VUGvsCARKETF Comparison
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Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and CastleArk Large Growth ETF (CARK) belong to the same industry segment: US Large Cap Growth. VUG's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Consumer Non-Cyclicals and Industrials. In contrast, CARK's top sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Healthcare. VUG is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.03%, versus 0.54% for CARK. VUG is up 6.17% year-to-date (YTD) with +$6.36B in YTD flows. CARK performs better with 7.11% YTD performance, and -$8M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VUG and CARK 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 CARK performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 07/21/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VUG CARK | +0.40%+0.96% | +5.82%+5.50% | +6.17%+7.11% | +15.41%+12.92% | +82.81%n/a | +81.32%n/a |
| Flows | VUG CARK | -$1.69B+$1M | +$1.85B+$1M | +$6.36B-$8M | +$13.76B-$51M | +$41.36B- | +$53.00B- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VUG CARK | +19.06%+18.54% | +17.40%+18.11% | +19.76%n/a | +22.70%n/a |
| Max drawdown | VUG CARK | -8.07%-7.38% | -16.50%-16.56% | -23.03%n/a | -35.61%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | VUG CARK | 50d50d | 183d184d | 126dn/a | 756dn/a |
Trading data
VUG | CARK | |
Last sale 7/22/2026 at 1:30 PM | $85.68 | $46.95 |
| Previous close 07/21/2026 | $86.13 | $47.16 |
| Consolidated volume 07/21/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of June 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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CARK
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexVUG | CARK | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 7/22/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VUG | CARK | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $85.68 | $46.95 |
| 1D performance | -0.52% | -0.45% |
| AuM | $222.32 B | $323.98 M |
| E/R | 0.03% | 0.54% |
Characteristics
VUG | CARK | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | Vanguard | CastleArk Management |
| Benchmark | CRSP U.S. Large Cap Growth Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 143 | 26 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | January 26, 2004 | December 6, 2023 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
VUG
USA
99.19%
Other
0.81%
CARK
USA
95.32%
Other
4.68%
Sectors
VUG
Technology
69.79%
Other
30.21%
CARK
Technology
64.37%
Finance
8.59%
Healthcare
8.46%
Other
18.58%
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Diversification
VUG
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
68.66%
CARK
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
79.31%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of June 30, 2026
VUG
NVIDIA Corp.
12.59%
Apple, Inc.
11.64%
Microsoft Corp.
7.59%
Alphabet, Inc.
5.74%
Alphabet, Inc.
4.52%
Amazon.com, Inc.
4.46%
Broadcom Inc.
4.27%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
3.40%
Tesla, Inc.
3.26%
Eli Lilly & Co.
2.80%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
2.61%
Applied Materials, Inc.
1.59%
Visa, Inc.
1.53%
Lam Research Corp.
1.50%
Costco Wholesale Corp.
1.15%
CARK
NVIDIA Corp.
14.77%
Alphabet, Inc.
10.18%
Apple, Inc.
6.75%
Lam Research Corp.
6.57%
Microsoft Corp.
6.02%
Eli Lilly & Co.
5.62%
Arista Networks, Inc.
4.51%
Visa, Inc.
4.13%
Broadcom Inc.
3.87%
Amazon.com, Inc.
3.39%
GE Vernova, Inc.
2.84%
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
2.84%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
2.82%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
2.56%
Mastercard, Inc.
2.45%
Frequently asked questions about VUG and CARK
How have the VUG and CARK ETFs performed in 2026?
As of July 21, 2026, VUG is up 6.17% year-to-date (YTD), while CARK has returned 7.11%. That puts CARK better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VUG or CARK?
Year-to-date, the VUG ETF saw +$6.36B in flows, compared to -$8M for CARK.
Which ETF is more volatile: VUG or CARK?
Over the past year, VUG had a volatility of 17.4%, while CARK experienced 18.11%.
Which ETF is bigger: VUG or CARK?
As of July 21, 2026, VUG holds $222.32 B in assets under management (AUM), while CARK manages $323.98 M.
What sectors do the VUG and CARK ETFs invest in?
VUG leans toward sectors like Technology. Meanwhile, CARK focuses on Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the VUG ETF and CARK ETF?
VUG top holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc. and Microsoft Corp.. CARK holds in its top three: NVIDIA Corp., Alphabet, Inc. and Apple, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: VUG or CARK?
VUG holds 146 securities with 68.66% of its assets in the top 15. CARK has 26 securities and a top 15 weight of 79.31%.
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