Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF Tops $59.6 Billion AUM with 0.07% Fees and 1.97% Yield
Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) holds $59.6 billion across 831 stocks, charges a 0.07% expense ratio, yields 1.97% and logged $1,502 growth on $1,000 over five years versus $1,472 for ISCV. Its beta of 1.01 and lower five-year max drawdown (46.57% vs 50.84%) highlight reduced volatility.
1. Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF Overview
The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) is one of the largest small-cap value funds, with $59.6 billion in assets under management and a 21.9-year track record. Its expense ratio of 0.07% ranks among the lowest in its category, and a dividend yield of 1.97% appeals to income-oriented investors. With a beta of 1.01 versus the broad market, VBR offers moderate volatility relative to peers, while its passive indexing approach ensures full replication of the underlying CRSP US Small Cap Value Index.
2. Performance and Risk Profile
Over the five-year period ending December 2025, VBR achieved a growth of $1,000 to $1,502, outpacing many small-cap value peers. During that span, its maximum drawdown was 46.57%, reflecting the inherent cyclical risk of smaller companies. In the 12 months through mid-December 2025, the fund returned 2.7%. These figures highlight VBR’s ability to deliver consistent appreciation while managing downside volatility through broad market representation.
3. Portfolio Composition and Liquidity
VBR holds 831 stocks, diversifying across key sectors: Industrials (21.7%), Financial Services (19.8%), and Consumer Discretionary (14.2%). Its largest individual positions—NRG Energy, Sandisk and EMCOR Group—each represent under 1% of assets, minimizing concentration risk. The fund’s deep liquidity, supported by its nearly $60 billion AUM, enables investors to enter and exit positions with minimal market impact, making VBR a highly efficient vehicle for small-cap value exposure.