XUS-U.TO vs. VONG

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

XUS-U.TO (iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF) and VONG (Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XUS-U.TO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while VONG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XUS-U.TO returned 12.85%/yr vs 13.24%/yr for VONG. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XUS-U.TO charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VONG.

Performance

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (XUS-U.TO) and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XUS-U.TO achieves a 10.41% return, which is significantly higher than VONG's 4.73% return.

XUS-U.TO

• 1D: 0.21%
• 1M: 0.22%
• 6M: 9.85%
• YTD: 10.41%
• 1Y: 21.81%
• 3Y*: 20.15%
• 5Y*: 12.85%
• 10Y*: —

VONG

• 1D: 0.26%
• 1M: -0.61%
• 6M: 5.45%
• YTD: 4.73%
• 1Y: 15.58%
• 3Y*: 21.46%
• 5Y*: 13.24%
• 10Y*: 18.03%

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

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
XUS-U.TO iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF	10.41%	18.07%	24.74%	26.55%	-18.73%	27.72%	18.39%	8.13%
VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF	4.73%	18.45%	33.20%	42.67%	-29.18%	27.60%	38.30%	9.87%

Correlation

The correlation between XUS-U.TO and VONG is 0.86, 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	0.86
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.86
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.86
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 15, 2019	0.77

The correlation between XUS-U.TO and VONG has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.77 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG — Risk / Return Rank

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

XUS-U.TO

XUS-U.TO Risk / Return Rank: 66
XUS-U.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
XUS-U.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 67
XUS-U.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 66
XUS-U.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 58
XUS-U.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 72

VONG

VONG Risk / Return Rank: 28
VONG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
VONG Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
VONG Omega Ratio Rank: 29
VONG Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
VONG Martin Ratio Rank: 27

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.

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (XUS-U.TO) and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG). 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.

	XUS-U.TO	VONG	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.75	0.94	+0.81
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.47	1.36	+1.11
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.17	+0.15
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.35	0.96	+1.39
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	10.57	3.04	+7.53

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XUS-U.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.75, which is higher than the VONG Sharpe Ratio of 0.94. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XUS-U.TO and VONG, 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

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XUS-U.TO drawdown since its inception was -33.55%, roughly equal to the maximum VONG drawdown of -32.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XUS-U.TO and VONG.

Drawdown Indicators

	XUS-U.TO	VONG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.55%	-32.72%	-0.83%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.30%	-16.23%	+6.93%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-18.65%	-23.27%	+4.62%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.96%	-32.72%	+7.76%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-32.72%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.53%	-3.90%	+3.37%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.38%	-4.88%	-0.50%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.07%	5.14%	-3.07%

Volatility

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (XUS-U.TO) is 3.19%, while Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) has a volatility of 6.53%. This indicates that XUS-U.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VONG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XUS-U.TO	VONG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.19%	6.53%	-3.34%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.11%	13.43%	-3.32%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.54%	16.72%	-4.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.78%	21.56%	-4.78%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.11%	20.95%	-1.84%

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Expense Ratio Comparison

XUS-U.TO has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than VONG's 0.06% 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%.

Dividends

XUS-U.TO vs. VONG - Dividend Comparison

XUS-U.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.14%, more than VONG's 0.46% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF	0.46%	0.45%	0.55%	0.71%	0.98%	0.58%	0.77%	1.03%	1.18%	1.19%	1.48%	1.47%
XUS-U.TO iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF	1.14%	1.25%	1.04%	1.19%	1.38%	0.89%	1.20%	0.05%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XUS-U.TO and VONG in my portfolio?

XUS-U.TO and VONG have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XUS-U.TO or VONG?

On fees, VONG is cheaper at 0.06% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XUS-U.TO or VONG?

VONG is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for XUS-U.TO.

What is the main difference between XUS-U.TO and VONG?

XUS-U.TO is categorized as S&P 500, while VONG is Large Cap Growth Equities. XUS-U.TO tracks S&P 500 Index, while VONG tracks Russell 1000 Growth Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for XUS-U.TO and 0.06% for VONG.