Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) Performance
VUG total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +7.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +7.8% total return
- 5 years
- +11.8% a year
- 10 years
- +17.6% a year
- Since first price
- +12.1% a year since 2004
VUG trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VUG total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.8% | −3.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +3.7% | +3.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +6.0% | +5.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +7.0% | +6.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +7.8% | +7.3% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +95.2%+25.0%/yr | +92.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +74.6%+11.8%/yr | +69.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +407.5%+17.6%/yr | +368.8% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +879.4%+16.4%/yr | +746.2% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +1,054.3%+13.0%/yr | +821.2% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +1,253.7%+12.1%/yr | +950.4% | — | — | — |
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: VUG vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VUG grew to $135,368, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VUG returns by calendar year
18 of 21 full years positive. Best 2023 (+46.8%), worst 2008 (−38.0%). 2026 is year to date.
VUG annual returns table
| Year | VUG | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +7.0% | −14.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +19.4% | −22.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +32.7% | −13.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +46.8% | −10.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −33.2% | −35.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +27.3% | −9.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +40.2% | −31.8% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +37.0% | −8.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −3.3% | −22.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +27.7% | −2.6% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +6.3% | −10.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +3.2% | −12.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +13.6% | −7.6% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +32.5% | −6.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +17.0% | −10.0% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +1.8% | −18.5% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +17.2% | −16.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +39.0% | −21.2% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −38.0% | −47.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +12.5% | −8.6% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +9.2% | −9.4% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +5.0% | −7.1% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
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.
VUG largest drawdowns
Now 6.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2007 | −50.7% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jan 14, 2011 | 1.4 years | 3.2 years |
| Nov 19, 2021 | −35.6% | Nov 3, 2022 | Jan 23, 2024 | 11 months | 2.2 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −31.8% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jun 8, 2020 | 33 days | 4 months |
| Feb 19, 2025 | −22.8% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 24, 2025 | 48 days | 4 months |
| Oct 1, 2018 | −22.3% | Dec 24, 2018 | Apr 10, 2019 | 3 months | 6 months |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −18.5% | Oct 3, 2011 | Feb 2, 2012 | 3 months | 7 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VUG risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +26.3% | +13.9% | +17.9% | +12.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 20.4% | 18.4% | 16.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.22 | 0.57 | 0.87 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 2.55 | 0.90 | 1.43 | — |
| Best month | +14.2% | +14.2% | +15.1% | +15.1% |
| Worst month | −8.5% | −12.9% | −12.9% | −17.8% |
| Best 12 months | +44.0% | +47.6% | +65.2% | +65.2% |
| Worst 12 months | +8.3% | −33.2% | −33.2% | −40.0% |
| Positive months | 64% | 60% | 68% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.27 | 1.22 | 1.13 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.93 | 0.94 | 0.94 | — |
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.
VUG rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −40.0% | +15.6% | +65.2% | 87% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −13.0% | +12.9% | +34.8% | 89% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | −6.1% | +13.5% | +24.8% | 97% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | +7.7% | +14.5% | +19.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VUG performance overview
Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) returned +7.8% over the past year and +17.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +12.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $135,368. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −50.7%, from Oct 31, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. VUG finished 18 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2023 (+46.8%) and the worst 2008 (−38.0%). Volatility has been 16.5% a year.
Related: VUG chart, VUG holdings, VUG dividends, VUG valuation. See the VUG overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VUG performance FAQ
What is the VUG return over the past year?
VUG returned +7.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 7.3%.
What is the average annual return of VUG?
VUG has returned +11.8% a year over 5 years, +17.6% a year over 10 years, +12.1% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VUG be worth?
$10,000 invested in VUG at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $135,368 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VUG?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −38.0%. The best was 2023 at +46.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VUG?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −50.7% between October 31, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on January 14, 2011, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VUG?
Over the past 3 years VUG had an annualized volatility of 16.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.22 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).