VUG vs. AOR
VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) and AOR (iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VUG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, while AOR is a Diversified Portfolio fund tracking the S&P Target Risk Growth Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VUG returned 18.30%/yr vs 8.58%/yr for AOR. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VUG charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for AOR.
Performance
VUG vs. AOR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VUG having a 7.94% return and AOR slightly lower at 7.85%. Over the past 10 years, VUG has outperformed AOR with an annualized return of 18.30%, while AOR has yielded a comparatively lower 8.58% annualized return.
VUG
- 1D
- 2.81%
- 1M
- 0.27%
- YTD
- 7.94%
- 6M
- 9.17%
- 1Y
- 26.29%
- 3Y*
- 24.04%
- 5Y*
- 14.43%
- 10Y*
- 18.30%
AOR
- 1D
- 0.95%
- 1M
- 2.42%
- YTD
- 7.85%
- 6M
- 8.39%
- 1Y
- 19.38%
- 3Y*
- 13.65%
- 5Y*
- 7.09%
- 10Y*
- 8.58%
VUG vs. AOR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 7.94% | 19.40% | 32.69% | 46.83% | -33.16% | 27.35% | 40.25% | 37.03% | -3.32% | 27.72% |
AOR iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF | 7.85% | 16.44% | 10.68% | 15.75% | -15.64% | 11.19% | 11.42% | 18.91% | -5.82% | 15.80% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUG and AOR is 0.84, 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 | 0.84 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.82 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 11, 2008 | 0.86 |
The correlation between VUG and AOR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.82 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VUG vs. AOR — Risk / Return Rank
VUG
AOR
VUG vs. AOR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (AOR). 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.
| VUG | AOR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.97 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.42 | -0.14 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.60 | 2.93 | -1.33 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.50 | 12.60 | -7.10 |
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Drawdowns
VUG vs. AOR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUG drawdown since its inception was -50.68%, which is greater than AOR's maximum drawdown of -24.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUG and AOR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUG | AOR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.68% | -24.44% | -26.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.53% | -6.64% | -9.89% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.85% | -9.77% | -13.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.61% | -21.72% | -13.89% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.61% | -22.95% | -12.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.90% | -0.10% | -2.80% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.09% | -3.47% | -3.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.79% | 1.54% | +3.25% |
Volatility
VUG vs. AOR - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has a higher volatility of 6.32% compared to iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (AOR) at 3.61%. This indicates that VUG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AOR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUG | AOR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.32% | 3.61% | +2.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.28% | 7.37% | +5.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.65% | 8.84% | +7.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.34% | 10.63% | +11.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.51% | 10.70% | +10.81% |
VUG vs. AOR - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUG has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than AOR's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VUG vs. AOR - Dividend Comparison
VUG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.38%, less than AOR's 2.46% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOR iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF | 2.46% | 2.55% | 2.66% | 2.50% | 2.12% | 1.64% | 1.89% | 2.56% | 2.49% | 4.51% | 2.16% | 2.12% |
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 0.38% | 0.41% | 0.47% | 0.58% | 0.70% | 0.48% | 0.66% | 0.95% | 1.32% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.30% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VUG and AOR have a correlation of 0.84, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VUG has higher volatility (6.32%) compared to AOR (3.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUG dropped -50.68% vs AOR's -24.44%.
On 10-year performance, VUG leads with 18.30% vs 8.58% for AOR. On fees, VUG is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, AOR has been the lower-risk option at 3.61%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VUG has performed better with a 18.30% return vs 8.58%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VUG is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for AOR.
AOR has the higher dividend yield at 2.46%, compared with 0.38% for VUG.
VUG is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while AOR is Diversified Portfolio. VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, while AOR tracks S&P Target Risk Growth Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VUG and 0.15% for AOR.
AOR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.21 vs 1.59), 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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