VOT ETF: What Is It? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
The Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT), which tracks the CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index, stands out for its low expense ratio, quarterly dividends, and broad diversification. The key selection criterion is the difference in market-cap range compared with large-cap growth ETFs such as VUG and SCHG.
SubscribeWhat Is the Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF?
It is a core ETF for US mid-cap growth stocks that tracks the CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index. It holds a broad range of mid-sized companies with growth characteristics on a market-cap-weighted basis, following the performance of the mid-cap growth style.
It suits long-term investors who want to extend diversification beyond large caps into the mid-cap growth segment.
It is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF run by Vanguard.
How Does the Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked index | CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index |
| Management style | Passive (index-tracking) |
| Rebalancing frequency | Quarterly |
| Dividend frequency | Quarterly dividends |
| Issuer | Vanguard |
| Total expense ratio | 0.05% |
The fund holds the constituents of the CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index in proportion to their market-cap weights, tracking the performance of US mid-cap growth stocks as a whole. It diversifies broadly across a group of mid-sized companies selected on growth characteristics, and rebalancing is reflected quarterly in line with the index methodology.
- Low expense ratio compared with the category average
- Broad diversification across the mid-cap growth segment
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Expense Ratio)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $19.0B, and the total expense ratio is 0.05% per year.
Compared with VO, the core mid-cap ETF in the same Vanguard lineup, the difference is its concentration on the growth style, while its expense ratio remains low.
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Performance and Trends
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeGiven the nature of mid-cap growth stocks, volatility tends to be somewhat higher than for large caps, and performance tends to depend on risk appetite and the interest rate environment. In periods when demand for the growth style is strong, the fund can also show relatively resilient moves.
Fund inflows and outflows continue in line with demand for growth-style diversification, and when market risk appetite weakens, money also tends to leave mid-cap stocks broadly. Demand to hold the fund as a core position remains steady.
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Pros and Cons
Its strengths are a low expense ratio and broad diversification across mid-cap growth stocks, while its weaknesses are the volatility typical of mid caps and a style tilt.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Alternative ETFs and Related Products
VUG, IWF, and SCHG, shown in the table, share the same growth style but focus on large caps, so their market-cap range is different. Direct comparisons within the same mid-cap growth segment include IWP from the iShares lineup and IJK, which tracks the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index. For those who want to diversify across mid-cap stocks as a whole without the growth tilt, a core ETF such as VO from the same Vanguard lineup is also worth considering.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 VUG | Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | $88.81 | +0.4% | $229.7B | 0.03% | 0.39% | +6.1% |
 IWF | iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF | $123.01 | +0.6% | $124.8B | 0.18% | 0.35% | +0.5% |
 IVW | iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF | $140.18 | +0.7% | $77.4B | 0.18% | 0.35% | +11.6% |
 SCHG | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF | $35.62 | +0.3% | $63.8B | 0.04% | 0.39% | +6.3% |
 SPYG | State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | $121.33 | +0.6% | $55.9B | 0.04% | 0.48% | +11.6% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRT | Vertiv Holdings Co | 0.05% | $242.94 | +16.5% | $93.5B | 45.4 | 0.09% |
| WDC | Western Digital Corp | 0.02% | $396.42 | +4.1% | $148.4B | 15.4 | 0.16% |
| HWM | Howmet Aerospace Inc | 0.05% | $195.19 | +1.7% | $77.8B | 42.1 | 0.26% |
| STX | Seagate Technology Holdings Plc | 0.05% | $697.97 | +4.5% | $158.7B | 36.7 | 0.44% |
| PWR | Quanta Services Inc | 0.05% | $606.89 | +4.8% | $91.2B | 69.5 | 0.07% |
| CEG | Constellation Energy Corp | 0.02% | $258.08 | -0.3% | $91.4B | 25.1 | 0.66% |
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to review before investing in VOT. It is a low-cost, core-type mid-cap growth ETF, but the volatility typical of mid caps, the growth style tilt, and the currency exposure for Korean won investors should be confirmed before buying.
| Checkpoint | What to check | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense ratio | Check the impact of cumulative costs over a long holding period | Low |
| 📊 Market-cap range | Whether you can tolerate mid-cap volatility | Mid-cap growth focus |
| 🎯 Style tilt | Review the weight of the growth style | Concentrated in growth stocks |
| 💱 Exchange rate | Impact on returns converted into won | Not currency hedged |
Mid-cap volatility and the growth style tilt are the main drivers of short-term price swings. When risk appetite weakens, declines can be larger than for large caps, so even a core asset requires attention to the possibility of short-term losses.
It is a core-type option suited to long-term investors who want to gain exposure to the mid-cap growth segment at a low cost. If the goal is diversification across mid caps as a whole, VO can serve as a complementary alternative, and if you need more large-cap growth weighting, ETFs such as VUG and SCHG can fill that role.
SubscribeDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of June 21, 2026.
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