Think you can just buy VOO, chill, and expect double-digit returns in 2026 like last year?
⚠️ That mindset could cost you more than you think.
VOO is still a great ETF — no argument there. But markets change. Valuations shift. New trends take over. And in 2026, blindly repeating yesterday’s strategy could lead to disappointment.
Smart investors aren’t abandoning VOO — they’re upgrading their strategy.
Here are 5 powerful ETFs that many long-term investors are choosing instead (or alongside) VOO for 2026 👇
🔥 1. VUG — The Growth Engine Your Portfolio Needs
If VOO is a reliable family sedan, then VUG is the turbocharged engine bolted onto it.
VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) focuses on large U.S. companies growing fast — companies that reinvest profits into innovation instead of paying out big dividends.
We’re talking about:
Apple (~12%)
Microsoft (~11%)
Nvidia (~9%)
Amazon, Tesla, Google, Meta
💡 Why not just buy a tech ETF like VGT?
Because VGT is 100% tech. If tech sneezes, your portfolio catches pneumonia.
VUG is smarter:
Heavy exposure to the “Magnificent 7”
But still diversified across consumer and communication giants
📉 Reality check: VUG fell 36% in 2022
📈 Long-term reality: ~15% average annual return over the last decade
💰 Expense ratio: 0.04% (basically free)
👉 Best for investors under 40 who can handle volatility and want long-term growth.
🛡️ 2. DGRO — The Smarter Dividend ETF (Yes, Better Than SCHD)
Dividend investors love SCHD… but here’s the uncomfortable truth:
⚠️ SCHD has been underperforming — and it completely excludes tech dividend growers.
No Apple.
No Microsoft.
No Visa.
No Broadcom.
That’s a problem.
Why DGRO Wins:
413 holdings (vs SCHD’s 100)
Includes tech companies that grow dividends 10%+ per year
Lower concentration risk
Better total returns
📊 Yield: ~2.4% (lower than SCHD’s 3.5%)
📈 Total return: DGRO beat SCHD by ~1.2% annually over 10 years
💰 Expense ratio: 0.08%
👉 If you care about dividend growth + long-term wealth, DGRO is the upgrade.
🗡️ 3. AVUV — The Giant Slayer Most Investors Ignore
This ETF used to be reserved for wealthy clients with financial advisers.
AVUV (Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF) targets:
Small companies
Profitable
Undervalued
Actively screened (no zombie businesses)
📉 Fun fact: ~30% of the Russell 2000 is unprofitable
AVUV avoids that trap completely.
📈 Since launch (2019):
AVUV: ~15.2% annual return
S&P 500: ~13.8%
Russell 2000: ~10.1%
💰 Expense ratio: 0.25% (higher — but worth it)
👉 Best for investors 30–50 years old who can stay patient through cycles.
🤖 4. SMH — The Semiconductor Power Play
AI. Cloud computing. Self-driving cars. Smart devices.
None of it works without semiconductors.
SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) owns the companies powering the digital economy:
Nvidia
TSMC
Broadcom
AMD
📈 Up ~90% during the AI boom
📉 Down ~40% during tech crashes
⚠️ This is NOT a core holding.
👉 Allocate 5–10% max to SMH if you want AI upside without blowing up your portfolio.
🌍 5. VXUS — The ETF Everyone Hates (And That’s Why It Matters)
International stocks have underperformed U.S. stocks for 15 years.
So why buy VXUS now?
📉 Valuation gap:
U.S. stocks: ~24x earnings
International stocks: ~14x earnings
History shows these gaps don’t last forever.
VXUS gives you exposure to 8,000 companies outside the U.S.:
Toyota
Samsung
Nestlé
Shell
Europe, Japan, China, emerging markets
💰 Expense ratio: 0.05%
💡 Bonus: If the U.S. dollar weakens in 2026, international stocks benefit automatically.
👉 Even skeptics should hold 10–20% for diversification.
🧠 Final Takeaway: Smarter Beats Simpler in 2026
VOO isn’t “bad.”
But 2026 rewards strategy, not autopilot investing.
A smarter portfolio might look like:
Growth (VUG)
Income + stability (DGRO)
Value + upside (AVUV)
AI exposure (SMH)
Global hedge (VXUS)
🚀 Ready to Invest in These ETFs?
If you want to buy these ETFs easily with low fees, powerful charts, and real-time data, check out moomoo 👇
👉 Start investing with moomoo here:
🔗 https://j.moomoo.com/0xFRE4
Smart investors don’t just follow the crowd — they position early.
💬 Which ETF do you like most for 2026? Share this article with a friend who’s still “VOO and chill” 😉
#ETFInvesting #StockMarket2026 #PassiveIncome #SmartInvesting #Moomoo #WealthBuilding
