IWF vs VUG: which was the better investment?
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF against Vanguard Growth ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 30, 2004 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did IWF beat VUG?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (Jan 30, 2004 to Jul 13, 2026): $10,000 grew to $129,912 in IWF and $131,532 in VUG, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in IWF be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) on Jan 30, 2004 would be worth about $129,912 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 1199.1% (12.1% per year). The same $10,000 in VUG would be worth $131,532.
Which was riskier — IWF or VUG?
IWF swung with an annualized volatility of 19.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -51.3%; VUG ran at 20.0% volatility with a -50.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.51 for IWF vs 0.51 for VUG.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 30, 2004 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with IWF vs VUG. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.