RSP vs VUG: Correlation & Overlap
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) carry a correlation of 0.68, a strong link. Looking through to holdings, 18.6% of the two portfolios is the same by weight.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are RSP and VUG?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of RSP and VUG correlate at 0.68, strong. Lately the two have drifted apart, with the 1-year correlation at 0.52 versus 0.68 over 3 years. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.78, with an annualized covariance of 173.6 %².
Within RSP's tracked universe of 250 assets, VUG comes in at #71 by 3-year correlation. Neither side won the trailing year by much: +19.2% against +16.2%. The rolling one-year correlation moved between 0.47 and 0.85 over the past three years, a moderate range.
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.
RSP vs VUG: side by side
| RSP (Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF) | VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +19.2% | +16.2% |
| 5-year return | +53.9% | +78.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 13.2% | 19.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.77 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -17.8% | -22.8% |
| Dividend yield | 1.49% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio | 0.20% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $97.3B | $372.0B |
| Sector / category | ETF · US Large Cap | ETF · US Style |
On the fund side, RSP sits in the Large Blend category at Invesco, with $97.3B under management, 505 holdings, a 0.20% expense ratio, a 1.49% trailing dividend yield. VUG, Vanguard's Large Growth fund, carries $372.0B under management, 146 holdings, a 0.03% expense ratio, a 0.40% trailing dividend yield.
Portfolio overlap between RSP and VUG
The two portfolios partially overlap, with 122 holdings in common adding up to 18.6% of fund weight. Where correlation shows the co-movement, the overlap shows its source.
| Common holding | Weight in RSP | Weight in VUG |
|---|---|---|
| PLTR | 0.25% | 0.76% |
| ANET | 0.25% | 0.56% |
| BKNG | 0.24% | 0.44% |
| PANW | 0.24% | 0.77% |
| VRTX | 0.23% | 0.35% |
| MSFT | 0.23% | 9.61% |
| MA | 0.23% | 1.28% |
| DASH | 0.29% | 0.22% |
| V | 0.22% | 1.66% |
| NOW | 0.22% | 0.34% |
| MSI | 0.22% | 0.22% |
| CRWD | 0.22% | 0.53% |
| CTAS | 0.21% | 0.21% |
| UBER | 0.21% | 0.22% |
| MCO | 0.21% | 0.22% |
Largest positions held only by RSP: MRNA (0.61%), ZBRA (0.31%), CRL (0.29%), PYPL (0.28%), GPN (0.28%). Only by VUG: SNOW (0.29%), NET (0.27%), SPCX (0.19%), BE (0.17%), WCN (0.14%).
Overlap = sum of the smaller of the two weights across common holdings, from issuer disclosures as of 2026-08-26. Top 15 common positions shown.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | RSP | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -11.6% | -33.2% |
| 2023 | +13.7% | +46.8% |
| 2024 | +12.8% | +32.7% |
| 2025 | +11.2% | +19.4% |
| 2026 | +16.5% | +9.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are RSP and VUG good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.68 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
FAQ
What is the correlation between RSP and VUG?
The RSP/VUG correlation stands at 0.68 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.52, 5 years: 0.78), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is VUG a good diversifier for RSP?
To a limited degree. At 0.68 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
How much do RSP and VUG overlap?
The two funds share 122 holdings amounting to 18.6% of weight, per issuer portfolio files dated 2026-08-26.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/rsp-vs-vug.json
Markdown for the live badge, attribution link included:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/rsp-vs-vug/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: RSP correlations · VUG correlations
