Value vs. Growth ETFs: How Do You Choose? (2024)

When looking to add an equity-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) to a portfolio, you usually have to choose between one of two broad categories: growth and value.

Value ETFs look to invest primarily in the stocks of companies that are trading below their intrinsic worth, compared to either their peers or the broader market—using metrics such as the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Growth ETFs, in contrast, focus on investing in fast-expanding, and often more volatile, companies in hopes of realizing above-average returns.

Both of these strategies can yield market-beating returns. Your risk tolerance, investing goals, and current portfolio composition are the most important factors in determining whether to add a growth or value ETF to a portfolio. Generally speaking, having both value and growth ETFs in a portfolio provides valuable risk-reducing diversification benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • Both value and growth ETFs can be an important part of any portfolio, contributing to its diversification.
  • The choice to focus on either value ETFs or growth ETFs comes down to personal risk tolerance.
  • Growth ETFs may have higher long-term returns but come with more risk.
  • Value ETFs are more conservative; they may perform better in volatile markets but can come with less potential for growth.

Value ETFs

A big factor in choosing between growth and value is the state of your current portfolio. If you're starting out, build a portfolio around a core of highly rated value ETFs. These funds tend to consist of companies that produce products used every day by just about everybody.

Examples of traditional value stocks include AT&T (T), Procter & Gamble (PG), General Electric (GE), and Coca-Cola (KO). These companies look to provide conservative long-term growth with comparatively lower volatility.

Another benefit of adding value ETFs to a portfolio is their dividend yields. These companies tend to be bigger cash flow generators, and that cash flow often gets paid out in the form of dividends. Dividends provide you with a predictable income stream that can become a significant percentage of a value ETF's overall shareholder return.

With all ETFs, pay attention to the expense ratio, as those are the fees you pay that reduce your returns. The lower the better.

Growth ETFs

Growth ETFs generally complement a core portfolio. Growth companies such as Tesla (TSLA), Meta (META), Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL), though fairly established by now, can deliver above-average returns.

Growth stocks also come with a great deal of volatility and can struggle, especially in times of economic weakness. Some other growth companies that are not as popular as the above-mentioned tech giants include Builders FirstSource (BLDR), Encore Wire (WIRE), Clearfield (CLFD), and Onto Innovation (ONTO).

A portfolio consisting primarily of growth ETFs can expose you to excessive risk, but when balanced with value ETFs, they can create an appealing risk/return profile.

If you're seeking a regular income from a growth ETF, you're more likely to be disappointed. Many growth-oriented companies reinvest available cash back into growing the business instead of paying profits out to shareholders directly. Many of these companies pay little, if anything, in regular dividends.

Deciding Between Growth and Value ETFs

If you have difficulty stomaching regular market fluctuations, stick with a more conservative, value ETF. If you're comfortable with more volatility as a way to achieve above-average returns, you may prefer a higher allocation to growth ETFs.

Examine what the fund typically invests in and how it is managed. A fund with a manager who has been at the helm for several years provides a track record of historical performance and a sense of how the fund is managed.

Some funds, for example, are categorized as value funds but carry large allocations to riskier sectors like technology. Make sure you know what you are buying. Also, consider a fund's expense ratio. Fund expenses cut directly into returns; avoid funds with above-average expense ratios.

Time horizons should also be a consideration. You can generally take more risk if your money stays invested longer. Longer time horizons allow you a better chance to ride out short-term market volatility. Younger investors adding to an individual retirement account (IRA), for example, have decades to remain invested and can take some additional risk to pursue higher returns.

Choosing between a value and growth ETF is only part of the decision-making process. Choosing the right ETF is equally important.

What Are Good Growth ETFs?

Some good growth ETFs for consideration are the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG), the iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IMCG), the Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT), and the First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted ETF (QQEW). Remember, with all investments, to check if they suit your investment goals and risk profile, and that past performance is never indicative of future performance.

What Are Good Value ETFs?

Value ETFs to consider for your portfolio include the SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV), the Fidelity Value Factor ETF (FVAL), the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE), and the Invesco S&P MidCap Value With Momentum ETF (XMVM).

Are There Downsides to Investing in ETFs?

Overall, there is little downside to investing in ETFs; however, with all investments, there are some risks. ETFs come with fairly low fees, making them fairly affordable for the average investor. Keep an eye on fees and avoid funds that have high ones unless those fees are truly justifiable.

Additionally, some ETFs can stray from their benchmark and have poor tracking errors, which defeats the purpose of the ETF. Furthermore, ETFs provide little control—you don't get to choose which assets make up the ETFs. So if there are specific companies you want to avoid for moral reasons, that may be difficult to do.

The Bottom Line

Both value ETFs and growth ETFs can be good investment choices. They offer different risk profiles and investment returns, with each hopefully bringing a nice return to an investor. Choosing between the two comes down to individual preferences based on investment goals, current portfolio construction, and risk tolerance. Having both in your portfolio would be an overall good bet.

Value vs. Growth ETFs: How Do You Choose? (2024)

FAQs

Value vs. Growth ETFs: How Do You Choose? ›

The choice to focus on either value ETFs or growth ETFs comes down to personal risk tolerance. Growth ETFs may have higher long-term returns but come with more risk. Value ETFs are more conservative; they may perform better in volatile markets but can come with less potential for growth.

When to buy value vs growth? ›

For example, value stocks tend to outperform during bear markets and economic recessions, while growth stocks tend to excel during bull markets or periods of economic expansion. This factor should, therefore, be taken into account by shorter-term investors or those seeking to time the markets.

How do I choose a growth ETF? ›

Criteria for choosing the best ETFs for long-term investing include: High assets under management: Growth ETFs with the highest AUM tend to have higher trading volume, which generally translates to higher liquidity and superior pricing through lower bid/offer spreads.

Should I invest in growth or value mutual funds? ›

Some studies show that value investing has outperformed growth over extended periods of time on a value-adjusted basis. Value investors argue that a short-term focus can often push stock prices to low levels, which creates great buying opportunities for value investors.

How do you know if a fund is value or growth? ›

Typically, growth stocks boast higher-than-average valuations. You can check a stock's valuation by looking at price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book value (P/B) ratios. Conversely, value funds look for companies with a lower P/E ratio when compared to their competitors.

Should I invest in Voo or Voog? ›

Regarding risk, VOOG is generally considered riskier since you are investing in growth companies with higher volatility. However, these growth companies are in the S&P 500, eliminating some risk levels. Another key difference is expenses; VOO has a significantly lower expense ratio and is more diversified than VOOG.

Is growth or value more risky? ›

Additionally, value funds don't emphasize growth above all, so even if the stock doesn't appreciate, investors typically benefit from dividend payments. Value stocks have more limited upside potential and, therefore, can be safer investments than growth stocks.

Should I invest in growth or value ETFs? ›

The choice to focus on either value ETFs or growth ETFs comes down to personal risk tolerance. Growth ETFs may have higher long-term returns but come with more risk. Value ETFs are more conservative; they may perform better in volatile markets but can come with less potential for growth.

Is qqq a growth ETF? ›

Among large-cap growth ETFs, the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM) are known for being strong proxies for the technology sector. That's because those funds allocate almost half their respective rosters to that group.

Is schd a growth ETF? ›

VIG and SCHD are both dividend ETFs; however, there are some differences that may make one more suitable for an investor compared to the other. For example, VIT focuses on dividend growth while SCHD focuses on high dividend yields.

Is the S&P 500 more growth or value? ›

34% of "growth stocks" in the S&P500 growth index have growth rates than are lower than the median growth of value stocks, and 35% of "value" stocks have growth rates higher than the median growth stocks.

What are the disadvantages of growth mutual funds? ›

Disadvantages of investing in growth funds

Higher volatility: Growth funds tend to exhibit higher volatility compared to debt funds, as they invest in equity of companies with higher growth potential, which may also be more susceptible to market fluctuations.

What is the value vs growth in 2024? ›

Based on consensus earnings in 2024, the MSCI World Growth Index is trading at 27 times its profits, almost twice the price-to-earnings multiple of the 14x for the Value Index. But growth has also grown earnings about three times faster, by 15% versus 5%.

Is value investing still relevant? ›

Value investing has been used by many investors, in conjunction with other investment considerations, to profit over long periods. Is value investing still relevant? Yes—and here are some tips on how to do it successfully: Value stocks are generally good bargains, but not all bargain stocks offer good value.

What is core vs growth vs value? ›

The value score is subtracted from the growth score. If the result is strongly negative, the stock's style is value; if the result is strongly positive, the stock is classified as growth. If the scores for value and growth are not substantially different, the stock is classified as 'core'.

How is value fund different from growth fund? ›

The companies in a growth fund portfolio register higher earnings and market growth, while those in a value fund portfolio are likely to show a lower sales and earnings but give out higher dividends. Because of the lower cost of the stocks that are part of a value fund, it may be cheaper to buy than a growth fund.

Does value ever outperform growth? ›

Growth stocks generally perform better during bull markets, when interest rates are falling, and when corporate earnings are trending up. However, during economic slowdowns, growth tends to lag behind value. Similarly, value tends to outperform growth during bear markets and in the early stages of economic recovery.

What is growth at a reasonable price? ›

Growth at a reasonable price (GARP) is an equity investment strategy that combines growth and value investing attributes. GARP investors focus on companies with earnings growth above broad market levels but without extremely high valuations.

How do you know when to sell growth stock? ›

Many investors use price targets to determine when to sell a stock. Investors that use the strategy typically will determine a price range for when to sell the stock at the time of purchase. As a stock price rises, investors can begin selling the position once it reaches the price target range.

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