Categories: Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)U.S. Investing

Vanguard ETF Seeks Growth in Large-Cap Stocks

The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) focuses on a growth investment strategy for investors who are willing to accept additional risk. This Vanguard fund holds $16.4 billion in assets under management and has a low expense ratio of 0.09%, which is 92% less than the average cost of similar funds with other providers.

VUG specifically tracks the performance of an index of large-capitalization growth stocks. The ETF’s holdings are approximately in the same proportional weighting as those of the index it attempts to mirror. So far in 2014, VUG has gained 12.86%. This fund also offers a dividend yield of 1.17%.

VUG has hefty weightings in technology, 25.74%; consumer cyclical, 17.23%; and healthcare, 12.94%. Its top 10 holdings account for 23.01% of its total assets. These holdings include Apple Inc. (AAPL), 7.11%; the Coca-Cola Company (KO), 1.98%; Google Inc. (GOOGL), 1.96%; Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), 1.90%; and Facebook, Inc. (FB), 1.88%.

This ETF seeks to match the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity market. Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) provides a simple and comparatively inexpensive way to invest in this market.

If you want my advice about buying and selling specific ETFs, including appropriate stop losses, please consider subscribing to my Successful ETF Investing newsletter. As always, I am happy to answer any of your questions about ETFs, so do not hesitate to send me an e-mail. You just may see your question answered in a future ETF Talk.

In case you missed it, I encourage you to read my e-letter column from last week about Vanguard’s dividend-yield-focused ETF. I also invite you to comment in the space provided below.

Exclusive ETF Talk: Strike Oil While the Market’s Hot!

Doug Fabian

Doug Fabian is the Editor of Weekly ETF Report, a free weekly e-newsletter, and the newsletter Successful ETF Investing. He’s also the host of the syndicated radio show, “Doug Fabian’s Wealth Strategies.” Doug also edits the fast-paced trading service ETF Trader’s Edge, for investors who want to take their profits to the next level. Taking over the reins from his dad, Dick Fabian, back in 1992, Doug has continued to uphold the reputation of the newsletter as the #1 risk-adjusted market timer as ranked by Hulbert’s Investment Digest. Doug became a member of the “SmartMoney 30” in 1999 — a listing of the most influential individuals in the mutual fund industry. In the feature, SmartMoney magazine exclaims that Doug is the best-known “trend follower” among the $56 billion (and growing) group of financial advisors. In 2001, Doug wrote “Maverick Investing,” published by McGraw-Hill. He also regularly appears at seminars around the country, stands out on the pages of the largest newspapers (The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times), and speaks on national television (CNBC, Fox News, and Bloomberg Forum). For more than 35 years, Successful ETF Investing (formerly the Telephone Switch Newsletter and Successful Investing) has produced double-digit percentage annual gains. Doug has become known for his expert knowledge and timely use of innovative tools, such as exchange-traded funds, bear funds, and enhanced-index funds to profit in any market climate. For more information about Doug’s services, go to http://www.fabian.com/