How the Largest Stock ETFs Performed

Each month, we check in on the performance of the largest US stock exchange-traded funds.

When evaluating ETFs, investors should focus on long-term returns across multiple years and market cycles. However, short-term returns can provide valuable information about biases within strategies.

Out of the 10 largest US stock ETFs, the top performer last month was the $251.7 billion Vanguard Morningstar Value Index Fund
VTV
, which gained 5.57%. The bottom performer was the $461.3 billion Invesco QQQ Trust QQQ, which lost 6.64%.

Here’s more about the performance of the largest stock ETFs.

Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market Index Fund
VTI

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Large Blend

The $2.3 trillion Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market Index Fund fell 0.72% in October. The loss on the fund was worse than the 0.21% loss on the average fund in the large blend category, outperforming 53% of its peers. Over the past 12 months, the Vanguard fund rose 12.06%, while the average fund in its category rose 10.98%. The fund, launched in May 2001, has climbed 23.12% over the past three years annualized and gained 10.95% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard 500 Index Fund VOO

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Large Blend

The Vanguard 500 Index Fund lost 0.87% in October, falling further than the average fund in the large blend category, which fell 0.21%. The $1.7 trillion fund has gained 12.07% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 10.98%. The Vanguard fund, launched in September 2010, has climbed 23.37% over the past three years annualized and gained 12.02% annualized over the past five years.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Large Blend

The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF lost 0.87% in October, falling further than the average fund in the large blend category, which fell 0.21%. The $867.1 billion fund has gained 12.07% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 10.98%. The iShares fund, launched in May 2000, has climbed 23.37% over the past three years annualized and gained 12.03% annualized over the past five years.

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Large Blend

In October, the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust fell 0.88%, while the average large blend fund lost 0.21%. The fund underperformed 54% of its peers. The $798 billion fund has climbed 12.01% over the past 12 months, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 10.98%. The State Street fund, launched in January 1993, has climbed 23.26% over the past three years annualized and gained 11.96% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund VXUS

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Foreign Large Blend

The $649.3 billion Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund fell 3.12% in October. The loss on the fund was worse than the 1.29% loss on the average fund in the foreign large blend category, underperforming 81% of its peers. Over the past 12 months, the Vanguard fund rose 13.08%, while the average fund in its category rose 13.06%. The fund, launched in January 2011, has climbed 20.31% over the past three years annualized and gained 8.10% annualized over the past five years.

Invesco QQQ Trust QQQ

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Neutral

• : Large Growth

The Invesco QQQ Trust lost 6.64% in October, falling further than the average fund in the large growth category, which fell 4.84%. The $461.3 billion fund has gained 10.25% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 1.78%. The Invesco fund, launched in March 1999, has climbed 26.01% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.00% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard Morningstar Growth Index Fund
VUG

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Large Growth

The $392.1 billion Vanguard Morningstar Growth Index Fund fell 5.56% in October. The loss on the fund was worse than the 4.84% loss on the average fund in the large growth category, underperforming 54% of its peers. Over the past 12 months, the Vanguard fund rose 2.72%, while the average fund in its category rose 1.78%. The fund, launched in January 2004, has climbed 24.64% over the past three years annualized and gained 10.79% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund VEA

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Foreign Large Blend

In October, the Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund fell 1.91%, while the average foreign large blend fund lost 1.29%. The fund underperformed 63% of its peers. The $313.5 billion fund has climbed 16.66% over the past 12 months, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 13.06%. The Vanguard fund, launched in July 2007, has climbed 21.63% over the past three years annualized and gained 9.22% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard Morningstar Value Index Fund
VTV

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Large Value

The Vanguard Morningstar Value Index Fund gained 5.57% in October, outperforming the average fund in the large value category, which rose 4.56%. The $251.7 billion fund has gained 25.30% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 20.69%. The Vanguard fund, launched in January 2004, has climbed 22.00% over the past three years annualized and gained 12.45% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard Morningstar Mid Cap Index Fund
VO

• Morningstar Medalist Rating

  : Gold

• : Mid-Cap Blend

In October, the Vanguard Morningstar Mid Cap Index Fund rose 3.89%, while the average mid-cap blend fund gained 2.40%. The fund outperformed 73% of its peers. The $216.4 billion fund has climbed 13.68% over the past 12 months, performing roughly in line with the average fund in its category, which rose 14.22%. The Vanguard fund, launched in January 2004, has climbed 19.85% over the past three years annualized and gained 6.89% annualized over the past five years.