From 2023 to 2025, investors didn't really need a complex strategy to make money. By simply putting their money in an S&P 500-mirroring exchange-traded fund (ETF), such as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.42%), they could achieve returns that beat most sector and thematic strategies.
But the index didn't beat all of them. Tech, of course, generated some of the biggest returns. By extension, growth stocks also performed very well. If your time horizon is short, say the next couple of years, tech and growth could do very well or not well at all, as we've seen in 2026.
Over the long term, however, the case for growth stocks relative to the S&P 500 remains compelling.
Image source: Getty Images.
Some points to consider when making the argument
- Over the past 10 years, the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG +0.79%) has had an average annual return of 16%, compared to roughly 14% for the S&P 500.
- Tech accounts for approximately 65% of the portfolio. The "Magnificent Seven" stocks plus Broadcom account for all but one of the top 10 holdings.
- The Vanguard Growth ETF is about 15% more volatile than the S&P 500, but it offers higher growth potential.
- Because of its heavy megacap tech exposure, the fund is essentially an investment in the belief that artificial intelligence (AI) will be the dominant theme for years to come.
Growth stocks have the advantage
The S&P 500 is a broad index that includes everything from fast-growing tech companies to slow-and-stodgy utilities. That works great as a core portfolio holding for diversification. But it can also dampen long-term returns where growth often outperforms value.
NYSEMKT: VUG
Key Data Points
The Vanguard Growth ETF tracks the CRSP U.S. Large Cap Growth Index. It selects stocks based on the following six factors:
- Expected long-term growth in earnings per share (EPS).
- Expected short-term growth in earnings per share.
- Three-year historical growth in earnings per share.
- Three-year historical growth in sales per share.
- Current investment-to-assets ratio.
- Return on assets.
The stocks with the best combination of these factors make the cut for the final portfolio. Holdings are market cap-weighted.
This strategy has worked incredibly well since the fund's launch in January 2004.
Data by YCharts.
The drawback is that there is a higher risk involved if you want to capture these returns. Growth stocks often experience deeper drawdowns in market declines, something we saw in 2018, 2020, and 2022. But as the table demonstrates, if you're willing to ride out the added volatility, long-term returns can outperform the S&P 500.
Vanguard Growth ETF vs. S&P 500
| Metric | VUG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| 10-year annualized return | 16% | 14% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Dividend yield | 0.4% | 1.2% |
| Number of holdings | 151 | 504 |
| Top sector | Technology (65%) | Technology (32%) |
| 10-year beta | 1.19 | 1.00 |
| Best for: | Long-term growth investors | Broad market exposure |
Data source: Vanguard.
You don't necessarily want to put all your eggs in the growth-stock basket. The Vanguard Growth ETF is very tech-heavy and produces an imbalanced portfolio on its own. But it does pair well with the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF if you're looking for added long-term growth potential.
If you're looking for a solid opportunity to beat the S&P long term, growth stocks are worth adding to your portfolio.
