Vanguard’s Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) maintains a substantial lead over State Street’s SLYG in both scale and cost structure. As of the latest data, VBK holds approximately $22 billion in assets versus SLYG’s $3 billion, reflecting broader investor adoption. VBK’s expense ratio of 0.07% undercuts SLYG’s 0.10%, translating into savings of $3 per $10,000 invested annually. Over the past year, VBK delivered a total return of 12.5%, outpacing SLYG’s 10.8%. However, VBK also experienced a deeper maximum drawdown of 28% over the last five years compared with SLYG’s 22%, underscoring slightly higher volatility during market downturns.

Cerity Partners LLC increased its VBK holding by 7.5% in Q3, adding 2,709 shares to reach 38,710 shares valued at $11.5 million, per its latest 13F filing. Mechanics Bank Trust Department boosted its stake by 22.2%, acquiring 6,939 additional shares for a total of 38,129 shares ($11.3 million). Brookstone Capital Management more than doubled its position, up 115.8% to 9,677 shares ($2.9 million). B. Riley Wealth Advisors entered the fund in Q2 with a $5.4 million stake. Thoroughbred Financial Services raised its holding by 62.6% to 1,563 shares ($0.43 million), while Clayton Financial Group LLC more than doubled its position by 119%, adding 8,535 shares for a total of 15,707 shares ($4.7 million). These moves suggest growing institutional conviction in VBK’s small-cap growth exposure.