If You'd Invested $5,000 in VGT 10 Years Ago, Here's Exactly How Much You'd Have Today

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has averaged over 23% annual returns over the past decade.

  • Much of VGT's growth has come at the hands of the current AI boom.

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

Over the past decade, information technology (tech) has easily been the highest-performing sector in the stock market. Its dominance is reflected in the performance of tech ETFs, such as the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT).

Over the past decade, VGT is up 736%, meaning a $5,000 investment made then would be worth $41,820 today. With dividends, it would be worth $45,150.

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VGT Chart

VGT data by YCharts

VGT has been around since January 2004, but most of its all-time returns have come in the past decade. In that time, it has averaged 23.7% annual returns (24.6% total returns). It went from smart hardware to cloud computing to the artificial intelligence boom that's sent tech stocks surging.

VGT is very top-heavy, but that has worked in its favor over the past few years. As of July, Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft collectively account for over 44% of VGT, so, needless to say, the ETF moves as those stocks do. That hasn't always been the case, as the ETF's stock weightings fluctuate with changing market caps.

Person smiling while holding a smartphone at a table.

Image source: Getty Images.

If you feel as if you missed the bus, don't fret. VGT is well-equipped to remain an attractive ETF, though I wouldn't invest expecting it to return 736% over the next decade. I would, however, expect it to outperform the overall market over the next decade, with the importance and prominence of big tech growing seemingly daily.

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 $417,413!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,341,294!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% 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 September 13, 2026.

Stefon Walters has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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