Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 ETF (QQQ) are both large-cap U.S. equity ETFs, but they differ in expense ratios, sector focus, and risk profiles, which may appeal to different investor priorities [1]. Group 1: Cost and Size - VOO has a lower expense ratio of 0.03% compared to QQQ's 0.18% [2]. - As of February 7, 2026, VOO's one-year return is 13.92%, while QQQ's is 15.12% [2]. - VOO offers a higher dividend yield of 1.11% compared to QQQ's 0.45% [2]. - VOO has assets under management (AUM) of $839 billion, significantly higher than QQQ's $412 billion [2]. Group 2: Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VOO experienced a maximum drawdown of -24.53%, while QQQ had a deeper drawdown of -35.12% [3]. - An investment of $1,000 in VOO would have grown to $1,782 over five years, whereas the same investment in QQQ would have grown to $1,840 [3]. Group 3: Portfolio Composition - QQQ tracks the NASDAQ-100 with a heavy concentration in technology (51%) and communication services (17%), with top holdings including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft [4]. - VOO mirrors the broader S&P 500, allocating 35% to technology, 13% to financial services, and 11% to communication services, with similar top holdings but at lower weights [5]. Group 4: Implications for Investors - QQQ is more concentrated in tech and designed for growth, achieving above-average returns compared to VOO [6]. - VOO offers greater diversification with roughly five times as many holdings as QQQ, which may reduce sector volatility [7]. - Investors seeking stability may prefer VOO, while those looking for higher growth potential may opt for QQQ, accepting the associated risks [8].

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) cater to investors interested in large U.S. companies, but they differ in their investment strategies, cost structures, performance metrics, and risk profiles [1]. Cost & Size - VOO has a lower expense ratio of 0.03% compared to MGK's 0.07% - VOO offers a higher dividend yield of 1.13% versus MGK's 0.35% - As of February 2, 2026, VOO's 1-year return is 15.60%, while MGK's is 16.88% - VOO has an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $839 billion, significantly larger than MGK's $32 billion [2][3]. Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VOO experienced a maximum drawdown of -24.53%, while MGK faced a steeper drawdown of -36.02% - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $1,850 in VOO and $1,970 in MGK over the same period [4]. Portfolio Composition - MGK focuses on 60 large U.S. growth stocks, with 55% in technology, 17% in communication services, and 13% in consumer cyclical sectors - The top three holdings in MGK—Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft—constitute nearly 36% of its assets [5]. - VOO tracks the S&P 500 and includes 504 stocks, providing broader diversification with 35% in technology, 13% in financial services, and 11% in communication services - The top holdings in VOO are similar to those in MGK but represent a lower combined weight of around 21% [6][9]. Implications for Investors - MGK targets mega-cap stocks with market caps of at least $200 billion, leading to a more concentrated portfolio that may be more volatile - VOO's broader diversification makes it slightly more stable and less susceptible to market swings, as indicated by its lower beta and maximum drawdown [7][8].

Core Insights - The article compares two popular U.S. equity ETFs: the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), highlighting their differences in cost, diversification, and holdings [1][2] Cost and Size Comparison - SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09%, while VTI is more affordable at 0.03%, making it appealing for cost-conscious investors [3] - As of February 5, 2026, SPY's one-year return is 13.13% compared to VTI's 12.43%, and SPY has an AUM of $709 billion versus VTI's $571 billion [3] Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, SPY has a maximum drawdown of -24.50%, while VTI's is -25.36%, indicating slightly better risk management for SPY [4] - A $1,000 investment in SPY would have grown to $1,764 over five years, compared to $1,656 for VTI, suggesting stronger cumulative growth for SPY [4] Holdings and Diversification - VTI holds approximately 3,600 stocks across all market capitalizations, with significant allocations in technology (33%), financial services (13%), and consumer cyclical (10%) [5] - SPY focuses on the S&P 500, with a heavier weighting in technology (34%), financial services (13%), and communication services (11%) [6] Implications for Investors - SPY's focus on large-cap stocks may reduce volatility, as larger companies tend to be more stable during economic downturns [8] - VTI's broad diversification across the entire stock market can help manage volatility, providing a buffer against poor performance in specific sectors [9] - Both ETFs have shown similar total returns over one and five years, with SPY slightly outperforming VTI in both periods [10]

Core Insights - A significant majority of American employees express confidence in their retirement planning, with 79% feeling at least somewhat knowledgeable about it and 71% believing they can save enough for retirement, despite concerns about stock market volatility [1] Group 1: Retirement Fears - Over half of U.S. workers (58%) fear a stock market crash occurring right before their retirement, which is identified as 'sequence of returns risk' [3] - This risk implies that a market drop of 20% in the year of retirement could force individuals to sell stocks at a loss, potentially shortening their portfolio's lifespan [3] - To mitigate this risk, experts recommend building a liquidity buffer by maintaining a few years' worth of essential living expenses in high-yield cash accounts or short-term bonds [4] Group 2: Addressing Market Concerns - The second most common fear (50%) among workers is that the market will not provide sufficient long-term returns to support retirement [5] - Diversification across asset classes (stocks and bonds) and regions (U.S. and international markets) is suggested as a strategy to manage risk and enhance return consistency over time [6] - Experts also advise adjusting asset allocation over time to better align with changing market conditions [6]

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT:SPY) and Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT:MGK) differ most in sector tilts and risk, with MGK leaning heavily into technology and growth while SPY offers broader diversification and a slightly higher yield. SPY is designed for broad exposure to the U.S. large-cap market, tracking the S&P 500 Index across all major sectors. MGK, in contrast, targets the largest U.S. growth companies, resulting in a concentrated technology tilt. This comparison highlights ho ...

Key Takeaways MPWR posted Q4 results above earnings and revenue estimates, driven by record quarterly revenues.MPWR saw growth across storage, enterprise data, automotive, industrial and communications markets.MPWR delivered non-GAAP EPS of $4.79, beating estimates as revenues rose 20.8% year over year.Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, with both adjusted earnings and revenues surpassing the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.The Kirkland, WA-based company witnesse ...

What does 2026 hold for investors? No one can predict the future, but investors can certainly prepare for it. ...

Robinhood shares slid sharply, down about 40% from their 52-week high, as a steep selloff pushed the stock into oversold territory despite weak momentum. ARK Invest bought roughly $32.7 million worth of shares, betting on a potential long-term boost from proposed "Trump Accounts" and a technical rebound.ARKK , ARKF and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (BATS: ARKW ) funds collectively bought 89,677 shares of Robinhood, valued at around $7.8 million.Shares of Coinbase and other crypto-related companies traded ...

In this article, we will take a look at the 13 Best Long Term Low Risk Stocks to Buy Now.As markets continue to shift, many investors are starting to slow down and think in longer time frames. Michael Sonnenfeldt, founder of TIGER 21, told CNBC Select that high-net-worth investors are spending less time trying to predict market moves. Instead, they are going “back to basics,” focusing on long-term ownership of businesses, real estate, and diversified portfolios.Sonnenfeldt said wealthy investors usually com ...

BARK (NYSE:BARK) Q3 2026 Earnings call February 05, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsMatt Meeker - CEOMike Mougias - VP of Investor RelationsZahir Ibrahim - CFOOperatorLadies, and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Abby, and I'll be your conference Operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the BARK Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings Conference Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. Please note that there will be no question-an ...