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VGT vs. MTUM: What’s The Difference?

The Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) and the iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VGT is a Vanguard Technology fund and MTUM is a iShares Large Growth fund. So, what’s the difference between VGT and MTUM? And which fund is better?

The expense ratio of VGT is 0.05 percentage points lower than MTUM’s (0.1% vs. 0.15%). VGT also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, VGT has provided higher returns than MTUM over the past ten years.

In this article, we’ll compare VGT vs. MTUM. We’ll look at fund composition and performance, as well as at their annual returns and risk metrics. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VGT’s and MTUM’s holdings, industry exposure, and portfolio growth and examine how these affect their overall returns.

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Summary

VGTMTUM
NameVanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF SharesiShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF
CategoryTechnologyLarge Growth
IssuerVanguardiShares
AUM54.13B14.53B
Avg. Return20.84%17.37%
Div. Yield0.66%0.44%
Expense Ratio0.1%0.15%

The Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) is a Technology fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 54.13B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 20.84% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.66% with an expense ratio of 0.1%.

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is a Large Growth fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 14.53B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 17.37% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.44% with an expense ratio of 0.15%.

VGT’s dividend yield is 0.22% higher than that of MTUM (0.66% vs. 0.44%). Also, VGT yielded on average 3.47% more per year over the past decade (20.84% vs. 17.37%). The expense ratio of VGT is 0.05 percentage points lower than MTUM’s (0.1% vs. 0.15%).

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Fund Composition

Industry Exposure

VGT vs. MTUM - Industry Exposure

VGTMTUM
Technology88.89%15.24%
Industrials1.67%12.47%
Energy0.0%1.77%
Communication Services0.61%13.18%
Utilities0.0%0.19%
Healthcare0.0%6.41%
Consumer Defensive0.0%2.88%
Real Estate0.0%0.43%
Financial Services8.83%34.32%
Consumer Cyclical0.0%9.96%
Basic Materials0.0%3.15%

The Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 88.89%. This is followed by Financial Services and Industrials at 8.83% and 1.67% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Real Estate (0.0%), and Consumer Defensive (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.

VGT’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Healthcare, Utilities, Energy, Communication Services, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.61%, and 1.67%.

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 34.32%. This is followed by Technology and Communication Services at 15.24% and 13.18% respectively. Real Estate (0.43%), Energy (1.77%), and Consumer Defensive (2.88%) only make up 5.08% of the fund’s total assets.

MTUM’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Basic Materials, Healthcare, Consumer Cyclical, Industrials, and Communication Services stocks at 3.15%, 6.41%, 9.96%, 12.47%, and 13.18%.

VGT is 73.65% more exposed to the Technology sector than MTUM (88.89% vs 15.24%). VGT’s exposure to Financial Services and Industrials stocks is 25.49% lower and 10.80% lower respectively (8.83% vs. 34.32% and 1.67% vs. 12.47%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Real Estate, and Consumer Defensive also make up 13.27% less of the fund’s holdings compared to MTUM (0.00% vs. 13.27%).

Holdings

VGT - Holdings

VGT HoldingsWeight
Apple Inc19.58%
Microsoft Corp16.53%
NVIDIA Corp4.22%
Visa Inc Class A3.16%
PayPal Holdings Inc2.76%
Mastercard Inc Class A2.76%
Adobe Inc2.39%
Intel Corp1.94%
Salesforce.com Inc1.91%
Cisco Systems Inc1.9%

VGT’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, NVIDIA Corp, Visa Inc Class A, and PayPal Holdings Inc at 19.58%, 16.53%, 4.22%, 3.16%, and 2.76%.

Mastercard Inc Class A (2.76%), Adobe Inc (2.39%), and Intel Corp (1.94%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Salesforce.com Inc and Cisco Systems Inc are also represented in the VGT’s holdings at 1.91% and 1.9%.

MTUM - Holdings

MTUM HoldingsWeight
Tesla Inc5.63%
The Walt Disney Co4.39%
JPMorgan Chase & Co4.35%
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B4.34%
Bank of America Corp3.81%
PayPal Holdings Inc3.76%
Wells Fargo & Co3.05%
Applied Materials Inc3.05%
Moderna Inc2.89%
Alphabet Inc Class C2.84%

MTUM’s Top Holdings are Tesla Inc, The Walt Disney Co, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B, and Bank of America Corp at 5.63%, 4.39%, 4.35%, 4.34%, and 3.81%.

PayPal Holdings Inc (3.76%), Wells Fargo & Co (3.05%), and Applied Materials Inc (3.05%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Moderna Inc and Alphabet Inc Class C are also represented in the MTUM’s holdings at 2.89% and 2.84%.

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Risk Analysis

VGTMTUM
Mean Return1.760
R-squared74.840
Std. Deviation16.610
Alpha10.410
Beta1.020
Sharpe Ratio1.230
Treynor Ratio20.550

The Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) has a Alpha of 10.41 with a R-squared of 74.84 and a Standard Deviation of 16.61. Its Beta is 1.02 while VGT’s Treynor Ratio is 20.55. Furthermore, the fund has a Sharpe Ratio of 1.23 and a Mean Return of 1.76.

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) has a Alpha of 0 with a Standard Deviation of 0 and a R-squared of 0. Its Treynor Ratio is 0 while MTUM’s Sharpe Ratio is 0. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 0 and a Mean Return of 0.

VGT’s Mean Return is 1.76 points higher than that of MTUM and its R-squared is 74.84 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 16.61, VGT is slightly more volatile than MTUM. The Alpha and Beta of VGT are 10.41 points higher and 1.02 points higher than MTUM’s Alpha and Beta.

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Performance

Annual Returns

VGT vs. MTUM - Annual Returns

YearVGTMTUM
202045.94%29.69%
201948.68%27.57%
20182.52%-1.77%
201737.07%37.6%
201613.73%4.89%
20155.02%9.12%
201418.01%14.48%
201330.91%0.0%
201214.05%0.0%
20110.52%0.0%
201012.74%0.0%

VGT had its best year in 2019 with an annual return of 48.68%. VGT’s worst year over the past decade yielded 0.52% and occurred in 2011. In most years the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2016, 2012, and 2014 where annual returns amounted to 13.73%, 14.05%, and 18.01% respectively.

The year 2017 was the strongest year for MTUM, returning 37.6% on an annual basis. The poorest year for MTUM in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -1.77%. Most years the iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2010, 2016, and 2015, when gains were 0.0%, 4.89%, and 9.12% respectively.

Portfolio Growth

VGT vs. MTUM - Portfolio Growth

FundInitial BalanceFinal BalanceCAGR
VGT$10,000$42,97720.84%
MTUM$10,000$29,30117.37%

A $10,000 investment in VGT would have resulted in a final balance of $42,977. This is a profit of $32,977 over 7 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.84%.

With a $10,000 investment in MTUM, the end total would have been $29,301. This equates to a $19,301 profit over 7 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.37%.

VGT’s CAGR is 3.47 percentage points higher than that of MTUM and as a result, would have yielded $13,676 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VGT outperformed MTUM by 3.47% annually.


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