AAPL vs VUG: Correlation
How closely do Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) trade together? Their weekly returns over three years give a correlation of 0.58, which is moderate.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are AAPL and VUG?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of AAPL and VUG correlate at 0.58, moderate. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.38 versus 0.58 over 3 years. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.70, with an annualized covariance of 303.4 %².
In AAPL's tracked universe of 32 assets, VUG sits right near the top at #1. The last year tells two different stories: AAPL led by 20.8 percentage points, +37.0% for AAPL against +16.2% for VUG. Across three years, the rolling one-year figure varied moderately, from 0.39 to 0.84.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
AAPL vs VUG: side by side
| AAPL (Apple Inc.) | VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +37.0% | +16.2% |
| 5-year return | +110.6% | +78.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 27.2% | 19.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.06 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -33.4% | -22.8% |
| Market cap | $4,591.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 36.1 | – |
| Dividend yield | 0.33% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | – | $372.0B |
| Sector / category | Information Technology | ETF · US Style |
VUG, Vanguard's Large Growth fund, carries $372.0B under management, 146 holdings, a 0.03% expense ratio, a 0.40% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | AAPL | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -26.4% | -33.2% |
| 2023 | +49.0% | +46.8% |
| 2024 | +30.7% | +32.7% |
| 2025 | +9.1% | +19.4% |
| 2026 | +16.0% | +9.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Fund exposure
AAPL represents 12.63% of VUG's portfolio, so part of any move in VUG is AAPL itself, and the correlation between them is partly mechanical.
Are AAPL and VUG good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.58 means AAPL and VUG share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between AAPL and VUG?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between AAPL and VUG is 0.58 over 3 years, 0.38 over 1 year and 0.70 over 5 years.
Is VUG a good diversifier for AAPL?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.58 means AAPL and VUG share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.58 mean?
Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/aapl-vs-vug.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/aapl-vs-vug/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: AAPL correlations · VUG correlations
