SOXX vs VUG: Correlation & Overlap
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) show a strong relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.78. The two funds also share 20.2% of their portfolios by weight.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are SOXX and VUG?
Over the past 3 years, SOXX and VUG moved with a correlation of 0.78, which is strong. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.65) runs below the 3-year figure (0.78). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.81, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 534.3 %².
Among the 127 assets we track against SOXX, VUG ranks #21 by 3-year correlation. Their recent paths diverged sharply: over the last 12 months SOXX outperformed by 93.8 percentage points (+110.0% for SOXX against +16.2% for VUG). The rolling one-year correlation moved between 0.63 and 0.90 over the past three years, a moderate range. One caveat on sizing: SOXX is 1.8 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
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.
SOXX vs VUG: side by side
| SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) | VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +110.0% | +16.2% |
| 5-year return | +247.5% | +78.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 35.2% | 19.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.93 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -41.4% | -22.8% |
| Dividend yield | 0.29% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio | 0.33% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $44.7B | $372.0B |
| Sector / category | ETF · Thematic | ETF · US Style |
SOXX, iShares's Technology fund, carries $44.7B under management, 30 holdings, a 0.33% expense ratio, a 0.29% 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 SOXX and VUG
The two portfolios partially overlap: 20.2% of the funds' weight sits in the same underlying holdings (12 common positions). Correlation tells you they move together; overlap tells you why.
| Common holding | Weight in SOXX | Weight in VUG |
|---|---|---|
| NVDA | 8.87% | 12.84% |
| AVGO | 7.11% | 4.47% |
| AMD | 8.33% | 2.17% |
| AMAT | 4.76% | 1.14% |
| LRCX | 4.39% | 1.03% |
| KLAC | 4.27% | 0.68% |
| INTC | 4.97% | 0.52% |
| MRVL | 5.34% | 0.48% |
| TXN | 3.83% | 0.36% |
| MPWR | 3.43% | 0.20% |
| TER | 3.14% | 0.18% |
| ALAB | 2.26% | 0.08% |
Largest positions held only by SOXX: MU (8.64%), TSM (4.64%), ADI (4.01%), NXPI (3.10%), QCOM (2.91%). Only by VUG: AAPL (12.63%), MSFT (9.61%), GOOGL (5.81%), AMZN (5.16%), GOOG (4.64%).
Overlap = sum of the smaller of the two weights across common holdings, from issuer disclosures as of 2026-08-26. Top 12 common positions shown.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | SOXX | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -35.1% | -33.2% |
| 2023 | +67.1% | +46.8% |
| 2024 | +12.9% | +32.7% |
| 2025 | +40.7% | +19.4% |
| 2026 | +74.7% | +9.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are SOXX and VUG good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.78 means SOXX 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 SOXX and VUG?
The SOXX/VUG correlation stands at 0.78 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.65, 5 years: 0.81), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is VUG a good diversifier for SOXX?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.78 means SOXX and VUG share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
How much do SOXX and VUG overlap?
The two funds share 12 holdings amounting to 20.2% of weight, per issuer portfolio files dated 2026-08-26.
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Hubs: SOXX correlations · VUG correlations
