OriginaveVGT vs VUG: which ETF won each year?
Yearly returns side by side, one winner per year — dividends included, priced as you'd actually buy them.
VGT
SPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trusttracks the S&P 500 Index- VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index
IVViShares Core S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index- VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETFtracks the CRSP US Total Market Index
QQQInvesco QQQ Trusttracks the Nasdaq-100 Index- QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETFtracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
- VGTVanguard Information Technology ETFtracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index
- ACWIiShares MSCI ACWI ETFtracks the MSCI ACWI Index
- VTVanguard Total World Stock ETFtracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index
- URTHiShares MSCI World ETFtracks the MSCI World Index
SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index- SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
- VTVVanguard Value ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index
- VUGVanguard Growth ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
- MTUMiShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETFtracks the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index
- SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFtracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index
- SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETFtracks the S&P 500 Quality Index
VUG
- SPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trusttracks the S&P 500 Index
- VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index
- IVViShares Core S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index
- VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETFtracks the CRSP US Total Market Index
- QQQInvesco QQQ Trusttracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
- QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETFtracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
- VGTVanguard Information Technology ETFtracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index
- ACWIiShares MSCI ACWI ETFtracks the MSCI ACWI Index
- VTVanguard Total World Stock ETFtracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index
- URTHiShares MSCI World ETFtracks the MSCI World Index
- SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index
- SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
- VTVVanguard Value ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index
- VUGVanguard Growth ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
- MTUMiShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETFtracks the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index
- SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFtracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index
- SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETFtracks the S&P 500 Quality Index
VGT tracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 IndexVUG tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
What did the last 10 years do to $10,000?
You invest $10,000 at the start of the window and touch nothing — dividends reinvested, the running year not counted.
VGT vs VUG, year by year
Calendar-year total returns (dividends included) side by side, and who took the crown each year. A dash means the fund did not exist yet.
| Year | VGT | VUG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | +33.83% | +11.18% | VGT |
| 2025 | +21.77% | +19.40% | VGT |
| 2024 | +29.30% | +32.69% | VUG |
| 2023 | +52.66% | +46.83% | VGT |
| 2022 | -29.70% | -33.16% | VGT |
| 2021 | +30.45% | +27.35% | VGT |
| 2020 | +46.04% | +40.25% | VGT |
| 2019 | +48.62% | +37.03% | VGT |
| 2018 | +2.46% | -3.32% | VGT |
| 2017 | +37.08% | +27.72% | VGT |
| 2016 | +13.77% | +6.27% | VGT |
| 2015 | +5.05% | +3.24% | VGT |
| 2014 | +16.69% | +13.61% | VGT |
| 2013 | +30.97% | +32.48% | VUG |
| 2012 | +13.96% | +17.01% | VUG |
| 2011 | +0.54% | +1.82% | VUG |
| 2010 | +12.78% | +17.22% | VUG |
| 2009 | +61.89% | +36.14% | VGT |
| 2008 | -42.82% | -38.02% | VUG |
| 2007 | +14.78% | +12.52% | VGT |
| 2006 | +8.85% | +9.19% | VUG |
| 2005 | +3.00% | +5.02% | VUG |
| 2004 | -2.86% | +4.99% | VUG |
VGT vs VUG in plain words
VGT tracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index while VUG follows the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, so they own different slices of the market and their years can look very different. VGT charges 0.09% a year in running costs and VUG charges 0.03% — VUG is the cheaper fund to hold.
Both funds distribute: dividends land in your account as cash instead of being reinvested automatically. Across the 23 calendar years both funds were trading, VGT finished the year ahead 14 times and VUG 9 times. $10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $76,464 in VGT versus $49,942 in VUG by the end of 2025, dividends reinvested.
Fund facts: VGT vs VUG
| Fact | VGT | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| Fund | Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Vanguard Growth ETF |
| Tracks | MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index | CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index |
| Yearly cost (TER) | 0.09% | 0.03% |
| Dividends | Distributing — dividends paid out | Distributing — dividends paid out |
| Launched | 26 Jan 2004 | 26 Jan 2004 |
| $10,000 invested | What $10,000 in VGT became | What $10,000 in VUG became |
How bumpy the ride was: VGT vs VUG
These head-to-head figures use only the 5,707 trading days both funds were listed: 30 Jan 2004 to 6 Oct 2026, roughly 22.6 years.
VGT swung more than VUG: annualised volatility of 22.7% for VGT against 20.0% for VUG, with VGT moving 1% or more on 36.4% of trading days and VUG on 29.3%. Both had their worst day on 16 Mar 2020: VGT closed -13.49% and VUG -12.62%.
VGT had the deeper drawdown: it fell -54.63% from its peak on 31 Oct 2007 to a low on 20 Nov 2008, then closed back above the old peak on 6 Jan 2011, 25 months after the low; VUG fell -50.68% from its peak on 31 Oct 2007 to a low on 9 Mar 2009, then closed back above the old peak on 8 Feb 2011, 22 months after the low.
Day to day the two usually move together: the correlation of their daily returns is 0.95, and they closed in opposite directions on 10.6% of the 5,706 days measured. The widest single-day gap came on 1 Apr 2015, when VGT moved -0.80% and VUG +2.43%.
| Measure | VGT | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| Annualised volatility | 22.7% | 20.0% |
| Worst day | -13.49% on 16 Mar 2020 | -12.62% on 16 Mar 2020 |
| Best day | +13.48% on 9 Apr 2025 | +11.94% on 13 Oct 2008 |
| Days moving 1% or more | 36.4% of days | 29.3% of days |
| Deepest drawdown | -54.63% | -50.68% |
| Peak to trough | 31 Oct 2007 → 20 Nov 2008 | 31 Oct 2007 → 9 Mar 2009 |
| Back above the old peak | 6 Jan 2011 · 25 months | 8 Feb 2011 · 22 months |
Years VGT and VUG parted ways
In 8 of the 22 completed calendar years both funds were trading, the two returns ended more than 5 points apart. The widest split was 2009: VGT returned +61.89% and VUG +36.14%, a gap of 25.8 points. They rose together in 18 years, fell together in 2 years and went opposite ways in 2 years.
| Year | VGT | VUG | Gap (VGT − VUG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +52.66% | +46.83% | +5.8 pts |
| 2020 | +46.04% | +40.25% | +5.8 pts |
| 2019 | +48.62% | +37.03% | +11.6 pts |
| 2018 | +2.46% | -3.32% | +5.8 pts |
| 2017 | +37.08% | +27.72% | +9.4 pts |
| 2016 | +13.77% | +6.27% | +7.5 pts |
| 2009 | +61.89% | +36.14% | +25.8 pts |
| 2004 | -2.86% | +4.99% | -7.9 pts |
How often VGT beat VUG over any 12 months
Across the 261 rolling 12-month windows since January 2004, measured month-end to month-end, VGT finished ahead in 66.3% of them (173) and VUG in 33.7% (88).
$200 a month into each, 2005–2025
Putting $200 into each fund at the start of every month from January 2005 to December 2025 (252 payments, $50,400 in total) would have grown to $470,456 in VGT and $308,579 in VUG, leaving VGT $161,876 ahead.
| Outcome | VGT | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| Paid in | $50,400 | $50,400 |
| Value at the end of 2025 | $470,456 | $308,579 |
| Gain on the money paid in | +$420,056 | +$258,179 |
| Gain in % | +833.44% | +512.26% |
Each payment rides the return of the month it lands in, dividends reinvested. Only calendar years with all twelve months of data for both funds count, so the plan may start later than the shared history.
Frequently asked
Is VGT or VUG better?
Across the 23 calendar years both funds were trading, VGT finished the year ahead 14 times and VUG 9 times. $10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $76,464 in VGT versus $49,942 in VUG by the end of 2025, dividends reinvested. Past returns don't promise future ones — but this is what actually happened.
What is the difference between VGT and VUG?
VGT tracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index while VUG follows the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, so they own different slices of the market and their years can look very different. VGT charges 0.09% a year in running costs and VUG charges 0.03% — VUG is the cheaper fund to hold. Both funds distribute: dividends land in your account as cash instead of being reinvested automatically.
Which is more volatile, VGT or VUG?
VGT swung more than VUG: annualised volatility of 22.7% for VGT against 20.0% for VUG, with VGT moving 1% or more on 36.4% of trading days and VUG on 29.3%. Both had their worst day on 16 Mar 2020: VGT closed -13.49% and VUG -12.62%.
Which had the deeper drawdown, VGT or VUG?
VGT had the deeper drawdown: it fell -54.63% from its peak on 31 Oct 2007 to a low on 20 Nov 2008, then closed back above the old peak on 6 Jan 2011, 25 months after the low; VUG fell -50.68% from its peak on 31 Oct 2007 to a low on 9 Mar 2009, then closed back above the old peak on 8 Feb 2011, 22 months after the low.
How often did VGT beat VUG over a 12-month period?
Across the 261 rolling 12-month windows since January 2004, measured month-end to month-end, VGT finished ahead in 66.3% of them (173) and VUG in 33.7% (88).
What would $10,000 in VGT have become?
$10,000 invested in VGT at the start of 2016 grew to $76,464 by the end of 2025, with dividends reinvested — an average of 22.6% per year.
Source: Yahoo Finance daily adjusted closes for the US primary listings, dividends reinvested. Prices through · refreshed 7 Oct 2026, 08:49 UTC. How every number is calculated.