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A growth ETF is not one standardized investment, and it is not interchangeable with an S&P 500 fund. For a direct comparison, IVW tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, while IVV and VOO track the broader S&P 500. Which is more suitable depends on whether you want a targeted growth-style allocation or broad large-cap U.S. exposure—not on a guarantee that one will outperform.

What is the difference between a growth ETF and an S&P 500 ETF?

An S&P 500 fund seeks to track a broad, market-cap-weighted index of large U.S. companies. A growth ETF instead follows an index that selects or classifies stocks using growth-oriented criteria. The term “growth ETF” describes an investment style, not a single benchmark: funds can follow different index families and hold different portfolios.

Fund example Benchmark or index family What the example illustrates
IVW S&P 500 Growth Index Targets the growth segment of the S&P 500; its stated selection approach includes characteristics such as above-average earnings and revenue growth. iShares IVW fund page
IVV S&P 500 Tracks the broader large-cap index, rather than only its growth-style segment. iShares IVV fund listing
VOO S&P 500 Another S&P 500 fund example. Vanguard VOO profile
IWF Russell 1000 Growth Shows why the benchmark matters: it belongs to a different index family than IVW. iShares IWF fund listing

IVV and VOO are S&P 500 funds; IVW and VOOG are growth-style funds. Before comparing performance or holdings, check the actual benchmark and methodology in the fund documents. A Russell growth ETF such as IWF should not be treated as identical to an S&P 500 Growth ETF.

Have growth ETFs outperformed the S&P 500?

There is no universal answer without a defined start date, end date, return convention, and fund pair. Historical results can change substantially with the measurement window. BlackRock’s IVW page reported a 17.09% year-to-date NAV total return through October 2, 2026; that is a single-fund figure, not a matched comparison with IVV. BlackRock iShares IVW performance

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For a clearly specified comparison, IVV’s shareholder report states that for its reporting period ended March 31, 2026, IVV returned 17.78% and the S&P 500 returned 17.80%. This is the report’s period, not a calendar-year return. IVV annual shareholder report

BlackRock’s listings also showed IVW at 18.90% and IVV at 15.21%, with figures dated August 31, 2026. The listing excerpt does not establish the full measurement period, so those figures should not be presented as a defined-period head-to-head return comparison. BlackRock iShares fund listings

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For a valid comparison, use each fund’s official standardized performance table and align the period, NAV or market-price basis, and treatment of reinvested distributions. A result for one period does not establish which approach will lead in the future.

Are growth ETFs riskier than the S&P 500?

Growth exposure is narrower by construction: it concentrates on companies classified as growth under a particular index methodology. That can make results more sensitive to the business outlook and valuations of that subset of companies. This is a defensible description of exposure, not proof that a particular growth ETF had higher measured risk over every period.

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The S&P 500 is broad across industries, but it is not equally weighted. Its constituents are weighted by float-adjusted market value, so its largest companies can account for substantial index weight. The IVV summary prospectus says the S&P 500 represented approximately 88% of publicly traded U.S. equity market capitalization as of March 31, 2026; that is an estimate of market-cap coverage, not a count of U.S. companies. IVV summary prospectus

The official pages cited here do not provide matched-period volatility, beta, maximum drawdown, or Sharpe ratio figures for IVW and IVV. A quantified claim that one was riskier than the other would require consistent data for the same dates and return basis.

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Which offers more diversification?

An S&P 500 fund generally provides broader exposure than a growth-style slice of that index because it spans a wider range of industries and includes companies not classified as growth. The index’s approximately 88% market-cap coverage figure describes the share of publicly traded U.S. equity market capitalization represented as of March 31, 2026, not diversification across every company equally.

A growth ETF can still hold many stocks, but stock count alone does not show how diversified it is. A few large holdings may dominate, and holdings can overlap with an S&P 500 fund. To evaluate the difference, compare current holdings and weights, not just fund names. IWF’s Russell 1000 Growth benchmark also means its holdings and exposure need not match IVW’s S&P 500 Growth portfolio.

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How to compare two specific ETFs

  1. Check the benchmark. Identify the index provider and methodology in each fund’s official profile or prospectus. “Growth” alone is not enough to establish that two funds track the same portfolio.
  2. Compare holdings and weights. Review overlap, top holdings, and the share of assets in the largest positions to understand concentration.
  3. Match the return period. Use identical start and end dates, the same NAV or market-price basis, and the same treatment of distributions. Do not compare a year-to-date figure with a differently dated performance number.
  4. Compare risk over that same period. Look for volatility and maximum drawdown calculated on a consistent basis; beta or Sharpe ratio can add context if available and methodologically comparable.
  5. Include fund costs. Expense ratios differ by product, and trading costs and taxes can also affect an investor’s result.
  6. Relate the exposure to your allocation. Decide whether you want broad large-cap exposure or a more concentrated growth-style position, and consider your tolerance for that concentration.

How do the expense ratios compare?

Fund Style or index exposure Expense ratio Listing date
IVW S&P 500 Growth 0.18% August 31, 2026
IVV S&P 500 0.03% August 31, 2026
VOOG Growth style 0.07% August 31, 2026
VOO S&P 500 0.03% August 31, 2026

BlackRock listed IVW at 0.18% and IVV at 0.03%; Vanguard listed VOOG at 0.07% and VOO at 0.03%, with both providers’ figures dated August 31, 2026. These are fund-level expense ratios, not a complete estimate of all costs an investor may incur. Fees can change, so verify the current figure on the issuer’s page before acting. BlackRock iShares listings · Vanguard VOOG profile

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