A side-by-side comparison of Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF (IUS) and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VONG) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | IUS | VONG |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +8.93%✓ | -6.22% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.04%✓ | -0.79% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.68%✓ | -2.91% |
| 1-Month Change | +1.20%✓ | -10.30% |
| Current Price | $70.59 | $117.41 |
| AUM | $1.02B | $44.09B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.19% | 0.08%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 1.24%✓ | 0.46% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2018-09-12 | 2010-09-20 |
| Holdings Count | 529 | 371 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Equity | US Equity |
| Beta | 0.77 | 1.19 |
| 52-Week High | $71.96 | $133.63 |
| 52-Week Low | $53.78 | $104.97 |
| 50-Day MA | $69.58 | $126.51 |
| 200-Day MA | $65.05 | $122.94 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | IUS | VONG |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +8.93%✓ | -6.22% |
| 1 Year | +26.01%✓ | -4.82% |
| 3 Year | +21.56%✓ | +18.21% |
| 5 Year | +13.95%✓ | +9.14% |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | +16.84%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 11.70% | 18.53% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.54 | 1.04 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 4.16% |
| 2 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 4.36% |
| 3 | BRK-B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc | 2.99% |
| 4 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.78% |
| 5 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 2.68% |
| 6 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 2.46% |
| 7 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 1.79% |
| 8 | CVX | Chevron Corp | 1.50% |
| 9 | UNH | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 1.37% |
| 10 | JNJ | Johnson & Johnson | 1.01% |
| 1 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 15.96% |
| 2 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 7.73% |
| 3 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 5.78% |
| 4 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 5.48% |
| 5 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 4.72% |
| 6 | GOOG | Alphabet Inc Class C | 4.82% |
| 7 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 3.71% |
| 8 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 3.49% |
| 9 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | 3.18% |
| 10 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.85% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | IUS | VONG |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 2.41% | 0.26% |
| Communication Services | 10.67% | 16.36% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 11.68% | 7.62% |
| Consumer Defensive | 7.91% | 1.11% |
| Energy | 9.03% | 0.50% |
| Financial Services | 10.22% | 4.30% |
| Healthcare | 15.70% | 5.39% |
| Industrials | 8.77% | 7.64% |
| Real Estate | 0.59% | 0.38% |
| Technology | 22.36% | 55.12% |
| Utilities | 1.01% | 0.24% |
About IUS
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the underlying index. The Adviser employs a full replication methodology in seeking to track the underlying index, meaning that the fund generally invests in all of the securities comprising the index in proportion to their weightings in the index. The index is designed to measure the performance of equity securities of U.S. companies that tend to have larger, higher quality businesses.
About VONG
The index is designed to measure the performance of large-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. The Advisor attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index. The fund may become non-diversified, as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or ind…
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both IUS and VONG are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, IUS scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between IUS and VONG?
IUS (Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF) and VONG (Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.02B vs $44.09B), dividend yield (1.24% vs 0.46%), and year-to-date performance (+8.93% vs -6.22%).
Is IUS better than VONG?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, IUS has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy IUS and VONG on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both IUS and VONG should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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