GET DAILY SIGNALSIVOG vs VOT: Weighing Two Mid-Cap Growth ETFs for Your Portfolio
Key Takeaways
- IVOG tracks the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index with roughly 250 holdings, while VOT tracks the CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index with about 130 holdings — two passive, full-replication mid-cap growth funds with meaningfully different universes.
- Cost advantage: VOT carries a 0.05% expense ratio versus IVOG's 0.10%, giving VOT a structural edge in long-run cost efficiency.
- Size and quality profile: VOT skews toward larger mid-caps with a weighted average market capitalization near $50 billion, while IVOG's portfolio averages closer to $14 billion, introducing a smaller-cap tilt.
- Sector divergence: VOT is more technology-heavy (roughly 27%), whereas IVOG leans more toward industrials, which have at times approached one-third of the fund.
- Concentration: VOT's top 10 positions account for about 20% of assets versus roughly 14% for IVOG, reflecting a more concentrated, conviction-weighted structure.
- Tickeron AI Verdict: VOT is the favored ticker, reflecting its lower cost, larger capitalization bias, deeper liquidity, and stronger technology-driven momentum profile.
Why Mid-Cap Growth ETFs Matter Right Now
Mid-cap growth ETFs occupy a distinctive intersection in the equity markets: smaller and faster-growing than large-cap names, yet more established than small-cap upstarts. IVOG and VOT are often compared because both target this segment, yet they draw from different benchmark universes that create noticeably different portfolios. They do not compete on identical ground; instead, they represent two valid interpretations of mid-cap growth. Understanding the differences in index construction, sector exposure, concentration, and cost helps investors decide which vehicle aligns better with their objectives in the current environment.
IVOG: A Narrower Focus on True Mid-Caps
IVOG is a passively managed ETF that seeks to track the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index, drawn from the growth segment of the S&P MidCap 400. The fund typically holds around 250 securities and charges a 0.10% expense ratio. Because the S&P MidCap 400 defines mid-caps more narrowly, IVOG's weighted average market capitalization sits near $14 billion, giving it an authentic mid-cap orientation.
Industrials have historically been the fund's largest sector allocation, often near 26% to 30%, followed by technology (roughly 17% to 24%), health care (about 14%), and consumer discretionary (near 10%). Top holdings have included names such as TechnipFMC, United Therapeutics, XPO, Twilio, and Pure Storage, with the top 10 positions accounting for only about 14% of assets — a notably diversified structure. The fund employs a full-replication, market-cap-weighted approach with quarterly index rebalancing.
VOT: Broader Reach and Lower Costs
VOT is a passively managed ETF that tracks the CRSP US Mid Cap Growth Index, which uses a broader definition of mid-cap that extends into larger capitalization tiers. As a result, VOT holds roughly 130 stocks with a weighted average market capitalization near $50 billion — a "medium/large" profile rather than a strictly mid-cap one. Its expense ratio is just 0.05%, among the lowest in the category.
Technology is VOT's largest sector weighting at approximately 27%, followed by industrials (around 26%), consumer discretionary (about 16%), and health care (near 8%). Prominent holdings include Vertiv Holdings, Howmet Aerospace, Cloudflare, Seagate Technology, Quanta Services, Constellation Energy, and Datadog. The top 10 positions represent roughly 20% of assets, and the fund is rebalanced on a quarterly basis following its index.
Market Themes Shaping Both Funds
Both funds are shaped by the same macro forces affecting growth equities. Interest-rate expectations remain a dominant driver: higher-for-longer rate environments tend to pressure long-duration growth stocks by raising discount rates, while easing expectations support multiple expansion. Mid-cap growth has also been sensitive to artificial-intelligence (AI) infrastructure spending, which has funneled capital into data-center, power, and networking names that feature prominently in VOT's portfolio. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how these funds compare to peers in the space.
Recent market cycles have shown notable rotation between growth and value styles, with energy and materials occasionally outperforming technology during risk-off periods. Industrials exposure — a heavier weight in IVOG — remains tied to reshoring, infrastructure investment, and defense spending. Meanwhile, mid-cap growth generally carries higher volatility than the broad market, a consideration for investors weighing either fund's risk profile.
Performance Dynamics and Positioning
Over recent weeks and months, the relative performance of these two funds has largely tracked the tug-of-war between technology leadership and cyclical sectors. VOT's larger technology allocation and bigger capitalization bias have positioned it to benefit from AI- and cloud-driven earnings momentum among its top holdings, including Vertiv and Datadog. IVOG, with its heavier industrials and smaller-cap tilt, has been more sensitive to manufacturing demand, capital spending cycles, and the performance of the broader S&P 400 universe.
Structurally, VOT has tended to exhibit a more concentrated, higher-conviction profile with a somewhat larger average company size, while IVOG offers broader diversification across more names and a purer mid-cap exposure. In risk terms, both funds carry meaningful volatility, but IVOG's smaller-cap bias can amplify drawdowns during market stress, whereas VOT's larger holdings may cushion some of that downside.
How Tickeron’s AI Screener Supports My ETF Research
When comparing funds like these, I often rely on Tickeron’s AI Screener to quickly filter ETFs by sector weights, market-cap ranges, and performance metrics. It helps surface relevant ideas and compare characteristics far more efficiently than manual methods, allowing me to refine watchlists with greater precision.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Weighing observable structural factors, Tickeron's AI would currently favor VOT over IVOG. VOT offers a materially lower expense ratio (0.05% versus 0.10%), a larger average market capitalization that historically translates to somewhat greater stability, deeper liquidity and scale, and a technology-weighted portfolio aligned with prevailing AI and cloud momentum. Its higher top-10 concentration reflects greater conviction in established growth leaders. While IVOG provides purer mid-cap exposure and broader diversification, the combination of cost efficiency, sector momentum, and structural quality tilts the probabilistic assessment toward VOT in the current environment.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Contributor
I’m a trader and independent researcher. My interest lies at the intersection of financial markets, algorithms, and capital management. I develop data-driven tools and strategies and study algorithmic approaches to market analysis. I help turn complex market data into clear insights and practical systems. I believe technology should support, not replace, investment thinking
Aroon Indicator for VOT shows an upward move is likely
VOT's Aroon Indicator triggered a bullish signal on October 14, 2026. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor detected that the AroonUp green line is above 70 while the AroonDown red line is below 30. When the up indicator moves above 70 and the down indicator remains below 30, it is a sign that the stock could be setting up for a bullish move. Traders may want to buy the stock or look to buy calls options. A.I.dvisor looked at 306 similar instances where the Aroon Indicator showed a similar pattern. In 262 of the 306 cases, the stock moved higher in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a move higher at 86%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
Following a +1.07% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where VOT advanced for three days, in 265 of 320 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 83%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 59 of 68 cases where VOT's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 87%.
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on October 30, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on VOT as a result. In 68 of 78 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 87%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for VOT turned negative on October 30, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 47 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 37 of the 47 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 79%.
VOT moved below its 50-day moving average on October 12, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where VOT declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 80%.
VOT broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 06, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Notable companies
Industry description
Market Cap
High and low price notable news
Volume
Fundamental Analysis Ratings
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
Advertisement
General Information
Category MidCapGrowth
Advertisement