Are all S&P 500 ETFs the same?
Not all index ETFs precisely replicate the index. With more than 500 stocks to own, an S&P 500 index ETF may instead choose to hold only the most important or heavily-weighted stocks in the index. This can result in the ETF returning slightly differently from the benchmark index.
| Fund | Ticker | Expense Ratio % |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | VOO | 0.03 |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | IVV | 0.03 |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | SPLG | 0.02 |
| Vanguard 500 Admiral | VFIAX | 0.04 |
While most S&P index funds will have similar holdings, they may vary in terms of their fees, such as expense ratios. Expense ratios are annual fees you pay to help cover a fund's expenses.
- Expense Ratios. Both passively managed and active ETFs exist—but most S&P 500 ETFs are passively managed by definition. ...
- Liquidity. ...
- Inception Date. ...
- Share Price and Investment Minimums. ...
- Dividend Yield.
Both the Vanguard S&P 500 Index Fund and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF track the performance of the S&P 500 index, which represents a broad selection of large-cap U.S. stocks. The key difference lies in their structure: the Vanguard fund is a mutual fund, while the SPDR ETF is an exchange-traded fund.
You only need one S&P 500 ETF
You could be tempted to buy all three ETFs, but just one will do the trick. You won't get any additional diversification benefits (meaning the mix of various assets) because all three funds track the same 500 companies.
The single biggest risk in ETFs is market risk. Like a mutual fund or a closed-end fund, ETFs are only an investment vehicle—a wrapper for their underlying investment. So if you buy an S&P 500 ETF and the S&P 500 goes down 50%, nothing about how cheap, tax efficient, or transparent an ETF is will help you.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.
So if you're happy with a portfolio that performs comparably to the stock market as a whole, then sticking to S&P 500 ETFs alone isn't a bad idea. However, if you assemble a portfolio of individual stocks that perform better, you might enjoy a 12% or 15% return over time -- or more.
| 1 | SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF | 0.03% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Unhedged (Acc) | 0.03% p.a. |
| 3 | Invesco S&P 500 UCITS ETF | 0.05% p.a. |
Should I just buy S&P 500 ETF?
Is Investing in the S&P 500 Less Risky Than Buying a Single Stock? Generally, yes. The S&P 500 is considered well-diversified by sector, which means it includes stocks in all major areas, including technology and consumer discretionary—meaning declines in some sectors may be offset by gains in other sectors.
An S&P 500 ETF can be a fantastic choice for those looking for a lower-effort, lower-risk investment that could help you build substantial wealth over time. It won't be the right option for everyone, though, so by considering your goals and preferences, you can decide whether it belongs in your portfolio.
Key Takeaways. Dividend ETFs invest in high-yielding dividend stocks to maintain a stable, steady income. The S&P 500 is a broad-based index of large U.S. stocks, providing growth and diversification. The best choice for you will depend on whether you prefer income or growth from your investments.
Investors can buy and sell Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs through any number of brokerage firms and financial advisors. If you buy directly through Vanguard, you may benefit from lower fees, better customer service, and additional product research.
| FUND (TICKER) | EXPENSE RATIO | 10-YEAR RETURN AS OF MARCH 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 0.03% | 11.99% |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) | 0.03% | 11.43% |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) | 0.03% | 1.77% |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) | 0.08% | 4.07% |
When it comes to choosing between Vanguard and State Street SPDR for passive sector exposure, you really can't go wrong with either. Both offer low-cost options, but your selection should be based on your specific investment objectives. For buy-and-hold investors, Vanguard's sector ETFs may be the preferable choice.
Holding too many ETFs in your portfolio introduces inefficiencies that in the long term will have a detrimental impact on the risk/reward profile of your portfolio. For most personal investors, an optimal number of ETFs to hold would be 5 to 10 across asset classes, geographies, and other characteristics.
While the benefits of investing in the S&P 500 outshine the drawbacks, there are still a few to be aware of. Dominated by large-cap companies: since mainly large-cap companies dominate the S&P 500, it won't provide exposure to many small-cap or mid-cap stocks, even when investing in S&P index funds.
Lower Expected Returns
Significant research has found that small and value companies outperform large growth stocks over the long term. Therefore, you are overweighting one area of the market which has had lower returns over the long term.
According to our calculations, a $1000 investment made in February 2014 would be worth $5,971.20, or a gain of 497.12%, as of February 5, 2024, and this return excludes dividends but includes price increases. Compare this to the S&P 500's rally of 178.17% and gold's return of 55.50% over the same time frame.
How much would $1000 invested in the S&P 500 in 1980 be worth today?
In 1980, had you invested a mere $1,000 in what went on to become the top-performing stock of S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.63%), then you would be sitting on a cool $1.2 million today. That equates to a total return of 120,936%. The stock? None other than Gap (GPS 4.66%).
- Trading fees.
- Operating expenses.
- Low trading volume.
- Tracking errors.
- The possibility of less diversification.
- Hidden risks.
- Lack of liquidity.
- Capital gains distributions.
Costs Could Be Higher. Most people compare trading ETFs with trading other funds. Yet, if you compare ETFs to investing in a specific stock, then the ETF costs are higher. The actual commission paid to the broker might be the same, but there is no management fee for a stock.
VOO charges 3 basis points, while SPY charges 9 basis points. Both are very low cost compared to the average ETF in the US market. Both are great options, well diversified, are run by amazing teams. However, fees do matter, and you get what you don't pay for in the financial industry.
Should you invest in ETFs? Since ETFs offer built-in diversification and don't require large amounts of capital in order to invest in a range of stocks, they are a good way to get started. You can trade them like stocks while also enjoying a diversified portfolio.
