VBK ETF Analysis: Holdings, Fees, Inception, Sectors, And Portfolio Role

Investor Checklist

• Issuer and listing venue: Vanguard, NYSEARCA.
• Launch date and fee: Jan 26, 2004, 0.05%.
• Portfolio size and concentration: 557 holdings, with the top 10 at 10.82%.
• Primary exposure: Equity; Small Growth; North America; Index: CRSP US Small Growth
• Best use case: Factor or style sleeve that can complement a broad index fund and change portfolio exposure by valuation, growth, dividend, or quality profile.
• Main risk to respect: The key risk is that VBK's stated diversification may not protect investors if its dominant exposure, largest holdings, or main macro factor reverses. Current top-10 concentration is 10.82%.

VBK Investor Snapshot

VBK is Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF, issued by Vanguard. It is best understood as a size diversification sleeve away from mega-cap stocks. The fund has $22.51B in AUM, charges 0.05%, holds 557 holdings, and has top-10 concentration of 10.82%. Its largest listed holdings include Slcmt1142 (2.37%), Bloom Energy Corporation (1.11%), Ciena Corporation (1.10%).

VBK ETF Facts: Launch Date, Issuer, Fee, Assets, And Strategy

VBK is Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF. Issuer: Vanguard. Exchange: NYSEARCA. Inception: Jan 26, 2004. Expense ratio: 0.05%. AUM: $22.51B. Mandate or tracked index: CRSP US Small Growth

VBK Top Holdings And Concentration

Holdings snapshot: Apr 30, 2026. VBK has 557 holdings. The top 10 positions account for 10.82%, so investors should read the fund through its largest holdings first rather than assuming every ETF is equally diversified.

• VBK - Slcmt1142: 2.37%
• $BE - Bloom Energy Corporation: 1.11%
• $CIEN - Ciena Corporation: 1.10%
• $FIX - Comfort Systems USA, Inc.: 0.95%
• $LITE - Lumentum Holdings Inc.: 0.95%
• $CASY - Casey's General Stores, Inc.: 0.90%
• $FTI - TechnipFMC plc: 0.89%
• $COHR - Coherent Corp.: 0.88%
• $RVMD - Revolution Medicines, Inc.: 0.84%
• $CRDO - Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd: 0.83%

VBK Sector And Industry Exposure

VBK exposure summary: Equity; Small Growth; North America; Index: CRSP US Small Growth. These exposures explain what investors actually own after buying the ETF. A broad fund is usually driven by sector weights and mega-cap leadership; a sector or thematic fund is driven by the industry cycle; a bond or alternative asset fund is driven by macro variables rather than company earnings.

• Technology: 21.71%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Industrials: 20.27%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Health Care: 14.15%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Consumer Discretionary: 13.01%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Financials: 7.80%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Real Estate: 5.07%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Consumer Staples: 4.23%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Energy: 3.97%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Other: 3.96%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.
• Communication Services: 3.09%. Sector weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.

VBK Fees, Liquidity, And Product Structure

VBK trades on NYSEARCA. The stated expense ratio is 0.05%, and current AUM is $22.51B. Lower fees matter most for long holding periods, while AUM and trading depth matter when investors place larger orders or need reliable execution during volatile sessions.

VBK Return Drivers: What Has To Go Right

The return drivers for VBK are domestic earnings breadth, credit conditions, rates, refinancing costs, and small-cap risk appetite. That matters because two ETFs can both look diversified but respond to very different conditions. For VBK, investors should compare price performance with the fund's dominant exposure, the largest holdings, and the macro factor behind the category.

VBK Current Market Theme

Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF is a Small Growth ETF with $22.51B in AUM, 557 holdings, top-10 concentration of 10.82%, and a leading exposure to Technology (21.71%). The largest holdings include Slcmt1142 (2.37%), Bloom Energy Corporation (1.11%), Ciena Corporation (1.10%).

When VBK Tends To Work

VBK tends to work when domestic earnings breadth, credit conditions, rates, refinancing costs, and small-cap risk appetite are moving in the fund's favor.

VBK Portfolio Role: Core Holding Or Satellite Position?

Factor or style sleeve that can complement a broad index fund and change portfolio exposure by valuation, growth, dividend, or quality profile. In practical portfolio terms, VBK should be sized according to whether it is replacing broad market exposure, adding a factor tilt, expressing a sector view, or hedging a macro risk. The more concentrated the fund, the less it should be treated as a complete portfolio by itself.

VBK Key Risks Investors Should Watch

The main risks are specific enough to check before buying, not generic ETF fine print.

• Market risk: VBK can fall with its asset class even when the fund structure works as designed.
• Concentration risk: top-10 weight is 10.82%, which is low for an ETF in this category.
• Exposure risk: the main exposure is Equity; Small Growth; North America; Index: CRSP US Small Growth
• Fee and trading risk: expense ratio is 0.05%; investors should still check spread, volume, and premium/discount before large orders.
• Thesis risk: The key risk is that VBK's stated diversification may not protect investors if its dominant exposure, largest holdings, or main macro factor reverses. Current top-10 concentration is 10.82%.

Who VBK Is Suitable For

VBK can be useful, but the right investor depends on time horizon, existing overlap, and drawdown tolerance.

• More suitable for investors who need a size diversification sleeve away from mega-cap stocks.
• More suitable for investors who understand that VBK's top holdings and sector exposures can dominate short-term returns.
• Less suitable for investors who need stable cash income unless the fund's underlying asset class is explicitly income-oriented.
• Less suitable for investors already heavily exposed to the same largest holdings or same macro factor.

VBK What To Monitor Next

VBK should be reviewed after new holdings files, major market moves, or category-specific catalysts. The most important checks are:

• Holdings as of Apr 30, 2026.
• AUM: $22.51B.
• Expense ratio: 0.05%.
• Top-10 weight: 10.82%.

VBK Action Reference

A useful ETF article should end with a decision framework. For VBK, the practical read is:

• Core-index investor: use as a satellite rather than a replacement for broad diversification.
• Theme investor: check whether the latest holdings still match the investment thesis.
• Risk-control investor: cap position size because sector/factor ETFs can underperform for long stretches.

VBK Bottom Line

VBK is not just a fund name. It is a package of exposures: Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF; issuer Vanguard; fee 0.05%; AUM $22.51B; 557 holdings; top-10 weight 10.82%; holdings date Apr 30, 2026. The investment case is strongest when the fund's largest holdings, main exposure, and category-level return drivers all point in the same direction.

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