VTI vs VUG: Correlation & Overlap
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) carry a correlation of 0.94, a very strong link. Looking through to holdings, 51.9% 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 VTI and VUG?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of VTI and VUG correlate at 0.94, very strong, meaning they move nearly in lockstep. Recent behaviour matches the longer record: 0.93 over 1 year against 0.94 over 3. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.95, with an annualized covariance of 266.3 %².
Within VTI's tracked universe of 157 assets, VUG comes in at #11 by 3-year correlation. Neither side won the trailing year by much: +20.7% against +16.2%. The rolling one-year correlation stayed in a tight band between 0.90 and 0.97 over the past three years, which points to a structural rather than episodic relationship.
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.
VTI vs VUG: side by side
| VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) | VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +20.7% | +16.2% |
| 5-year return | +74.8% | +78.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 14.6% | 19.4% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.01 | 1.28 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -19.3% | -22.8% |
| Dividend yield | 1.06% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $2,290.0B | $372.0B |
| Sector / category | ETF · US Large Cap | ETF · US Style |
On the fund side, VTI sits in the Large Blend category at Vanguard, with $2,290.0B under management, 3140 holdings, a 0.03% expense ratio, a 1.06% 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 VTI and VUG
The two portfolios overlap heavily, with 146 holdings in common adding up to 51.9% of fund weight. Where correlation shows the co-movement, the overlap shows its source.
| Common holding | Weight in VTI | Weight in VUG |
|---|---|---|
| NVDA | 6.42% | 12.84% |
| AAPL | 6.31% | 12.63% |
| MSFT | 4.80% | 9.61% |
| AMZN | 3.66% | 5.16% |
| GOOGL | 2.91% | 5.81% |
| AVGO | 2.56% | 4.47% |
| GOOG | 2.32% | 4.64% |
| META | 1.70% | 3.41% |
| LLY | 1.36% | 2.72% |
| TSLA | 1.22% | 2.45% |
| AMD | 1.08% | 2.17% |
| V | 0.83% | 1.66% |
| MA | 0.63% | 1.28% |
| COST | 0.59% | 1.19% |
| AMAT | 0.56% | 1.14% |
Largest positions held only by VTI: JPM (1.31%), MU (1.29%), BRK.B (1.28%), XOM (0.90%), JNJ (0.86%). Only by VUG: .
Overlap = sum of the smaller of the two weights across common holdings, from issuer disclosures as of 2026-07-31. Top 15 common positions shown.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | VTI | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -19.5% | -33.2% |
| 2023 | +26.0% | +46.8% |
| 2024 | +23.8% | +32.7% |
| 2025 | +17.1% | +19.4% |
| 2026 | +14.2% | +9.6% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are VTI and VUG good diversifiers for each other?
Not really. At 0.94, the two trade almost as one position, and owning both buys little extra protection. On top of that, 51.9% of their holdings are the same, making the doubling-up even more literal.
FAQ
What is the correlation between VTI and VUG?
The VTI/VUG correlation stands at 0.94 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.93, 5 years: 0.95), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is VUG a good diversifier for VTI?
Not really. At 0.94, the two trade almost as one position, and owning both buys little extra protection. On top of that, 51.9% of their holdings are the same, making the doubling-up even more literal.
How much do VTI and VUG overlap?
Per the issuers' own portfolio disclosures (2026-07-31), the overlap is 51.9% by weight over 146 common positions.
Use this data
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Related comparisons
Hubs: VTI correlations · VUG correlations
