VWUSX vs. VOO

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

VWUSX (Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both funds - VWUSX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Vanguard, while VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. VWUSX is actively managed, while VOO is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VWUSX returned 17.82%/yr vs 15.14%/yr for VOO. Their correlation of 0.90 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VWUSX charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VOO.

Performance

VWUSX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares (VWUSX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VWUSX achieves a -2.93% return, which is significantly lower than VOO's 10.16% return. Over the past 10 years, VWUSX has outperformed VOO with an annualized return of 17.82%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively lower 15.14% annualized return.

VWUSX

• 1D: 1.98%
• 1M: -3.71%
• 6M: -0.40%
• YTD: -2.93%
• 1Y: 2.37%
• 3Y*: 16.16%
• 5Y*: 9.19%
• 10Y*: 17.82%
• ALL TIME*: 8.69%

VOO

• 1D: 0.71%
• 1M: 0.26%
• 6M: 8.58%
• YTD: 10.16%
• 1Y: 21.58%
• 3Y*: 19.42%
• 5Y*: 12.83%
• 10Y*: 15.14%
• ALL TIME*: 14.78%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	$3.82B	$3.78B	$5.44B
VWUSX Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

VWUSX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VWUSX Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares	-2.93%	15.39%	31.65%	45.17%	-39.64%	35.76%	58.63%	45.61%	0.65%	31.11%
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	10.16%	17.82%	24.98%	26.32%	-18.17%	28.79%	18.32%	31.37%	-4.50%	21.77%

Correlation

The correlation between VWUSX and VOO is 0.90, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.90
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.91
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.91
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.88
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2010	0.90

The correlation between VWUSX and VOO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.88 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.

VWUSX vs. VOO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VWUSX	VOO
Technology	44.7%	38.6%
Communication Services	16.2%	9.9%
Consumer Cyclical	12.4%	9.5%
Healthcare	10.3%	8.9%
Financial Services	6.1%	11.4%
Industrials	5.2%	8.5%
Consumer Defensive	1.3%	4.5%
Real Estate	1.3%	1.8%
Utilities	0.5%	2.2%
Basic Materials	0.4%	1.7%
Energy	-	3.0%

Return for Risk

VWUSX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

VWUSX

VWUSX Risk / Return Rank: 5
VWUSX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5
VWUSX Sortino Ratio Rank: 5
VWUSX Omega Ratio Rank: 5
VWUSX Calmar Ratio Rank: 5
VWUSX Martin Ratio Rank: 5

VOO

VOO Risk / Return Rank: 68
VOO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
VOO Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
VOO Omega Ratio Rank: 66
VOO Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
VOO Martin Ratio Rank: 76

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VWUSX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares (VWUSX) 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.

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.

	VWUSX	VOO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.03	1.53	-1.51
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.16	2.13	-1.97
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.02	1.28	-0.26
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.03	2.21	-2.18
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.07	9.44	-9.36

VWUSX vs. VOO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VWUSX Sharpe Ratio is 0.03, which is lower than the VOO Sharpe Ratio of 1.53. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VWUSX and VOO, 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

VWUSX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VWUSX drawdown since its inception was -73.31%, which is greater than VOO's maximum drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWUSX and VOO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VWUSX	VOO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-73.31%	-33.99%	-39.32%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.15%	-8.90%	-10.25%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.01%	-18.69%	-6.32%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-42.18%	-24.52%	-17.66%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-42.18%	-33.99%	-8.19%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.06%	-1.38%	-6.68%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-22.77%	-3.67%	-19.10%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.80%	2.08%	+4.72%

Volatility

VWUSX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares (VWUSX) has a higher volatility of 5.29% compared to Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) at 3.54%. This indicates that VWUSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VWUSX	VOO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.29%	3.54%	+1.75%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.35%	10.10%	+4.25%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.17%	12.82%	+5.35%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	27.03%	16.93%	+10.10%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.72%	18.01%	+6.71%

VWUSX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison

VWUSX has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio.

Dividends

VWUSX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison

VWUSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.65%, more than VOO's 1.07% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	1.07%	1.13%	1.24%	1.46%	1.69%	1.25%	1.54%	1.88%	2.06%	1.78%	2.02%	2.10%
VWUSX Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares	9.65%	9.37%	4.60%	0.28%	0.37%	30.03%	3.90%	11.66%	9.65%	4.63%	1.52%	8.95%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VWUSX and VOO in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.90, VWUSX and VOO 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, VWUSX or VOO?

VWUSX has higher volatility (5.29%) compared to VOO (3.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWUSX dropped -73.31% vs VOO's -33.99%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VOO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.53 vs 0.03), 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.