VO vs VONG
Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF vs Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF
Which is better, VO or VONG?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VO has a lower expense ratio. VO led over 1Y, VONG over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VO is less concentrated, with 9.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | VO | VONG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.06% |
| AUM | $103.4B | $47.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 0.45% |
| Holdings | 287 | 374 |
| YTD Return | +10.62%Best | +5.71% |
| 1Y Return | +11.35%Best | +7.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.10% | +22.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.00% | +12.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8%Tie | 15.8%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -39.7% | -32.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,026 | $18,197Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.3%Best | 56.8% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2004 | Sep 20, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.1 years).
VO vs VONG 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
VO vs VONG Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF (VO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VO returned +11.35% while VONG returned +7.44%. Year to date, VO is up 10.62% versus a gain of 5.71% for VONG.
Over three years, VO compounded at +17.10% per year against +22.48% for VONG; over five years the annualized figures are +7.00% and +12.72% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VONG has the edge at +15.59% annualized vs +11.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VO and VONG have been equally volatile, both at 15.8% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -39.7% for VO and -32.7% for VONG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VO charges 0.03% per year while VONG charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VO currently yields 1.40% against 0.45% for VONG.
Holdings Overlap
43.0% of VO's money is in holdings VONG also owns. 9.9% of VONG's money is in holdings VO also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
101 positions in common, counted across the 277 positions we hold weights for in VO and 367 in VONG, against full books of 287 and 374.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 206 positions for VONG that do not appear in our book for VO (89.5% of the fund), and 168 for VO that do not appear in VONG (53.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VO | Weight in VONG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VRTVertiv Holdings Co | 0.95% | 0.30% | 0.65% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace | 0.94% | 0.29% | 0.65% |
| NETCloudflare Inc (180 Day Lockup) | 0.93% | 0.29% | 0.64% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 1.04% | 0.17% | 0.87% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 0.74% | 0.46% | 0.28% |
| PWRQuanta Services Inc | 0.87% | 0.27% | 0.60% |
| DASHDoordash Inc - A | 0.82% | 0.26% | 0.56% |
| VLOValero Energy | 1.02% | 0.04% | 0.98% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 0.79% | 0.20% | 0.59% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 0.75% | 0.23% | 0.52% |
43.0% of VO is already inside VONG.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VO or VONG?
VO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VONG charges 0.06%. VO is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VO or VONG?
Over the past year VO returned +11.35% vs +7.44% for VONG, so VO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VO annualized +11.04% vs +15.59% for VONG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VO or VONG?
VO and VONG have been equally volatile, both at 15.8% annualized. Worst drawdown: VO -39.7% vs VONG -32.7%.
Should I hold both VO and VONG?
VO and VONG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 VO and VONG?
43.0% of VO's money is in holdings VONG also owns. 9.9% of VONG's is in holdings VO also owns. They hold 101 positions in common, counted across the 277 positions we hold weights for in VO and 367 in VONG.
Which pays a higher dividend, VO or VONG?
VO yields 1.40% while VONG yields 0.45%, so VO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VONG better than VO?
VO has a lower expense ratio. VO led over 1Y, VONG over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VO is less concentrated, with 9.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.