Core Insights - The iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF (ISCV) and the State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV) are both focused on U.S. small-cap stocks with value characteristics, but they differ in portfolio construction and management costs [4] - ISCV has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to SLYV's 0.15%, making it more affordable for investors [3] - Over the last two decades, ISCV and SLYV have generated similar annualized total returns of 8.4% and 8.3% respectively, but ISCV has outperformed in the last one and five years [6] Fund Characteristics - ISCV holds 1,101 positions with a sector mix of 24% Financial Services, 15% Consumer Cyclical, and 14% Industrials, indicating a highly diversified approach [2] - SLYV holds 454 stocks with sector weightings of 23% Financial Services, 16% Consumer Cyclical, and 15% Industrials, and has larger assets under management [1] - SLYV has a higher dividend yield of 2.1% compared to ISCV's 1.9%, and has shown superior dividend growth rates over the past five and ten years [7] Performance and Volatility - ISCV has demonstrated lower volatility and a lesser drawdown compared to SLYV, appealing to risk-averse investors [6][8] - SLYV offers greater liquidity due to its higher assets under management and trading volume, which may attract investors prioritizing liquidity [5][8]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) has attracted over $58 billion in assets under management and has delivered above-average returns over the last five and ten years, making it a solid investment option for investors seeking low-cost and well-diversified choices [1] Group 1 - The Sunday Investor focuses exclusively on U.S. Equity ETFs and has a strong analytical background, holding a Certificate of Advanced Investment Advice from the Canadian Securities Institute [1] - The Sunday Investor has developed a proprietary ETF Rankings system that evaluates nearly 1,000 ETFs based on various factors including costs, liquidity, risk, size, value, dividends, growth, quality, momentum, and sentiment, resulting in a composite score from 1-10 [1] - The Sunday Investor is actively engaged in the comments section of articles, encouraging interaction and feedback from readers [1]

Core Insights - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have reached $10.3 trillion in U.S. assets, yet many investors still overpay for basic market exposure [2] - Vanguard's unique investor-owned structure allows it to offer lower expense ratios, such as 0.03% for its S&P 500 fund, significantly undercutting competitors [2][5] - The difference in expense ratios can lead to substantial long-term wealth retention, with a 0.03% fee allowing investors to keep 97% of their returns compared to higher fees [3] Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has an expense ratio of 0.03%, equating to a fee of $3 per year on a $10,000 investment, and has delivered a total return of 16% over the past year [5] - This fund is a core holding in portfolio construction, with major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia making up over 20% of its holdings [6] - The fund offers a 1.16% dividend yield, which can be reinvested to compound returns over time [6] Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) - The Vanguard Growth ETF has an expense ratio of 0.04% and targets 200 leading growth companies, returning nearly 25% annually over the past three years [8] - The fund includes profitable companies like Amazon and Alphabet, providing growth exposure without high active management fees [9] Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has an expense ratio of 0.09% and focuses on the tech sector, which has been a major driver of market earnings growth [10] - The fund has delivered annualized returns of nearly 27% over the past three years, with the top 10 holdings representing about 60% of its assets [11] Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF offers REIT exposure with a 0.13% expense ratio and yields about 3.5%, providing diversification and income generation [12] - Historically, REITs have outperformed during periods when the Federal Reserve cuts rates, making this fund a strategic choice for investors [13] Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) - The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF charges an expense ratio of 0.07% and provides access to 835 smaller companies trading at discounted valuations [14] - This segment has historically delivered the highest risk-adjusted returns, offering better risk-reward balance compared to large-cap growth stocks [15]