Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $85.14, while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $52.69. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VOOG | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | — |
52-Week High | $85.42 | $53.62 |
52-Week Low | $65.32 | $42.23 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
VOOG trades at $85.18, down slightly by 0.02% today. Technical indicators show a bullish trend with moving averages supporting upside momentum, though the relative strength index suggests potential overbought conditions near-term. Recent news highlights institutional accumulation, including Apella Capital increasing holdings by 463.2% as of August 2026, and the ETF hitting a new 52-week high, reflecting strong investor interest in large-cap growth exposure.
The outlook remains positive given the ETF's low expense ratio of 0.07% and focus on S&P 500 growth stocks, but risks include high concentration in technology sectors and sensitivity to market volatility. Continued institutional inflows and bullish technical signals support further gains, though overbought levels warrant caution.
XLB (Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF) trades at $52.68, down 0.94% on the day, while maintaining a bullish technical outlook with strong moving average support. The materials sector benefits from infrastructure spending and AI-related demand, though recent price action suggests some consolidation after the sector rebound. Technical indicators show mixed signals with overbought short-term RSI but strong trend momentum.
The ETF offers diversified exposure to materials companies with cyclical recovery potential, though valuation metrics appear limited after recent gains. Key risks include economic sensitivity and commodity price volatility, while positive earnings momentum and institutional interest provide support for long-term investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
VOOG is an index-based ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, composed of the growth-oriented companies within the S&P 500. It selects constituents based on three key metrics—sales growth, the ratio of earnings change to price, and momentum—offering a highly liquid and low-cost way to capture the high-performing 'growth slice' of the broader U.S. large-cap market.
Read more on VOOG →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLB →