VUG vs VTV: The Two Halves of the US Market
Vanguard splits large-cap stocks into growth (VUG) and value (VTV). Same 0.04% fee. Own one, own both, or own the blend they add up to.
VUG and VTV are Vanguard's clean split of the US large-cap market. VUG takes the growth side, roughly 180 names that lean about half technology. VTV takes the value side, around 340 names heavy in financials, healthcare, and industrials with a 2.4% dividend yield. Both charge 0.04%, so this is purely a bet on style, not cost. Growth crushed value for the decade after 2008 because megacap tech led, and VUG has the five-year numbers to show it. But value tends to win when interest rates rise and when the market rotates away from expensive growth names, and those stretches have rewarded VTV. Here is the part the performance charts hide: if you hold VUG and VTV in equal measure, you have roughly rebuilt the total US large-cap market, which you could have bought in one fund as VOO or VTI for 0.03% or less, with less rebalancing and no style call to get wrong. The reason to pick a side is conviction. If you believe growth keeps leading, VUG. If you believe value is due to mean-revert and you want the higher dividend while you wait, VTV. If you have no strong view, the blend is the honest answer, and the blend already has a ticker.
📋 VUG vs VTV — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VUG | VTV |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Tracks Index | CRSP US Large Cap Growth | CRSP US Large Cap Value |
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| AUM | $365.0B | $237.8B |
| Holdings | 180 | 340 |
| Inception | 2004 | 2004 |
| 1-Year Return | +30.45% | +27.44% |
| 3-Year Return | +27.72% | +18.70% |
| 5-Year Return | +14.91% | +11.20% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.40% | 1.92% |
| Holdings Overlap | Almost none by design. VUG holds the growth half of US large caps; VTV holds the value half. Together they roughly equal the whole market. — see full overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated May 25, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 VUG vs VTV — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy VUG or VTV?
- You want tech-heavy large-cap growth exposure via CRSP US Large Cap Growth
- You already use Vanguard and prefer staying within their fund family
- You want broader diversification (340 holdings vs 180)
- You already use Vanguard and prefer staying within their fund family
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Side-by-side holdings overlap, sector breakdown, and live performance tabs, all in one place.
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❓ VUG vs VTV — Frequently Asked Questions
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