Is the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF a Buy Now?

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is a low-cost, high-profile investment option that focuses on stocks with a history of increasing dividends, aiming to replicate the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Popularity and Size - Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF has attracted $115 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the U.S. [2] - The fund is significantly larger than its closest competitor, being six times its size [5]. Group 2: Investment Strategy and Cost Efficiency - The ETF has a low annual expense ratio of 0.05%, meaning a $10,000 investment incurs only $50 in operating expenses annually [4]. - It excludes the highest-yielding stocks from the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, focusing instead on stocks with sustainable growth potential [7][9]. Group 3: Portfolio Composition and Performance - The ETF employs a market-cap-weighted methodology, with no single position exceeding 5% of the total portfolio, except for Broadcom, which currently constitutes 6.4% [8]. - The portfolio turnover rate is modest at 11%, indicating a stable investment strategy [9]. - Over the past year, the fund's total return has increased by nearly 11%, with an annualized growth rate of 13.5% over the last decade, primarily driven by capital gains [12]. Group 4: Yield and Stock Composition Concerns - The current annual yield of the ETF is 1.6%, which may disappoint income-focused investors [10]. - The fund's composition is heavily weighted towards large-cap stocks, making up nearly 77% of the portfolio, while small caps account for only 3% [13]. - The weighted portfolio trades at 26 times trailing earnings and 5 times book value, indicating it is not a collection of cheap stocks [14].