What is the best S&P 500 ETF to buy?
Other Factors in Choosing an S&P 500 Index ETF
The first is its liquidity. While S&P 500 ETFs would be considered very liquid by their nature, some might have more daily trading volume and tighter bid-ask spreads than others. A second consideration would be the index's tracking error.
Fund (ticker) | 5-year annual returns | Expense ratio |
---|---|---|
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) | 14.5% | 0.03% |
Schwab S&P 500 Index (SWPPX) | 14.5% | 0.02% |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) | 14.5% | 0.04% |
Fidelity 500 index fund (FXAIX) | 14.5% | 0.015% |
Other Factors in Choosing an S&P 500 Index ETF
The first is its liquidity. While S&P 500 ETFs would be considered very liquid by their nature, some might have more daily trading volume and tighter bid-ask spreads than others. A second consideration would be the index's tracking error.
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF is a great introduction to investing for many people. The ETF gives investors instant diversification into the largest companies that trade in the U.S. at a low expense ratio of 0.03%. Over the past 10 years, the ETF has generated an annual return of 12.91%.
But VOO offers great liquidity as well as a rock-bottom expense ratio. As a result, this elegant long-term ETF gives you a piece of leaders including Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and others in one single holding.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.
The Bottom Line. Both index mutual funds and ETFs can provide investors with broad, diversified exposure to the stock market, making them good long-term investments suitable for most investors. ETFs may be more accessible and easier to trade for retail investors because they trade like shares of stock on exchanges.
Over the long run, they do compound—those fee differences—and investors have been putting a lot more money into VOO versus SPY. That is the reason why we view VOO slightly better than SPY. And that is just the basic approach, which is the lower the investor can pay, the better the investment is.
SPY, VOO and IVV are among the most popular S&P 500 ETFs. These three S&P 500 ETFs are quite similar, but may sometimes diverge in terms of costs or daily returns. Investors generally only need one S&P 500 ETF.
VTI is a total U.S. market fund and holds more than 3,500 stocks. VTI is better diversified and benefits from small and mid-cap stocks that grow into large caps. VOO is less diversified, tracking the performance of the S&P 500 Index. VOO excludes small and mid-cap stocks.
Is it smart to invest in VOO?
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.
The easiest way to invest in the S&P 500
The simplest way to invest in the index is through S&P 500 index funds or ETFs that replicate the index. You can purchase these in a taxable brokerage account, or if you're investing for retirement, in a 401(k) or IRA, which come with added tax benefits.
FUND | TICKER | EXPENSE RATIO |
---|---|---|
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | IVV | 0.03% |
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | VOO | 0.03% |
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | SPLG | 0.02% |
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | RSP | 0.2% |
Vanguard's Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is similar to VOO in many ways, but the main difference is that it holds a much broader range of stocks. It follows the CRSP U.S. Total Market Index, which includes all the stocks in the S&P 500 plus over 3,000 additional stocks. This represents the entire U.S. stock market.
VOO has over $1 trillion in assets under management and provides investors with exposure to all the largest companies in the United States. You're getting a basket of stocks that has a 29.81% weighting toward technology, and the Magnificent 7 makes up roughly 25% of the index.
Investor Preferences: VOO is ideal for those seeking alignment with the performance of large-cap companies in the S&P 500, while VTI suits investors looking for more comprehensive market exposure, including smaller companies with potential for growth.
Index or Fund | 1-Year Total Return | 5-Year Annualized Return |
---|---|---|
S&P 500 Index | 26.29% | 15.69% |
Vanguard 500 Index Admiral Shares | 26.24% | 15.65% |
Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund | 26.25% | 15.66% |
Fidelity 500 Index Fund | 26.29% | 15.68% |
For instance, some ETFs may come with fees, others might stray from the value of the underlying asset, ETFs are not always optimized for taxes, and of course — like any investment — ETFs also come with risk.
The key risk for the fund is the volatility that comes with its full exposure to the stock market. Because the 500 Index Fund is broadly diversified within the large-capitalization market, it may be considered a core equity holding in a portfolio.
At least once a year, funds must pass on any net gains they've realized. As a fund shareholder, you could be on the hook for taxes on gains even if you haven't sold any of your shares.
Is it better to buy index or ETF?
ETFs and index mutual funds tend to be generally more tax efficient than actively managed funds. And, in general, ETFs tend to be more tax efficient than index mutual funds. You want niche exposure. Specific ETFs focused on particular industries or commodities can give you exposure to market niches.
The biggest difference between ETFs and index funds is that ETFs can be traded throughout the day like stocks, whereas index funds can be bought and sold only for the price set at the end of the trading day.
Company | Shares held | Holding value |
---|---|---|
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 43,000 | $18,782,400 |
SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) | 39,400 | $18,727,214 |
Jefferies (JEF) | 433,558 | $17,520,079 |
Liberty Latin Americ Class C (LILAK) | 1,284,020 | $9,424,707 |
Warren Buffett owns 2 ETFs—this one is better for everyday investors, experts say.
VOO is managed by Vanguard, a company renowned for its investor-friendly policies and emphasis on low-cost index investing. Due to its popularity among traders, SPY enjoys higher liquidity. This is evident in its narrower bid-ask spreads, which makes it a favourite among day traders and institutional investors.
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