The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT:VOOG) provides low-cost exposure to large-cap growth giants, while the State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT:SLYG) offers targeted access to the small-cap segment.
This comparison highlights the fundamental differences between investing in established market leaders and emerging smaller companies. The Vanguard fund focuses on large-cap growth engines, while the State Street fund seeks expansion potential among smaller enterprises, creating distinct profiles for risk and total return.
Snapshot (cost & size)
|
Metric |
SLYG |
VOOG |
|---|---|---|
|
Issuer |
SPDR |
Vanguard |
|
Expense ratio |
0.15% |
0.07% |
|
1-yr return (as of May 18, 2026) |
21.70% |
31.50% |
|
Dividend yield |
0.70% |
0.47% |
|
Beta |
1.06 |
1.17 |
|
AUM |
~$4.6 billion |
~$24.2 billion |
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
Investors could find the Vanguard fund more affordable, as its expense ratio is 0.07% versus 0.15% for the State Street fund. The Vanguard fund also offers a significantly higher AUM for active traders.
Performance & risk comparison
|
Metric |
SLYG |
VOOG |
|---|---|---|
|
Max drawdown (5 yr) |
(29.20%) |
(32.70%) |
|
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return) |
$1,324 |
$2,104 |
What’s inside
The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF concentrates on large-cap leaders, with sector weights including technology at 48%, communication services at 17%, and financial services at 10%. It manages 212 holdings and was launched in 2010. Its largest positions include NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) at 14.54%, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) at 9.08%, and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) at 6.72%. The fund has paid $1.72 per share over the trailing 12 months.
In contrast, the State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT:SLYG) targets the small-cap segment with 343 holdings and was launched in 2000. Its allocation features technology at 20%, industrials at 20%, and healthcare at 15%. Its largest positions include Sanmina (NASDAQ:SANM) at 1.57%, Viavi Solutions (NASDAQ:VIAV) at 1.45%, and Argan (NYSE:AGX) at 1.22%. It has paid $0.77 per share over the trailing 12 months.
For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.
What this means for investors
Investing in growth stocks is a great way to achieve strong returns in a portfolio. The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) and the State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) take different approaches to achieve this. Choosing between these ETFs comes down to which strategy fits better with your investment goals.
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