The Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) and the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VUG is a Vanguard Large Growth fund and GLD is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors N/A fund. So, what’s the difference between VUG and GLD? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of VUG is 0.36 percentage points lower than GLD’s (0.04% vs. 0.4%). VUG also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, VUG has provided higher returns than GLD over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare VUG vs. GLD. We’ll look at industry exposure and portfolio growth, as well as at their risk metrics and fund composition. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VUG’s and GLD’s holdings, performance, and annual returns and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| VUG | GLD | |
| Name | Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares | SPDR Gold Shares |
| Category | Large Growth | N/A |
| Issuer | Vanguard | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| AUM | 165.53B | 59.26B |
| Avg. Return | 17.58% | 5.81% |
| Div. Yield | 0.57% | 0.0% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% | 0.4% |
The Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) is a Large Growth fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 165.53B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 17.58% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.57% with an expense ratio of 0.04%.
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is a N/A fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 59.26B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 5.81% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.0% with an expense ratio of 0.4%.
VUG’s dividend yield is 0.57% higher than that of GLD (0.57% vs. 0.0%). Also, VUG yielded on average 11.77% more per year over the past decade (17.58% vs. 5.81%). The expense ratio of VUG is 0.36 percentage points lower than GLD’s (0.04% vs. 0.4%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| VUG | GLD | |
| Technology | 39.05% | 0.0% |
| Industrials | 5.13% | 0.0% |
| Energy | 0.32% | 0.0% |
| Communication Services | 16.49% | 0.0% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Healthcare | 8.09% | 0.0% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.41% | 0.0% |
| Real Estate | 2.46% | 0.0% |
| Financial Services | 6.75% | 0.0% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 17.78% | 0.0% |
| Basic Materials | 1.52% | 0.0% |
The Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 39.05%. This is followed by Consumer Cyclical and Communication Services at 17.78% and 16.49% respectively. Energy (0.32%), Basic Materials (1.52%), and Consumer Defensive (2.41%) only make up 4.25% of the fund’s total assets.
VUG’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Real Estate, Industrials, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Communication Services stocks at 2.46%, 5.13%, 6.75%, 8.09%, and 16.49%.
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 0.0%. This is followed by Industrials and Energy at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Real Estate (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
GLD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, and Energy stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
VUG is 39.05% more exposed to the Technology sector than GLD (39.05% vs 0.0%). VUG’s exposure to Consumer Cyclical and Communication Services stocks is 17.78% higher and 16.49% higher respectively (17.78% vs. 0.0% and 16.49% vs. 0.0%). In total, Energy, Basic Materials, and Consumer Defensive also make up 4.25% more of the fund’s holdings compared to GLD (4.25% vs. 0.00%).
Holdings
| VUG Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 10.13% |
| Microsoft Corp | 9.52% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 6.88% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 3.89% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 3.43% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.22% |
| Tesla Inc | 2.44% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 2.21% |
| Visa Inc Class A | 1.78% |
| PayPal Holdings Inc | 1.6% |
VUG’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 10.13%, 9.52%, 6.88%, 3.89%, and 3.43%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (3.22%), Tesla Inc (2.44%), and NVIDIA Corp (2.21%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Visa Inc Class A and PayPal Holdings Inc are also represented in the VUG’s holdings at 1.78% and 1.6%.
| GLD Holdings | Weight |
| Gold Trust | 100.0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
GLD’s Top Holdings are Gold Trust, N/A, N/A, N/A, and N/A at 100.0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, and 0%.
N/A (0%), N/A (0%), and N/A (0%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. N/A and N/A are also represented in the GLD’s holdings at 0% and 0%.
Risk Analysis
| VUG | GLD | |
| Mean Return | 1.44 | 0.21 |
| R-squared | 92.48 | 16.21 |
| Std. Deviation | 14.76 | 16.58 |
| Alpha | 1.81 | 3.91 |
| Beta | 1.04 | 0.48 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.13 | 0.12 |
| Treynor Ratio | 16.13 | 1.21 |
The Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) has a Sharpe Ratio of 1.13 with a Standard Deviation of 14.76 and a Mean Return of 1.44. Its Alpha is 1.81 while VUG’s R-squared is 92.48. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 16.13 and a Beta of 1.04.
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a Standard Deviation of 16.58 with a Beta of 0.48 and a Alpha of 3.91. Its R-squared is 16.21 while GLD’s Mean Return is 0.21. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 1.21 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.12.
VUG’s Mean Return is 1.23 points higher than that of GLD and its R-squared is 76.27 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 14.76, VUG is slightly less volatile than GLD. The Alpha and Beta of VUG are 2.10 points lower and 0.56 points higher than GLD’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | VUG | GLD |
| 2020 | 40.16% | 23.68% |
| 2019 | 37.26% | 18.36% |
| 2018 | -3.32% | -1.54% |
| 2017 | 27.8% | 11.41% |
| 2016 | 6.13% | 8.69% |
| 2015 | 3.32% | -11.78% |
| 2014 | 13.62% | -0.58% |
| 2013 | 32.38% | -28.09% |
| 2012 | 17.03% | 5.26% |
| 2011 | 1.87% | 11.2% |
| 2010 | 17.11% | 27.25% |
VUG had its best year in 2020 with an annual return of 40.16%. VUG’s worst year over the past decade yielded -3.32% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2012, and 2010 where annual returns amounted to 13.62%, 17.03%, and 17.11% respectively.
The year 2010 was the strongest year for GLD, returning 27.25% on an annual basis. The poorest year for GLD in the last ten years was 2013, with a yield of -28.09%. Most years the SPDR Gold Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2012, 2016, and 2011, when gains were 5.26%, 8.69%, and 11.2% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| VUG | $10,000 | $54,735 | 17.58% |
| GLD | $10,000 | $16,395 | 5.81% |
A $10,000 investment in VUG would have resulted in a final balance of $54,735. This is a profit of $44,735 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.58%.
With a $10,000 investment in GLD, the end total would have been $16,395. This equates to a $6,395 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.81%.
VUG’s CAGR is 11.77 percentage points higher than that of GLD and as a result, would have yielded $38,340 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VUG outperformed GLD by 11.77% annually.
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