New ETF Comparisons Sharpen the Core vs. Growth Choice

Overview

• Analyses published Monday compare exchange-traded funds that track the broad U.S. market with funds that target faster-growing slices of stocks.
• Broad-market mainstays SCHB, SPTM, and VTI each charge 0.03% and post nearly identical one-year returns near 33% with similar sector mixes.
• The small-cap growth fund IWO leads over one year at about 41% to 43% but charges 0.24% and shows a much deeper five-year drawdown near 40%.
• Vanguard’s VONG offers large-cap growth at a 0.06% fee with 394 holdings heavily weighted to technology and top names like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft.
• Even “total market” funds concentrate roughly one-third in technology with the same mega-cap leaders, so index scope and concentration often drive the biggest performance and risk gaps over time.