Buy These 3 Vanguard ETFs, and You Could Beat the S&P 500 Over the Next Decade

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • For some years now, U.S. stocks have been led higher by large-cap, growth, and tech stocks.

  • Over the next decade, conditions are likely to change, bringing a new wave of leaders to the forefront.

  • Tech is still a good bet, but underappreciated small-caps and dividend stocks could also do well.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Information Technology ETF ›

Beating the S&P 500 can be very difficult over long periods of time. Fees eat into returns; sectors go in and out of favor. But it's not impossible. Identify the right trends or the right value opportunities and you have a clear path to market-beating returns.

Here are three Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are set up nicely for the next decade.

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Bar chart graphic with an uptrending arrow.

Image source: Getty Images.

Vanguard Information Technology ETF

The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) has been an elite performer since 2023. The 20%-plus annual returns won't last forever, but the artificial intelligence (AI) boom is creating a growth opportunity the sector hasn't seen since the internet revolution 25 years ago.

Tech is expected to drive S&P 500 earnings for at least the next two years, and valuations have shrunk to a more reasonable range. The combination of these two factors puts the sector on target for continued outperformance.

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF

The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEMKT: VIG) invests in long-term dividend growers. It's not the most exciting option, but its market-cap weighting gives it a higher-than-average tech allocation compared to other dividend ETFs. The fund strikes a balance between growth and income, setting it up for more strong performance in multiple market conditions.

Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF

The Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: VBK) targets a high-potential market that's been largely ignored for several years. As we saw earlier this year, small caps perform well when the market believes that economic growth has the potential to accelerate.

That environment tends to broaden the number of market outperformers. Considering the years of underperformance relative to large caps, small caps could be due for an extended stretch leading the market higher in the next decade.

Should you buy stock in Vanguard Information Technology ETF right now?

Before you buy stock in Vanguard Information Technology ETF, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Information Technology ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $472,744!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,353,500!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 207% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 13, 2026.

David Dierking has positions in Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and Vanguard Index Funds-Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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