VO: The Easiest Way to Invest in U.S. Mid-Cap Stocks In the U.S. stock market, mid-cap companies play a unique and powerful role. They are often considered the “sweet spot” between stability and growth—more established than small-cap companies, yet still offering higher growth potential than large-cap giants. Today’s featured ETF, VO (Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF) , is one of the most efficient ways to gain broad exposure to the U.S. mid-cap market. With Vanguard’s trusted management and wide diversification, VO has become a long-term favorite among global investors. Visit VANGUARD ETF OFFICIAL WEBSITE! This guide breaks down what VO is, what companies it includes, when it performs well, and which type of investor it is best suited for. 1. What Is VO? VO is an ETF that invests in U.S. mid-cap stocks . Mid-cap companies sit between large and small companies in terms of market capitalization, offering a blend of stability and growth potential. VO tracks the CRSP US Mid Cap Inde...
1. VEA: An Easy Way to Invest in Developed Markets Outside the United States
When investing in global stocks, many people focus heavily on the United States. The U.S. market is large, influential, and has strong growth, but there are many competitive companies around the world outside the U.S. If you want to invest in those companies all at once, VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) can be a useful option. As its name suggests, VEA invests widely in major developed markets such as Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia. It’s especially helpful for investors who want to balance a U.S.-centric portfolio or gain broader global exposure.
Visit Vanguard ETF Official Website for VEA
VEA is managed by Vanguard, a well-known ETF issuer recognized for low fees and efficient index tracking. VEA has a particularly low expense ratio, making it suitable for long-term investors. Since it trades like a stock, it can be easily bought and sold through a brokerage account that supports U.S. ETFs.
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2. What Markets Does VEA Invest In?
Simply put, VEA invests in developed markets outside the United States. This includes major economic regions in Europe as well as countries like Japan, Canada, and Australia. By doing so, VEA can help balance portfolios that are heavily concentrated in U.S. equities.
<VEA HOLDINGS TOP 10 (AS OF 2025/10/31 & SOURCE: VANGUARD WEBSITE)>
| Ticker | Holdings | % of Fund |
|---|---|---|
| ASML | ASML Holding NV | 1.50% |
| 005930 | Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. | 1.27% |
| SAP | SAP SE | 0.96% |
| AZN | AstraZeneca plc | 0.89% |
| HSBA | HSBC Holdings plc | 0.88% |
| NESN | Nestle SA | 0.87% |
| NOVN | Novartis AG | 0.83% |
| ROG | Roche Holding AG | 0.82% |
| SHEL | Shell plc | 0.79% |
| 7203 | Toyota Motor Corp. | 0.78% |
Visit Vanguard ETF Official Website for VEA's Holdings
For example, if you invest only in S&P 500 ETFs such as SPY, VOO, or IVV, your portfolio may lean heavily toward U.S. tech giants. Adding VEA introduces exposure to diverse sectors such as European consumer goods, Japanese manufacturing, and UK financial companies, increasing overall diversification. It also spreads currency exposure, which can be helpful when the U.S. dollar is strong and creates concentration risk.
Because VEA focuses on developed markets rather than emerging markets, it is suitable for investors who want global exposure without taking on higher volatility or risk. It’s a balanced option for those who want diversification without investing heavily in high-risk regions.
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3. Strengths of VEA
VEA offers several benefits for global investors:
- Balances U.S.-heavy portfolios - Helps reduce U.S. concentration and adds global exposure
- Low expense ratio - Reduces long-term cost and improves net returns
- High diversification - Holds companies across multiple developed countries
- Lower volatility than emerging markets - Focuses on stable, established economies
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% |
| Dividend Yield | 2.76% |
| Morningstar Rating | ★★★ |
Low fees are one of the biggest advantages of Vanguard ETFs. Over the long term, even small differences in fees compound and significantly impact final returns. It’s also convenient that you can invest in multiple countries with a single ETF rather than buying separate country-specific funds.
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4. Things to Consider Before Investing in VEA
Of course, no ETF is perfect. Here are some points to consider:
- Less exposure to U.S. tech - Might underperform during U.S.-led tech rallies
- Slower growth compared to U.S. markets - Europe and Japan may have slower long-term growth
- Tax considerations - Dividend withholding tax varies by country
- Currency exposure - Influenced by multiple foreign currencies rather than just USD
| Payment Date | Dividend Amount |
|---|---|
| 2025/09/23 | 0.2865 |
| 2025/06/24 | 0.4407 |
| 2025/03/25 | 0.2422 |
| 2024/12/24 | 0.7126 |
| 2024/09/24 | 0.1444 |
In recent years, global markets have been heavily driven by U.S. tech stocks, so VEA’s performance may look weaker in comparison. But that should be evaluated in the context of its function: improving diversification and reducing concentration risk. From that perspective, VEA remains a meaningful long-term investment option.
*The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. All investment decisions and results are solely the responsibility of the investor.
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