Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
VPU vs VTEB: how they differ
VPU and VTEB hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and VPU returned more over the year.
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund and Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, VPU and VTEB hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in VPU | Only in VTEB |
|---|---|
| NextEra Energy Inc 11.84% | University of California 0.12% |
| Southern Co/The 6.70% | Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority 0.12% |
| Duke Energy Corp 6.31% | Colorado State Education Loan Program 0.11% |
| Constellation Energy Corp 5.86% | State of California 0.11% |
| American Electric Power Co Inc 4.47% | New York City Transitional Finance Autho 0.09% |
| Sempra 3.85% | Dallas Independent School District 0.09% |
| Dominion Energy Inc 3.78% | New York State Dormitory Authority 0.09% |
| Vistra Corp 3.59% | Ohio Water Development Authority Water P 0.09% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Apr 30, 2026 and May 31, 2026.
| VPU Vanguard Utilities Index Fund | VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| What it is | Utilities | Tax-Exempt Bond |
| Total return, 1 year | +2.1% | +0.2% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | −15.4 pts | −17.3 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.03% |
| Holdings | 66 | 10185 |
VPU in plain words
VPU is an index equity fund tracking the Utilities. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +2.1% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings filed for May 31, 2026, 90% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 66 positions, with the top ten at 52.7%. It sat 9.8% below its high of Feb 27, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
VTEB in plain words
VTEB is a bond fund tracking the Tax-Exempt Bond. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +0.2% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.03% a year. It sat 3.6% below its high of Jul 6, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, VPU or VTEB?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, VPU returned +2.1% and VTEB returned +0.2%, so VPU returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, VPU or VTEB?
- VPU charges 0.09% a year and VTEB charges 0.03%, so VTEB is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, VPU against VTEB, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/VPU-VTEB Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources