Core Insights - The comparison between iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) highlights differences in dividend yield, sector focus, and risk, which are crucial for investors considering income versus growth strategies [1][2]. Cost & Size - HDV has an expense ratio of 0.08% while VIG has a lower expense ratio of 0.05% [3][4]. - As of January 2, 2026, HDV's one-year return is 12.0% compared to VIG's 14.4% [3]. - HDV offers a dividend yield of 3.2%, significantly higher than VIG's 2.0% [3][4]. - HDV has assets under management (AUM) of $12.0 billion, while VIG has a much larger AUM of $102.0 billion [3][4]. Performance & Risk Comparison - Over five years, HDV's maximum drawdown is -15.41%, while VIG's is -20.39% [5]. - An investment of $1,000 in HDV would grow to $1,683 over five years, whereas the same investment in VIG would grow to $1,737 [5]. Portfolio Composition - VIG consists of 338 holdings with a significant tilt towards Technology (30%), Financial Services (21%), and Healthcare (15%) [6]. - The top holdings in VIG include Broadcom, Microsoft, and Apple, reflecting its focus on dividend growth [6]. - HDV is concentrated on 74 U.S. stocks with higher current yields, focusing on sectors like Consumer Defensive, Energy, and Healthcare [7]. - Major positions in HDV include Exxon Mobil, Johnson & Johnson, and Chevron, emphasizing its income-oriented strategy [7]. Investment Suitability - VIG is suited for investors seeking growth through dividend appreciation, despite its lower yield [11][13]. - HDV appeals to conservative investors prioritizing income and lower volatility due to its higher dividend yield and focus on defensive sectors [12][13].

Core Insights - The article compares two leading short-term bond ETFs: Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV) and iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB), highlighting their differences in cost, portfolio concentration, and sector exposure [2][3] Cost and Size Comparison - BSV has a lower expense ratio of 0.03% compared to ISTB's 0.06%, making it more cost-effective for investors [4][5] - BSV has significantly higher assets under management (AUM) at $65.6 billion, while ISTB has $4.7 billion [4][10] - Both funds have the same 1-year return of 1.6%, but ISTB offers a slightly higher dividend yield of 4.1% compared to BSV's 3.8% [4][5] Performance and Risk Analysis - Over a five-year period, BSV experienced a max drawdown of 8.50%, while ISTB had a max drawdown of 9.33% [6] - The growth of a $1,000 investment over five years is $951 for BSV and $945 for ISTB, indicating a marginally better performance for BSV [6] Portfolio Composition - BSV holds a concentrated portfolio of just 30 bonds, with a significant focus on communication services (69%) [7] - ISTB, in contrast, has a diversified portfolio with nearly 7,000 bonds, primarily in utilities (99%) [8] - BSV's largest positions include Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America, while ISTB's top holdings are U.S. Treasury notes [7][8] Investor Implications - BSV is more suitable for cost-conscious investors seeking high liquidity due to its lower fees and larger AUM [10] - ISTB offers broader diversification and a better dividend yield, making it appealing for investors looking for stability and income [11]

Core Insights - The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is tech-heavy and has shown strong recent performance, while the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) offers broader diversification, lower fees, and a higher yield [1][2] Cost Comparison - QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.20%, while VOO has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.03% [3][4] - VOO also offers a higher dividend yield of 1.1% compared to QQQ's 0.5% [3][4] Performance Metrics - As of November 28, 2025, QQQ has a 1-year return of 21.5%, outperforming VOO's 13.5% [3] - Over five years, QQQ's maximum drawdown is -35.12%, compared to VOO's -24.52% [5][10] - The growth of a $1,000 investment over five years is $2,067 for QQQ and $1,889 for VOO [5] Composition and Sector Exposure - VOO tracks the S&P 500 Index with 505 companies, allocating 36% to technology, 13% to financial services, and 11% to consumer cyclicals [6][7] - QQQ is more concentrated, with 54% in technology, 17% in communication services, and 13% in consumer cyclicals [7] - Major holdings for both ETFs include NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft, but QQQ has slightly higher individual weights in these stocks [7] Investment Appeal - VOO is suitable for investors seeking broad, low-cost coverage of the U.S. large-cap universe, while QQQ appeals to those looking for concentrated growth in technology [6][10] - Both ETFs are considered excellent choices for investment portfolios, despite their low dividend yields [11]