US-listed · NYSE Arca · FIF-eligible (above NZ$50K)
Vanguard VOOG Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF
Tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index — the growth-tilted half of the S&P 500 (~230 stocks).
Updated Reviewed quarterly
About this fund
What is VOOG?
VOOG is the US-listed ticker for Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF, issued by Vanguard. Tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index — the growth-tilted half of the S&P 500 (~230 stocks). TER is 0.10% per year, with a trailing 12-month distribution yield of approximately 0.9%. Distributions are paid quarterly.
How to buy
Where can I buy VOOG from New Zealand?
Hatch NZ-built. US$3 flat per trade, ~0.5% FX.
Stake Commission-free US shares; ~0.7% FX.
Sharesies NZ + AU + US in one account; tiered subscription pricing.
Interactive Brokers Tiered commissions; FX margin ~0.002% (lowest published of platforms reviewed).
See the full platform comparison for fees, minimums, and supported markets across all 11 NZ-accessible brokers.
NZ tax
How is VOOG taxed for NZ investors?
VOOG is US-listed, so it sits in the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) regime once your overseas-share holdings exceed NZ$50,000 cost basis. Below that threshold, the FIF regime does not apply and you pay tax on dividends only.
Above NZ$50K cost basis, most NZ retail investors use the Fair Dividend Rate (FDR) method — deemed income = 5% × opening market value × your marginal tax rate. FDR vs CV method →
US dividends carry 15% US withholding tax under the NZ–US tax treaty (file a W-8BEN with your broker; without it, the rate is 30%). The 15% can be claimed as a foreign tax credit on your IR3.
Tax outcomes depend on your portfolio size, marginal rate, and FDR-vs-CV election. See PIE vs FIF for the full comparison and consult a registered NZ tax adviser for personalised guidance.
FAQ
Common questions about VOOG
What is the VOOG ETF? ⌄
VOOG is the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF — it tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, holding ~230 stocks from the S&P 500 with the strongest growth characteristics (revenue + earnings momentum). TER is 0.10%, distributions paid quarterly. Yield ~0.9% (lower than VOO since growth stocks typically reinvest rather than pay dividends).
VOOG vs VOO — should I just hold VOOG for higher returns? ⌄
VOOG has historically outperformed VOO during growth-driven bull markets but underperformed during value-driven cycles. Combining VOOG with VOOV (S&P 500 Value) reproduces VOO. Holding VOOG alone is a tilted bet on growth outperformance — academic research shows growth/value performance mean-reverts over multi-decade horizons. Most buy-and-hold investors prefer broader exposure (VOO or VTI) over style tilts.
VOOG vs SCHG vs IVW — alternatives? ⌄
VOOG (Vanguard, 0.10% TER) tracks S&P 500 Growth. SCHG (Schwab US Large-Cap Growth, 0.04% TER) tracks Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth — broader, includes mid-caps. IVW (iShares S&P 500 Growth, 0.18% TER) tracks the same S&P 500 Growth index as VOOG at higher cost. SCHG is the lowest-cost choice; VOOG is the cheapest pure S&P 500 Growth exposure.
How is VOOG taxed for NZ residents? ⌄
Above NZ$50,000 cost basis, FIF rules apply. The growth-stock distribution profile means lower current yield = lower US dividend withholding tax drag, and the FDR method (5% × MV × marginal rate) caps deemed income regardless of actual return. For high-growth years this is favourable; for high-distribution-equity strategies (VYM, JEPI) the value/income alternatives may be more tax-efficient depending on NZ marginal rate.
Related ETFs and resources
VOO — Vanguard S&P 500 (broader)
Full S&P 500 — growth + value combined. VOOG is a tilted subset.
SCHG — Schwab US Large-Cap Growth
Lower-cost large-cap growth alternative (0.04% TER vs VOOG 0.10%).
QQQM — Invesco Nasdaq-100
Tech-heavy growth alternative; concentrated in mega-cap tech.
FIF tax explained
When FIF applies and how to file.