Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) Performance
VOT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +3.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −1.5% total return
- 5 years
- +3.1% a year
- 10 years
- +11.5% a year
- Since first price
- +9.7% a year since 2006
VOT trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VOT total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.0% | −3.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −2.4% | −2.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +1.9% | +1.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +3.3% | +2.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −1.5% | −2.1% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +56.6%+16.1%/yr | +53.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +16.7%+3.1%/yr | +12.7% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +197.3%+11.5%/yr | +176.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +430.3%+11.8%/yr | +374.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +509.6%+9.5%/yr | +432.7% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 24, 2006 | +547.1%+9.7%/yr | +465.5% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VOT vs SPY
From Aug 24, 2006: VOT grew to $64,709, SPY to $84,864.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VOT returns by calendar year
14 of 19 full years positive. Best 2009 (+43.9%), worst 2008 (−47.3%). 2026 is year to date.
VOT annual returns table
| Year | VOT | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +3.3% | −13.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +10.7% | −21.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +16.4% | −9.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +23.1% | −15.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −28.9% | −33.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +20.5% | −11.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +34.5% | −36.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +33.8% | −6.8% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.6% | −21.8% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +21.8% | −3.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +6.9% | −13.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.1% | −12.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +13.5% | −10.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +32.4% | −6.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.0% | −12.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −3.9% | −26.0% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +29.1% | −16.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +43.9% | −22.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −47.3% | −59.3% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +17.2% | −12.2% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VOT largest drawdowns
Now 8.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2007 | −60.2% | Nov 20, 2008 | Feb 8, 2011 | 1.1 years | 3.3 years |
| Nov 16, 2021 | −37.2% | Oct 14, 2022 | Nov 8, 2024 | 11 months | 3.0 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −36.2% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jul 8, 2020 | 33 days | 5 months |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −26.0% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 14, 2012 | 3 months | 1.2 years |
| Aug 29, 2018 | −21.8% | Dec 24, 2018 | Mar 21, 2019 | 4 months | 7 months |
| Apr 23, 2015 | −21.8% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jan 6, 2017 | 10 months | 1.7 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VOT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +15.3% | +5.1% | +11.4% | +9.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 19.8% | 18.6% | 18.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.66 | 0.17 | 0.55 | 0.52 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.18 | 0.25 | 0.86 | 0.78 |
| Best month | +11.6% | +11.8% | +15.8% | +15.8% |
| Worst month | −7.4% | −12.9% | −15.1% | −21.7% |
| Best 12 months | +34.2% | +34.2% | +70.4% | +70.4% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.1% | −28.9% | −28.9% | −48.1% |
| Positive months | 61% | 55% | 62% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.23 | 1.16 | 1.12 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.89 | 0.92 | 0.92 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VOT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 231 | −48.1% | +14.2% | +70.4% | 80% |
| 3-year (a year) | 207 | −9.0% | +12.0% | +31.6% | 90% |
| 5-year (a year) | 183 | +0.3% | +11.0% | +26.3% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 123 | +7.0% | +11.4% | +17.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2006. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VOT performance overview
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) returned −1.5% over the past year and +11.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2006 it has returned +9.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $64,709. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −60.2%, from Oct 10, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 2.2 years to get back to the old high. VOT finished 14 of its 19 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+43.9%) and the worst 2008 (−47.3%). Volatility has been 18.5% a year.
Related: VOT chart, VOT holdings, VOT dividends, VOT valuation. See the VOT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VOT performance FAQ
What is the VOT return over the past year?
VOT returned −1.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 2.1%.
What is the average annual return of VOT?
VOT has returned +3.1% a year over 5 years, +11.5% a year over 10 years, +9.7% a year since August 24, 2006 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VOT be worth?
$10,000 invested in VOT at its first recorded close on August 24, 2006 would be worth about $64,709 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VOT?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −47.3%. The best was 2009 at +43.9%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VOT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −60.2% between October 10, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on February 8, 2011, 2.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VOT?
Over the past 3 years VOT had an annualized volatility of 17.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.66 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).