Core Viewpoint - Bank of America has adopted a bullish stance on large-cap growth ETFs in its 2025 outlook, upgrading its category view from Neutral to Favorable and initiating coverage on 14 growth ETFs while refreshing ratings on five others [1][5][7]. Market Context - The upgrade occurs amidst a market dominated by tech, mega-cap, and AI stocks, with the concentration of the top stocks in the S&P 500 reaching unprecedented levels, driven by the "magnificent 7" [2][4]. - Despite high valuations, Bank of America believes that improved balance sheet quality and revenue growth could sustain the ongoing market rally [2]. ETF Performance - Large-cap growth ETFs like VUG and SCHG have seen significant inflows as investors pursue AI-driven earnings momentum [5]. - A total of 8 ETFs received the highest "1-FV" rating from Bank of America, indicating strong performance relative to other factors [9]. Risk Considerations - The market is currently facing additional risks, including potential government shutdowns, a weaker labor market, and possible fatigue from three years of continuous gains in the S&P 500 [4][7]. Rating Methodology - Bank of America evaluates ETFs based on various factors such as ROA, ROE, valuation, earnings growth, and expense ratios, with the best ETFs earning a "1-FV" rating and the worst receiving a "3-UF" rating [8][10].

Key Points The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has averaged around 12% annual returns since its January 2004 inception. Investing in large-cap growth stocks can provide growth opportunities and long-term stability. VUG is tech-heavy, so it's best used as a complementary piece to a portfolio. 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Index Funds - Vanguard Growth ETF › Everyone invests for the same reason: to make money. And although nothing is ever guaranteed in the stock market, making money there is far ...

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The S&P 500’s performance in September underscored the market’s underlying uncertainties. Wall Street is expected to face increased economic uncertainty in the near term, which may weigh on investor confidence.In such a scenario, adopting a strategy like buy-and-hold to build a resilient investor portfolio is beneficial.Understanding the StrategyBuy-and-hold is a classic strategy offering a passive investment approach, ideal for investors seeking sustainable long-term returns. Buy-and-hold investors stay in ...

Economic Growth - The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.8% annualized rate in the second quarter, marking the fastest growth in nearly two years, driven by robust consumer spending and solid business investment [1] - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised its growth expectations for the U.S. to 1.8% in 2025, up from 1.6% in June, but forecasts for 2026 are projected at 1.5%, indicating a notable drop from 2.8% in 2024 [2] Consumer Spending - Consumer spending, which constitutes over two-thirds of economic activity, rose by 2.5% in the second quarter, revised up from a previous estimate of 1.6% [3] - In the last month, consumer spending increased by 0.6%, following a 0.5% gain in July [3] Household Wealth - Household wealth reached a record $176.3 trillion in the second quarter, although lower-income families face challenges from rising import-driven prices [4] Investment Trends - U.S. equity funds experienced a net inflow of $12.06 billion in the week ending September 24, reversing two weeks of outflows, with large-cap equity funds attracting $16.94 billion, the largest weekly inflow since April 9 [5] - Large-cap ETFs are recommended as a balanced investment strategy to capture growth potential while maintaining a defensive stance amid economic uncertainty [6] ETF Recommendations - Suggested large-cap ETFs include Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) [7] - Growth ETFs such as Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG), iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF), iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW), SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG), and iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF (IUSG) are also recommended for investors seeking higher growth potential [9]

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]

Core Insights - The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) is a passively managed ETF launched on September 9, 2010, with over $20.05 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth Overview - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, offering a stable investment option with less risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by higher than average sales and earnings growth rates, but they also come with higher valuations and associated risks [3] Group 2: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.07%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.49% [4] - VOOG aims to match the performance of the S&P 500 Growth Index and has gained approximately 17.4% year-to-date and about 30.01% over the past year, with a trading range between $299.15 and $428.71 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 42.1% of the portfolio, followed by Telecom and Consumer Discretionary [5] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) represents approximately 14.89% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Meta Platforms Inc (META) also among the top holdings; the top 10 holdings account for about 41.77% of total assets [6] Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - VOOG has a beta of 1.11 and a standard deviation of 20.13% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium risk investment with 217 holdings to diversify company-specific risk [8] - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential based on expected returns, expense ratio, and momentum; alternatives include Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ) [9][10] Group 5: Market Trends - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [11]

Core Insights - The First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF (FTC) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Growth category and utilizes a smart beta strategy [1][5] - The ETF has amassed assets over $1.22 billion and seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Large Cap Growth Index [5] - FTC has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.34% and an annual expense ratio of 0.58% [6] Fund Characteristics - FTC employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology, which selects stocks based on fundamental characteristics rather than market capitalization [5] - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, accounting for approximately 23.2% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Financials [7] - The top 10 holdings represent about 10.66% of FTC's total assets, with Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) being the largest individual holding at 1.2% [8] Performance Metrics - As of September 2, 2025, FTC has returned approximately 13.46% year-to-date and 23.5% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $116.97 and $158.18 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.11 and a standard deviation of 18.39% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the large-cap growth space include Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having an expense ratio of 0.04% and QQQ at 0.20% [11] - Investors seeking lower-cost options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Large Cap Growth [12]

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK) is a significant player in the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with over $28.92 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - MGK is a passively managed ETF launched on December 17, 2007, sponsored by Vanguard [1] - The ETF aims to provide broad exposure to large cap growth companies, which typically have market capitalizations above $10 billion [2] Group 2: Growth Stock Characteristics - Growth stocks, which MGK primarily invests in, exhibit faster growth rates, higher valuations, and above-average sales and earnings growth compared to the broader market [3] - While growth stocks can outperform value stocks in strong bull markets, value stocks historically deliver better returns across various market conditions [3] Group 3: Cost Structure - MGK has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.07%, positioning it as one of the least expensive ETFs in its category [4] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.41% [4] Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 56.5% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Telecom [5] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding, accounting for about 14.47% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) also among the top holdings [6] Group 5: Performance Metrics - MGK seeks to match the performance of the CRSP U.S. Mega Cap Growth Index, which measures the performance of mega-cap growth stocks [7] - The ETF has gained approximately 12.02% year-to-date and 23.77% over the past year, with a trading range between $273.67 and $389.51 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 6: Risk Assessment - MGK has a beta of 1.19 and a standard deviation of 21.85% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8] - The ETF holds about 71 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [8] Group 7: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $184.82 billion in assets and QQQ at $365.36 billion [11] - VUG has an expense ratio of 0.04%, while QQQ charges 0.2% [11] Group 8: Market Trends - There is a growing trend among retail and institutional investors towards passively managed ETFs due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [12]

Core Insights - The First Trust Growth Strength ETF (FTGS) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market and has amassed over $1.23 billion in assets since its launch on October 25, 2022 [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth Overview - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, offering a stable investment option with less risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by higher sales and earnings growth rates, but they also come with higher valuations and risks compared to other equity types [3] Group 2: Costs and Performance - The FTGS ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.6%, which is considered relatively high, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.33% [4] - The ETF has gained approximately 12.13% year-to-date and 14.89% over the past year, with a trading range between $26.62 and $35.51 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 30.6% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Financials [5] - Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) represents about 2.91% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 24.93% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - FTGS has a beta of 1.13 and a standard deviation of 17.78% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with about 51 holdings [8] - Alternatives to FTGS include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10]