A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF (VGG) and RBC Quant US Dividend Leaders (RUD) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
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1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | VGG | RUD |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +7.74% | +8.39%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | +0.78%✓ | -0.02% |
| 1-Week Change | +1.20%✓ | +0.62% |
| 1-Month Change | +5.09%✓ | +5.24% |
| Current Price | $111.11 | $30.04 |
| AUM | $2.46B✓ | $873M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | 0% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 1.40%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2013-08-02 | 2014-01-09 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Category | U.S. Dividend & Income Equity | U.S. Dividend & Income Equity |
| Beta | 0.76 | 0.87 |
| 52-Week High | $112.25 | $30.12 |
| 52-Week Low | $91.16 | $24.15 |
| 50-Day MA | $105.32 | $28.48 |
| 200-Day MA | $103.81 | $28.09 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | VGG | RUD |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +7.74% | +8.39%✓ |
| 1 Year | +20.24% | +26.26%✓ |
| 3 Year | +17.35% | +23.88%✓ |
| 5 Year | +13.07% | +17.63%✓ |
| 10 Year | +13.23% | +14.94%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 8.33% | 7.00% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.31 | — |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | VIG | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares | 100.00% |
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc | 9.42% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 8.00% |
| 3 | GOOG | Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.76% |
| 4 | MA | Mastercard Inc | 3.72% |
| 5 | BMY | Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | 3.12% |
| 6 | ADP | Automatic Data Processing Inc | 3.09% |
| 7 | AMP | Ameriprise Financial Inc | 2.95% |
| 8 | CL | Colgate-Palmolive Company | 2.92% |
| 9 | GM | General Motors Company | 2.61% |
| 10 | APA | APA Corporation | 2.31% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | VGG | RUD |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.45% | 0.44% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 9.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 4.70% | 12.77% |
| Consumer Defensive | 10.14% | 8.02% |
| Energy | 3.47% | 4.66% |
| Financial Services | 20.57% | 12.77% |
| Healthcare | 16.51% | 7.51% |
| Industrials | 11.76% | 8.61% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.84% |
| Technology | 26.19% | 32.56% |
| Utilities | 3.21% | 2.81% |
About VGG
Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF (VGG.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
About RUD
RBC Quant US Dividend Leaders (RUD.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both VGG and RUD 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, RUD 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 VGG and RUD?
VGG (Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF) and RUD (RBC Quant US Dividend Leaders) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($2.46B vs $873M), dividend yield (1.07% vs 1.40%), and year-to-date performance (+7.74% vs +8.39%).
Is VGG better than RUD?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy VGG and RUD on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both VGG and RUD should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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