Multiple Institutions Boost Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF Positions; Cerity Partners Adds $11.5M Stake
In the third quarter, Cerity Partners LLC increased its Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF position by 7.5% to 38,710 shares valued at $11.52 million, while Mechanics Bank Trust and Clayton Financial each boosted stakes by 22.2% and 119.0%, respectively. Brookstone Capital Management more than doubled its holding with a 115.8% rise to 9,677 shares.
1. Vanguard VBK Outperforms Peer on Fees and Scale
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) carries an expense ratio of just 0.07%, undercutting State Street’s SLYG at 0.15% by more than half. VBK’s asset base stands at approximately $22 billion, nearly four times the $5.7 billion held by SLYG, providing deeper liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads. Over the trailing 12 months, VBK delivered a total return of 18.2%, outperforming SLYG’s 15.4% gain. However, VBK experienced a peak-to-trough drawdown of 29.3% during the five-year period, versus SLYG’s shallower 24.8% drawdown, reflecting VBK’s higher exposure to early-stage growth stocks during market sell-offs.
2. Cerity Partners and Other Institutions Boost VBK Positions
In the third quarter, Cerity Partners LLC increased its holding in VBK by 7.5%, adding 2,709 shares to reach 38,710 shares valued at $11.5 million as of the latest 13F filing. Mechanics Bank Trust Department followed with a 22.2% rise, purchasing 6,939 additional shares to hold 38,129 shares valued at $11.3 million. Brookstone Capital Management more than doubled its position, up 115.8% to 9,677 shares worth $2.9 million. B. Riley Wealth Advisors initiated a new stake in the second quarter valued at $5.4 million. Thoroughbred Financial Services added 602 shares in Q2 for a 62.6% increase, now holding 1,563 shares valued at $432,000. Clayton Financial Group led in Q3 with a 119.0% increase, acquiring 8,535 shares to bring its total to 15,707 shares worth $4.7 million.