VV Handidly Beat the S&P 500, And Only Charges 0.04%

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By Austin Smith Published

Quick Read

  • Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (VV) returned 86.22% over five years vs the S&P 500’s 78.13%.

  • NVIDIA (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), and Microsoft (MSFT) comprise 20.7% of VV’s assets.

  • Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) gained 6.38% last month while VV fell 0.19%.

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VV Handidly Beat the S&P 500, And Only Charges 0.04%

© Chris Hondros / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Most investors don’t need to choose between growth and value. They need exposure to both, rebalanced automatically, at a cost low enough that it doesn’t erode decades of compounding. That’s the exact role Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSEARCA:VV | VV Price Prediction) was built to fill.

VV tracks the CRSP U.S. Large Cap Index, providing exposure to over 400 of America’s largest companies through a single ticker. The fund’s 0.04% annual expense ratio—just $4 per $10,000 invested—combined with minimal 2% portfolio turnover means your returns compound with minimal friction from fees and taxes. This cost structure is critical for long-term wealth building, where every basis point matters over decades.

The portfolio spans growth and value automatically. Technology leads at 34.6% of assets, but you also get meaningful exposure to Financials, Healthcare, and Industrials without making active sector bets.

VV has delivered strong long-term performance, with an 86.22% return over five years that edges out the S&P 500’s 78.13% gain over the same period. That outperformance stems from the fund’s natural tilt toward mega-cap technology leaders that have driven market returns.

The portfolio’s largest positions—NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)—combine for roughly 20.7% of assets. These companies represent the secular growth trends in AI, consumer technology, and cloud computing that have reshaped the large-cap landscape.

VV fits best as a core equity holding for investors who want broad U.S. large-cap exposure without making active bets. It works in retirement accounts, taxable portfolios, and as a foundation for satellite strategies.

The 1.06% dividend yield won’t replace income needs, but dividends have grown steadily. The fund’s dividend has grown from $2.02 per share in 2016 to $3.41 in 2025, representing a 69% increase over the period.

The tradeoffs are concentration and sector risk. The top 10 holdings represent roughly 37% of the fund, and tech’s one-third weighting means you’re heavily exposed to AI narratives, semiconductor cycles, and mega-cap valuations. If growth stocks underperform, VV will lag. Over the past month, pure value funds like Vanguard Value ETF (NYSEARCA:VTV) gained 6.38% while VV was essentially flat at -0.19%, illustrating how style rotations can create short-term divergence.

VV is a workhorse for investors who want the U.S. large-cap market, not a bet on it, with costs low enough to let compounding do its work over decades.

Photo of Austin Smith
About the Author Austin Smith →

Austin Smith is a financial publisher with over two decades of experience in the markets. He spent over a decade at The Motley Fool as a senior editor for Fool.com, portfolio advisor for Millionacres, and launched new brands in the personal finance and real estate investing space.

His work has been featured on Fool.com, NPR, CNBC, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, AOL, Marketwatch, and many other publications. Today he writes for 24/7 Wall St and covers equities, REITs, and ETFs for readers. He is as an advisor to private companies, and co-hosts The AI Investor Podcast.

When not looking for investment opportunities, he can be found skiing, running, or playing soccer with his children. Learn more about me here.

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