VUG vs. UGA
VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) and UGA (United States Gasoline Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - VUG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, while UGA is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Unleaded Gasoline. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VUG returned 18.28%/yr vs 14.44%/yr for UGA. At a 0.22 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VUG charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for UGA.
Performance
VUG vs. UGA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUG achieves a 5.76% return, which is significantly lower than UGA's 65.95% return. Over the past 10 years, VUG has outperformed UGA with an annualized return of 18.28%, while UGA has yielded a comparatively lower 14.44% annualized return.
VUG
- 1D
- -1.24%
- 1M
- -1.87%
- YTD
- 5.76%
- 6M
- 5.17%
- 1Y
- 24.00%
- 3Y*
- 23.62%
- 5Y*
- 13.40%
- 10Y*
- 18.28%
UGA
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- -11.11%
- YTD
- 65.95%
- 6M
- 62.61%
- 1Y
- 52.27%
- 3Y*
- 19.40%
- 5Y*
- 23.05%
- 10Y*
- 14.44%
VUG vs. UGA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 5.76% | 19.40% | 32.69% | 46.83% | -33.16% | 27.35% | 40.25% | 37.03% | -3.32% | 27.72% |
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP | 65.95% | -2.00% | 3.77% | 1.27% | 46.34% | 68.49% | -24.88% | 41.25% | -28.07% | 1.69% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUG and UGA is -0.22, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.22 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 28, 2008 | 0.22 |
The correlation between VUG and UGA shifts across timeframes, from -0.22 (1 year) to 0.22 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VUG vs. UGA — Risk / Return Rank
VUG
UGA
VUG vs. UGA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA). 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 | UGA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.26 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.46 | 2.77 | -1.31 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.99 | 8.29 | -3.30 |
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Drawdowns
VUG vs. UGA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUG drawdown since its inception was -50.68%, smaller than the maximum UGA drawdown of -86.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUG and UGA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUG | UGA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.68% | -86.59% | +35.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.53% | -18.96% | +2.43% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.85% | -26.68% | +3.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.61% | -38.11% | +2.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.61% | -75.89% | +40.28% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.86% | -17.12% | +12.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.09% | -36.70% | +29.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.82% | 7.05% | -2.23% |
Volatility
VUG vs. UGA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) is 6.55%, while United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA) has a volatility of 9.26%. This indicates that VUG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UGA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUG | UGA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.55% | 9.26% | -2.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.32% | 30.54% | -17.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.80% | 35.27% | -18.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.36% | 34.45% | -12.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.53% | 37.25% | -15.72% |
VUG vs. UGA - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUG has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than UGA's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
VUG vs. UGA - Dividend Comparison
VUG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.39%, while UGA has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 0.39% | 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 UGA have a correlation of -0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
UGA has higher volatility (9.26%) compared to VUG (6.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUG dropped -50.68% vs UGA's -86.59%.
On 10-year performance, VUG leads with 18.28% vs 14.44% for UGA. On fees, VUG is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VUG has been the lower-risk option at 6.55%. 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 18.28% return vs 14.44%. 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 0.75% for UGA.
VUG has the higher dividend yield at 0.39%, compared with 0.00% for UGA.
VUG is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while UGA is Oil & Gas. VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, while UGA tracks Front Month Unleaded Gasoline. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VUG and 0.75% for UGA.
UGA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.49 vs 1.44), 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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