apr 3, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG).

VTEB and VUG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VTEB is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. It was launched on Aug 21, 2015. VUG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. Both VTEB and VUG 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

VTEB vs. VUG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VTEB vs. VUG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF	0.27%	3.72%	1.31%	6.15%	-7.99%	1.14%	5.19%	7.35%	1.04%	4.87%
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF	-9.29%	19.40%	32.69%	46.83%	-33.16%	27.35%	40.25%	37.03%	-3.32%	27.72%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTEB achieves a 0.27% return, which is significantly higher than VUG's -9.29% return. Over the past 10 years, VTEB has underperformed VUG with an annualized return of 2.11%, while VUG has yielded a comparatively higher 16.20% annualized return.

VTEB

• 1D: 0.18%
• 1M: -0.90%
• YTD: 0.27%
• 6M: 1.73%
• 1Y: 4.40%
• 3Y*: 2.82%
• 5Y*: 0.92%
• 10Y*: 2.11%

VUG

• 1D: 0.11%
• 1M: -3.66%
• YTD: -9.29%
• 6M: -8.34%
• 1Y: 17.67%
• 3Y*: 21.67%
• 5Y*: 11.69%
• 10Y*: 16.20%

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

VTEB vs. VUG - Expense Ratio Comparison

VTEB has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than VUG'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%.

VTEB

Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF

VUG

Vanguard Growth ETF

Return for Risk

VTEB vs. VUG — Risk / Return Rank

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

VTEB

VTEB Risk / Return Rank: 48
VTEB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 58
VTEB Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
VTEB Omega Ratio Rank: 65
VTEB Calmar Ratio Rank: 37
VTEB Martin Ratio Rank: 33

VUG

VUG Risk / Return Rank: 38
VUG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
VUG Sortino Ratio Rank: 42
VUG Omega Ratio Rank: 41
VUG Calmar Ratio Rank: 36
VUG Martin Ratio Rank: 35

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.

VTEB vs. VUG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG). 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.

	VTEB	VUG	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.11	0.78	+0.33
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.40	1.27	+0.12
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.26	1.18	+0.08
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.19	1.13	+0.06
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	3.48	3.90	-0.42
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VTEB vs. VUG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VTEB Sharpe Ratio is 1.11, which is higher than the VUG Sharpe Ratio of 0.78. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VTEB and VUG, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VTEB	VUG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.11	0.78	+0.33
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.24	0.53	-0.29
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.40	0.76	-0.36
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.46	0.58	-0.12

Correlation

The correlation between VTEB and VUG is 0.04, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

VTEB vs. VUG - Dividend Comparison

VTEB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.36%, more than VUG's 0.45% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF	3.36%	3.29%	3.14%	2.79%	2.09%	1.64%	1.99%	2.30%	2.25%	1.96%	1.66%	0.58%
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF	0.45%	0.41%	0.47%	0.58%	0.70%	0.48%	0.66%	0.95%	1.32%	1.14%	1.39%	1.30%

Drawdowns

VTEB vs. VUG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTEB drawdown since its inception was -17.00%, smaller than the maximum VUG drawdown of -50.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTEB and VUG.

Drawdown Indicators

	VTEB	VUG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-17.00%	-50.68%	+33.68%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.45%	-16.53%	+13.08%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-12.64%	-35.61%	+22.97%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-17.00%	-35.61%	+18.61%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.68%	-12.15%	+10.47%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.34%	-7.13%	+4.79%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.18%	4.78%	-3.60%

Volatility

VTEB vs. VUG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) is 1.39%, while Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has a volatility of 7.02%. This indicates that VTEB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VUG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VTEB	VUG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.39%	7.02%	-5.63%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.88%	12.69%	-10.81%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.99%	22.69%	-18.70%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.88%	22.22%	-18.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.25%	21.38%	-16.13%