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

Core Insights - The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) is a passively managed fund launched on January 26, 2004, with over $30.57 billion in assets, making it the largest ETF in the Small Cap Value segment of the US equity market [1] - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present high potential but also come with higher risks [2] - Value stocks typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, but also exhibit lower sales and earnings growth rates compared to growth stocks [3] Costs - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.07%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in its category [4] - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.03% [4] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - The ETF's largest allocation is to the Financials sector, comprising approximately 21.70% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [5] - Individual holdings include Slcmt1142 at about 1.08% of total assets, with NRG Energy Inc (NRG) and Emcor Group Inc (EME) also among the top holdings [6] Performance and Risk - VBR aims to match the performance of the CRSP U.S. Small Cap Value Index, having gained roughly 3.30% year-to-date and 6.60% over the past year as of July 23, 2025 [7] - The ETF has traded between $162.76 and $217.30 in the past 52 weeks [7] - With a beta of 1.03 and a standard deviation of 19.72% over the trailing three years, it is classified as a medium-risk investment [8] Alternatives - VBR holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong expected returns and favorable expense ratios [9] - Other comparable ETFs include the Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF (FNDA) with $8.62 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.25%, and the iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) with $11.09 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.24% [10] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like VBR are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [11]