VUGvsAAEQETF Comparison
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Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) belongs to the US Large Cap Growth segment. Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF (AAEQ) is part of the US All Cap segment. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary. VUG is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.03%, versus 0.15% for AAEQ. VUG is up 2.75% year-to-date (YTD) with +$5.19B in YTD flows. AAEQ performs better with 3.57% YTD performance, and -$13M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VUG and AAEQ below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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VUG vs AAEQ performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 04/27/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VUG AAEQ | +18.56%+12.62% | +2.32%+2.50% | +2.75%+3.57% | +33.70%n/a | +103.29%n/a | +85.97%n/a |
| Flows | VUG AAEQ | +$1.24B-$2M | +$2.78B-$12M | +$5.19B-$13M | +$14.66B- | +$39.45B- | +$53.77B- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VUG AAEQ | +20.82%+15.31% | +16.54%n/a | +19.49%n/a | +22.54%n/a |
| Max drawdown | VUG AAEQ | -14.19%-9.35% | -16.50%n/a | -23.03%n/a | -35.61%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | VUG AAEQ | 79d76d | 180dn/a | 126dn/a | 756dn/a |
Trading data
VUG | AAEQ | |
Last sale 4/27/2026 at 1:30 PM | $83.49 | $51.11 |
| Previous close 04/27/2026 | $83.25 | $51.03 |
| Consolidated volume 04/27/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of March 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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AAEQ
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexVUG | AAEQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 4/27/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VUG | AAEQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $83.49 | $51.11 |
| 1D performance | +0.29% | +0.16% |
| AuM | $214.28 B | $477.26 M |
| E/R | 0.03% | 0.15% |
Characteristics
VUG | AAEQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | Vanguard | Alpha Architect |
| Benchmark | CRSP U.S. Large Cap Growth Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 138 | 338 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | January 26, 2004 | December 10, 2025 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
VUG
USA
99.25%
Other
0.75%
AAEQ
USA
97.01%
Other
2.99%
Sectors
VUG
Information Techn.
53.4%
Communication Ser.
15.99%
Consumer Discreti.
12.49%
Other
18.12%
AAEQ
Information Techn.
34.59%
Communication Ser.
10.38%
Consumer Discreti.
10.25%
Financials
10.17%
Health Care
9.48%
Industrials
8.08%
Other
17.05%
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Diversification
VUG
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
70.77%
AAEQ
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
45.62%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
VUG
NVIDIA
13.31%
APPLE
12.32%
MICROSOFT-T
9.09%
ALPHABET INC-CL
5.54%
AMAZON.COM INC
4.59%
BROADCOM LIMITED
4.40%
ALPHABET INC-CL
4.38%
META PLATFORMS
4.15%
TESLA
3.47%
LILLY
2.59%
VISA INCORPORATION
1.65%
COSTCO WHOLESALE
1.48%
NETFLIX
1.36%
MASTERCARD
1.33%
ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES
1.11%
AAEQ
APPLE
7.68%
NVIDIA
7.35%
MICROSOFT-T
5.64%
AMAZON.COM INC
3.63%
ALPHABET INC-CL
3.33%
ALPHABET INC-CL
2.66%
BROADCOM LIMITED
2.55%
META PLATFORMS
2.15%
TESLA
1.84%
BERKSHIRE HATHWAY
1.83%
JPMORGAN CHASE
1.60%
EXXON
1.51%
LILLY
1.48%
JOHNSON&JOHNSON
1.22%
WALMART INC
1.15%
Frequently asked questions about VUG and AAEQ
How have the VUG and AAEQ ETFs performed in 2026?
As of April 27, 2026, VUG is up 2.75% year-to-date (YTD), while AAEQ has returned 3.57%. That puts AAEQ better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VUG or AAEQ?
Year-to-date, the VUG ETF saw +$5.19B in flows, compared to -$13M for AAEQ.
Which ETF is bigger: VUG or AAEQ?
As of April 27, 2026, VUG holds $214.28 B in assets under management (AUM), while AAEQ manages $477.26 M.
What sectors do the VUG and AAEQ ETFs invest in?
VUG leans toward sectors like Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary. Meanwhile, AAEQ focuses on Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the VUG ETF and AAEQ ETF?
VUG top holdings include NVIDIA, APPLE and MICROSOFT-T. AAEQ holds in its top three: APPLE, NVIDIA and MICROSOFT-T.
Which ETF is more diversified: VUG or AAEQ?
VUG holds 152 securities with 70.77% of its assets in the top 15. AAEQ has 352 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.62%.
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