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<h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF provides exposure to large-cap technology giants while the State Street SPDR S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF targets the small-cap segment.</li><li>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF offers a lower expense ratio of 0.07% compared to the 0.15% fee for the State Street SPDR S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF.</li><li>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF has historically delivered higher total returns over the last five years though it experienced a deeper maximum drawdown during that span.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Admiral Funds - Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF ›</li></ul><p>The <strong>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF</strong> <span class="ticker">(NYSEMKT:VOOG)</span> provides low-cost exposure to large-cap growth giants, while the <strong>State Street SPDR S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF</strong> <span class="ticker">(NYSEMKT:SLYG)</span> offers targeted access to the small-cap segment.</p><p>This comparison highlights the fundamental differences between investing in established market leaders and emerging smaller companies. The Vanguard fund focuses on large-cap growth engines, while the State Street fund seeks expansion potential among smaller enterprises, creating distinct profiles for risk and total return.</p><h2 id="snapshot-cost-amp-size">Snapshot (cost &amp; size)</h2><section><table><tbody><tr><th>Metric</th><th>SLYG</th><th>VOOG</th></tr><tr><td>Issuer</td><td>SPDR</td><td>Vanguard</td></tr><tr><td>Expense ratio</td><td>0.15%</td><td>0.07%</td></tr><tr><td>1-yr return (as of May 18, 2026)</td><td>21.70%</td><td>31.50%</td></tr><tr><td>Dividend yield</td><td>0.70%</td><td>0.47%</td></tr><tr><td>Beta</td><td>1.06</td><td>1.17</td></tr><tr><td>AUM</td><td>~$4.6 billion</td><td>~$24.2 billion</td></tr></tbody></table></section><p><em>Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&amp;P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.</em></p><p>Investors could find the Vanguard fund more affordable, as its expense ratio is 0.07% versus 0.15% for the State Street fund. The Vanguard fund also offers a significantly higher AUM for active traders.</p><h2 id="performance-amp-risk-comparison">Performance &amp; risk comparison</h2><section><table><tbody><tr><th>Metric</th><th>SLYG</th><th>VOOG</th></tr><tr><td>Max drawdown (5 yr)</td><td>(29.20%)</td><td>(32.70%)</td></tr><tr><td>Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)</td><td>$1,324</td><td>$2,104</td></tr></tbody></table></section><h2 id="whatx27s-inside">What's inside</h2><p>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF concentrates on large-cap leaders, with sector weights including technology at 48%, communication services at 17%, and financial services at 10%. It manages 212 holdings and was launched in 2010. Its largest positions include <strong>NVIDIA</strong> <span class="ticker">(NASDAQ:NVDA)</span> at 14.54%, <strong>Microsoft</strong> <span class="ticker">(NASDAQ:MSFT)</span> at 9.08%, and <strong>Alphabet</strong> <span class="ticker">(NASDAQ:GOOGL)</span> at 6.72%. The fund has paid $1.72 per share over the trailing 12 months.</p><p>In contrast, the State Street SPDR S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF <span class="ticker">(NYSEMKT:SLYG)</span> targets the small-cap segment with 343 holdings and was launched in 2000. Its allocation features technology at 20%, industrials at 20%, and healthcare at 15%. Its largest positions include <strong>Sanmina</strong> <span class="ticker">(NASDAQ:SANM)</span> at 1.57%, <strong>Viavi Solutions</strong> <span class="ticker">(NASDAQ:VIAV)</span> at 1.45%, and <strong>Argan</strong> <span class="ticker">(NYSE:AGX)</span> at 1.22%. It has paid $0.77 per share over the trailing 12 months.</p><p>For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.</p><h2 id="what-this-means-for-investors">What this means for investors</h2><p>Investing in growth stocks is a great way to achieve strong returns in a portfolio. The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) and the State Street SPDR S&amp;P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) take different approaches to achieve this. Choosing between these ETFs comes down to which strategy fits better with your investment goals.</p><p>VOOG targets growth companies in the S&amp;P 500. That means nearly half the stocks in the fund reside in the technology industry, since the hot field of artificial intelligence has supercharged shares of businesses in the sector.</p><p>The rise of AI contributed to VOOG’s strong 31.5% one-year return, but tech stocks are volatile, leading to a higher beta and max drawdown. VOOG is for investors who prefer to pursue large-cap companies, particularly those involved in AI, as the means for exposure to growth stocks, and are willing to accept higher volatility and risk as a result.</p><p>SLYG takes the opposite tactic by focusing on small-cap companies exhibiting growth, as determined by factors such as the rate of sales expansion. Because of its approach, SLYG boasts greater diversification across industries. This helps to mitigate a downturn in any given sector.</p><p>However, SLYG has a much higher expense ratio, and while its one-year return is good, its holdings aren’t delivering VOOG’s outsized results. SLYG is for investors who want a more balanced portfolio, or who may own stocks in VOOG and want to complement that with exposure to small cap stocks.</p><h2>Should you buy stock in Vanguard Admiral Funds - Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF right now?</h2>
<p>Before you buy stock in Vanguard Admiral Funds - Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF, consider this:</p>
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<p>Consider when <strong>Netflix</strong> made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, <strong>you’d have $481,750</strong>!* Or when <strong>Nvidia</strong> made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, <strong>you’d have $1,352,457</strong>!*</p>
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<p style="color: #767676; text-align: left"><em>*Stock Advisor returns as of May 20, 2026. </em></p><p><em>Robert Izquierdo has positions in Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Viavi Solutions. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.</em></p>
<p>The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.</p>
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SLYG

VOOG

<p>The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) offers lower fees and higher returns compared to the State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG). VOOG focuses on large-cap tech stocks, achieving a 31.5% one-year return, while SLYG targets small-cap growth with a 21.7% return. VOOG has a lower expense ratio (0.07% vs. 0.15%) but higher volatility. Investors should choose based on their risk tolerance and investment goals.</p>

nasdaq

SPDR S&P 600 S-Cp Grw

VG S&P 500 Grw

State Street

NVIDIA

Microsoft

Alphabet

Sanmina

Viavi Solutions

Argan

S&P 500

Netflix

State Street® US Equity Premium Inc ETF

NVIDIA Corporation

Alphabet - C

Which Is the Better Growth ETF, Vanguard's Large-Cap VOOG or State Street's Small-Cap SLYG?