GUG vs VTI
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GUG or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | GUG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.22% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $527M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.96% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,262 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -4.60% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.23% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.73% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.28% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 15.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.8% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,657 | $17,616Best |
| Fund Family | Guggenheim Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.9 years).
GUG vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 4.9 years both funds cover.
GUG vs VTI Performance
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund (GUG) is an ETF from Guggenheim Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GUG returned -6.23% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, GUG is down 4.60% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, GUG compounded at +10.73% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +1.28% and +11.99% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 15.5% for GUG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -32.8% for GUG and -25.4% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUG charges 2.22% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $222 vs $3 annually, a gap of $219 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUG currently yields 8.96% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 6.9% of VTI's money is in holdings GUG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GUG, our book for it covers 62.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and GUG share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 274 days apart, GUG as of Nov 30, 2025 and VTI as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
458 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 1,262 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUG | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.25% | 1.29% | 1.04% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.00% | 1.33% | 1.33% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.89% | 0.38% | 0.51% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.88% | 0.30% | 0.58% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.43% | 0.54% | 0.11% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.44% | 0.36% | 0.08% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.00% | 0.61% | 0.61% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.08% | 0.23% | 0.15% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 0.04% | 0.25% | 0.21% |
| SIGISelective Insurance Group Inc | 0.26% | 0.01% | 0.25% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUG and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GUG or VTI?
GUG has an expense ratio of 2.22% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $219 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUG or VTI?
Over the past year GUG returned -6.23% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUG or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 15.5% for GUG. Worst drawdown: GUG -32.8% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both GUG and VTI?
GUG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GUG and VTI?
At least 6.9% of VTI's money is in holdings GUG also owns. Our book for GUG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 458 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GUG or VTI?
GUG yields 8.96% while VTI yields 1.06%, so GUG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GUG?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.