Should Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Insights - The Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) is a passively managed fund launched on January 26, 2004, with assets exceeding $85.49 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market [1] Group 1: Mid Cap Blend Characteristics - Mid cap companies have market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, offering a balance of stability and growth potential compared to large and small cap companies [2] - Blend ETFs typically hold a mix of growth and value stocks, as well as stocks exhibiting both characteristics [2] Group 2: Cost Structure - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.04%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [3] - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.51% [3] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest allocation is to the Industrials sector, comprising approximately 17.7% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Information Technology [4] - Constellation Energy Corp (CEG) represents about 1.16% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for roughly 5.78% of total assets under management [5] Group 4: Performance Metrics - The ETF aims to match the performance of the CRSP US Mid Cap Index, which includes U.S. companies in the top 70%-85% of investable market capitalization [6] - Year-to-date, the ETF has increased by about 8.2% and has risen approximately 17.93% over the past year as of August 11, 2025 [6] - The ETF has traded between $228.54 and $289.77 in the past 52 weeks [6] Group 5: Risk Assessment - The ETF has a beta of 1.02 and a standard deviation of 17.15% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium risk investment [7] - With around 304 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk [7] Group 6: Alternatives - The Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong expected returns and favorable metrics [8] - Other alternatives include the iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (IWR) with $42.76 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.19%, and the iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH) with $95.63 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.05% [9] Group 7: Conclusion - Passively managed ETFs like VO are favored by both institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency [10]