Should Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) is a passively managed fund that provides broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the U.S. equity market, with assets exceeding $46.57 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1]. Group 1: Fund Overview - SCHG was launched on December 11, 2009, and is sponsored by Charles Schwab [1]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive options in the market [4]. - It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.38% [4]. Group 2: Market Characteristics - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion and are considered more stable with predictable cash flows [2]. - Growth stocks, which SCHG focuses on, have higher than average sales and earnings growth rates but also come with higher valuations and risks [3]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 49.3% of the portfolio [5]. - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding at approximately 11.69% of total assets, followed by Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) [6]. - The top 10 holdings account for about 57.74% of total assets under management [6]. Group 4: Performance Metrics - SCHG aims to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index [7]. - The ETF has increased by about 8.27% year-to-date and approximately 18.33% over the past year, with a trading range between $22.27 and $30.75 in the last 52 weeks [8]. - It has a beta of 1.16 and a standard deviation of 21.44% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [8]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - SCHG holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential based on expected returns, expense ratio, and momentum [10]. - Other similar ETFs include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $182.44 billion in assets and QQQ at $364.63 billion [11]. Group 6: Investment Trends - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [12].