VONG and VOOG are among the Vanguard powerhouse’s fastest-growing ETFs.
Both VONG and VOOG charge the same low expense ratio and offer identical dividend yields.
Both funds are heavily invested in technology stocks, with notable holdings including Nvidia and Apple.
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For investors seeking exposure to the broader US stock markets, the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NASDAQ:VONG) and the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT:VOOG) stand out as two low-cost index-tracking ETFs from Vanguard. Both ETFs track U.S. large-cap growth stocks, but differ in the construction of their indexes, sector tilts, and historical returns.
VONG and VOOG target the high-growth segment of the US stock market, but VONG tracks the Russell 1000 growth index, while VOOG tracks the S&P 500 Growth rate. The following pairing explores which ETFs you may find attractive based on your cost, performance, and portfolio composition preferences.
Metric
VONG
VOG
Editor
Vanguard
Vanguard
Expense ratio
0.07%
0.07%
1-year total return (as of December 31, 2025)
18.5%
22.1%
Dividend yield
0.43%
0.54%
Beta
1.16
1.08
AUM
$44.6 billion
$21.6 billion
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; Beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-year return represents the total return over the past 12 months.
Both funds are equally affordable, with an expense ratio of 0.07%, and each distributes a modest 0.5% dividend yield, making cost and yield a difference between the two options.
Metric
VONG
VOG
Maximum reduction (5 years)
(32.7%)
(32.7%)
$1,000 growth in 5 years
$1,987
$1,961
HeThe Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, which comprises large-cap growth stocks with 217 holdings. It has a strong technological inclination (41.4%), followed by communication services (16.75%) and discretionary consumption (11.86%). Their first positions are NVIDIA(NASDAQ: NVDA) at 13.51%, Apple(NASDAQ:AAPL) at 5.96%, and microsoft(NASDAQ:MSFT) at 5.95%. VOOG has a long history with more than 15 years on the market and does not include any structural peculiarities.
The Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF mirrors the Russell 1000 Growth Index, which focuses on large-cap growth stocks in the U.S. but has a broader basket of 391 stocks. Its sector allocation is also important for technology (61.8%), followed by consumer discretionary (16.8%) and industrial (8.1%). Unlike VOOG, communications represent only a small fraction of the shares. VONG’s most important positions are similar to VOOG and include NVIDIA(NASDAQ: NVDA) at 12.22%, Apple(NASDAQ:AAPL) at 12.04%, and microsoft(NASDAQ:MSFT) at 10.79%.
For more guidance on investing in ETFs, check out the full guide at this link.
HeThe Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF and the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF are low-cost Vanguard powerhouses that give investors exposure to U.S. growth stocks with large market caps. Growth stocks are typically companies that grow earnings at a faster rate than the industry or market average and therefore tend to generate attractive returns over the long term. Focusing on large-cap growth stocks also provides a safety net, as large-cap stocks are typically blue-chip companies with strong influence in their respective industries, reliable business models, and growth catalysts.
However, VOOG only invests in S&P 500 companies, while VONG turns to the Russell 1000, which provides exposure to a larger group of companies that are not necessarily part of the S&P 500 index.
VONG Total Return Level Chart
VONG Total Return Level Data by YCharts
Growth investors can choose either ETF, as there is a lot of overlap in their largest holdings and both are heavily technology-leaning funds. Cost is not a criterion here because both funds charge expense ratios, and the choice largely comes down to the degree of exposure to growth stocks you seek and sector preferences, if any.
Both ETFs invest in the best large-cap growth stocks, but VONG gives you the maximum exposure to growth, albeit with significantly more exposure to the technology sector. This may also make the ETF slightly more volatile, as reflected by its higher beta compared to VOOG. Splitting your investment between the two ETFs is a great idea to get the most out of growth stocks.
ETFs: exchange-traded fund; a pooled investment fund listed on stock exchanges, similar to a stock. Expense ratio: The annual fee, as a percentage of assets, that a fund charges its shareholders. Dividend yield: The annual dividends paid by a fund, expressed as a percentage of its current price. Total profitability: The price of the investment changes plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payments are reinvested. Index tracking: A strategy in which a fund seeks to replicate the performance of a specific market index. Russell 1000 Growth Index: A stock index that measures the performance of US large-cap growth stocks. S&P 500 Growth Index: An index that represents growth-oriented stocks among S&P 500 companies. Beta: A measure of a fund’s volatility compared to the broader market, usually the S&P 500. AUM: Assets under management; the total market value of the assets managed by a fund. Maximum reduction: The largest percentage drop observed from a fund’s peak value to its lowest point over a period. Sector allocation: The distribution of a fund’s investments across different industrial sectors. Consumption cyclicals: Companies whose business performance is closely linked to the economic cycle, such as retailers and automobile manufacturers.
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Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions and recommends Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
VONG vs VOOG: The Best Vanguard Growth Stock ETF to Buy and Hold was originally published by The Motley Fool
