Vanguard VOO vs. iShares IWO: How S&P 500 Stability Compares to Small-Cap Growth Potential
Key takeaways
- While IWO targets aggressive growth in smaller companies, VOO represents the core of the U.S. economy by tracking the S&P 500.
- Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns.
- Cost is a primary differentiator, as the Vanguard fund is significantly more affordable for long-term investors.
Katie Brockman, The Motley Fool Sun, May 10, 2026 at 12:30 AM GMT+7 4 min read ^GSPC VOO The i Shares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT:IWO) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:VOO) both provide access to a large swath of the U.S. equities market, but they take distinct approaches that may appeal to different investor priorities.
While IWO targets aggressive growth in smaller companies, VOO represents the core of the U.S. economy by tracking the S&P 500. This comparison highlights how these two distinct segments of the market have behaved over time.
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.