Should Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) Be on Your Investing Radar?

The Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) was launched on 01/26/2004, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.The fund is sponsored by Vanguard. It has amassed assets over $60.85 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.Why Small Cap BlendSmall cap companies have market capitalization below $2 billion. They usually have higher potential than large and mid cap companies with stocks but higher risk.Blend ETFs usually hold a mix of growth and value stocks as well as stocks that exhibit both value and growth characteristics.CostsExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.05%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.38%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 20.90% of the portfolio. Financials and Information Technology round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Slcmt1142 accounts for about 1.09% of total assets, followed by Targa Resources Corp (TRGP) and Axon Enterprise Inc (AXON).Performance and RiskVB seeks to match the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap Index before fees and expenses. The CRSP US Small Cap Index includes U.S. companies that fall between the bottom 2%-15% of the investable market capitalization. There is no lower limit in market capitalization. The index includes securities traded on NYSE, NYSE Market, NASDAQ or ARCA.The ETF return is roughly 13.11% so far this year and was up about 37.29% in the last one year (as of 10/31/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $178.96 and $242.40.The ETF has a beta of 1.13 and standard deviation of 21.35% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 1404 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesVanguard Small-Cap 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, VB is an outstanding option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $69.37 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $86.18 billion. IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% and IJR charges 0.06%.Bottom-LineWhile an excellent vehicle for long term investors, passively managed ETFs are a popular choice among institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency.To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB): ETF Research Reports iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): ETF Research Reports Targa Resources, Inc. (TRGP): Free Stock Analysis Report Axon Enterprise, Inc (AXON): Free Stock Analysis Report iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR): ETF Research ReportsTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks