Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Should Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Read MoreHide Full Article

Looking for broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market? You should consider the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 09/22/2010.

The fund is sponsored by Vanguard. It has amassed assets over $9.18 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Why Small Cap Blend

With more potential comes more risk, and small cap companies, with market capitalization below $2 billion, epitomizes this way of thinking.

Blend ETFs are aptly named, since they tend to hold a mix of growth and value stocks, as well as show characteristics of both kinds of equities.

Costs

Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.10%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.38%.

Sector Exposure and Top Holdings

ETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 17.40% of the portfolio. Financials and Information Technology round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Slbbh1142 accounts for about 1.77% of total assets, followed by Super Micro Computer Inc (SMCI - Free Report) and Microstrategy Inc (MSTR - Free Report) .

Performance and Risk

VTWO seeks to match the performance of the Russell 2000 Index before fees and expenses. The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe.

The ETF has added about 1.55% so far this year and is up roughly 16.19% in the last one year (as of 05/24/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $65.62 and $85.06.

The ETF has a beta of 1.15 and standard deviation of 22.65% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 1970 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

Alternatives

Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, VTWO is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM - Free Report) and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR - Free Report) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $60 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $78.14 billion. IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% and IJR charges 0.06%.

Bottom-Line

Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Published in