Core Insights - The rise of online trading platforms has significantly empowered retail investors, allowing them access to vital financial information and trading opportunities [2][3] - Retail investors now account for approximately 25% of total equities trading volume, a notable increase from the previous decade [3] - Robinhood Markets has effectively attracted retail investors by offering commission-free trades and a leaderboard of popular securities [5] Group 1: Popular ETFs Among Retail Investors - Three low-cost ETFs are among the top 10 most-held securities by Robinhood's retail investors, surpassing well-known stocks like Alphabet and Meta Platforms [6] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust are the first and second most-held securities, both designed to track the S&P 500 index [7] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has a net expense ratio of 0.03%, significantly lower than the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust's 0.0945%, making it a more cost-effective option for long-term investors [14][13] Group 2: Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF - The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF is the 10th most-held security among retail investors, focusing on investment-grade bonds and yielding over 4% [16][18] - The ETF's popularity may be attributed to concerns over high stock valuations, as indicated by the S&P 500's Shiller Price-to-Earnings Ratio, which is at its second-highest level in 155 years [20][21] - Retail investors are increasingly turning to the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF as a safe-haven investment amid fears of a potential market correction or bear market [21]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) and the iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB) provide exposure to short-term, investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds, with key differences in diversification and cost [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - VCSH has an expense ratio of 0.03% and assets under management (AUM) of $46.2 billion, while IGSB has an expense ratio of 0.04% and AUM of $22.5 billion [3] - The one-year return for VCSH is 1.99% compared to IGSB's 2.08%, and the dividend yield for VCSH is 4.22% versus IGSB's 4.29% [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - The maximum drawdown over five years for VCSH is -9.48%, while IGSB is slightly lower at -9.46% [4] - The growth of a $1,000 investment over five years is $963.71 for VCSH and $964.33 for IGSB, indicating similar performance [4] Portfolio Composition - IGSB holds a total of 4,435 investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds, providing substantial diversification [5] - VCSH has a smaller portfolio with 2,552 bond holdings, also focusing on investment-grade corporate bonds with a similar maturity range [6] Investment Considerations - The primary distinction between the two funds lies in diversification, with IGSB offering a broader range of bonds [8] - VCSH's larger AUM may provide greater liquidity and potentially lower fees, which could be a consideration for long-term investors [9]