The Best Growth ETFs by Total Return, Fees and Size

If you are searching for the best growth ETFs, the short answer from the data is this: VGT has the highest total return since inception at 2,430% among the main funds here, QQQ is the largest at $503B in assets with 1,646% total return, and VUG and SCHG give you broad large-cap growth at 1,306% and 1,220%. The S&P 500 fund VOO sits at 845% and works as a useful yardstick.

Here's the thing: "best" depends on what you want. Highest return, lowest fee, most diversified and biggest are four different answers. Let's walk through each one with real numbers.

Why total return since inception needs a warning label

Total return means price change plus dividends reinvested. It's the right yardstick for a growth fund, because the payout is tiny and the growth is the point.

But every number in the table runs from that fund's own start date. A fund that launched before a big bull run will look better than one that launched after it. For example, SCHG began on 12/11/2009 and VOO began on 9/7/2010. Those dates are close, so those two are a reasonable comparison. Others in the table may have started years earlier or later.

So use the table to understand what each fund has done, not to crown a winner. If you want the same funds on a single page, I put together a growth ETF scoreboard that shows what $10,000 became in the biggest ones.

What $10,000 became in the top growth ETFs

Let's turn the percentages into dollars. This is the math I care about most, and it uses each fund's total return since its own inception:

• VGT: $253,000 from 2,430% total return
• QQQ: $174,600 from 1,646%
• VUG: $140,600 from 1,306%
• SCHG: $132,000 from 1,220%
• MGK: $113,800 from 1,038%
• VOO: $94,500 from 845%

Those are big numbers, and they reflect a long stretch where large U.S. growth stocks led the market. That is not a promise of what the next decade looks like. Growth funds can drop hard in a bad year, and the same concentration that helped on the way up works in reverse on the way down.

The main types of growth ETFs

Nasdaq-100 growth: QQQ

QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100, which is about 100 of the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange. In practice that means a heavy tilt toward big technology and communication names. With $503B in assets it is one of the most traded ETFs in the world, which makes it easy to buy and sell.

Broad large-cap growth: VUG, SCHG, MGK

VUG ($237B), SCHG ($65.1B) and MGK ($35.5B) all hold large U.S. companies picked for growth characteristics. They overlap a lot with QQQ at the top of the portfolio. Expect the same giant tech names to show up in each. The difference is mostly how wide the net is: MGK focuses on the biggest mega caps, while VUG and SCHG hold more companies.

Sector growth: VGT and FTEC

VGT holds only information technology stocks, and it posted the top total return here at 2,430%. FTEC is a similar tech sector fund at 1,277%. This is not diversified growth. It's one sector, and when tech has a bad stretch there's nothing else in the fund to soften it.

Mid-cap and small-cap growth: IWP and VBK

IWP holds mid-cap growth companies and shows 1,785% total return, which was higher than most large-cap options in this list. VBK goes down the size ladder to small-cap growth at 714%. These can add diversification away from the mega caps, but they tend to swing more.

The S&P 500 yardstick: VOO

VOO isn't a growth fund by label. It holds the S&P 500, a blend of growth and value. I include it because every growth fund should be measured against it. At 845% since inception and $1.06T in assets, it's the benchmark most people compare to. I cover it in detail in my VOO ETF review.

Fees: small number, big effect

The expense ratio is the yearly fee the fund takes out of your assets. You never see a bill. It just reduces your return.

On the funds where I have live fee data today, the fees are tiny. SCHG charges 0.04%, which is $4 a year on $10,000, or $40 a year on $100,000. VOO charges 0.03%, which is $3 a year on $10,000.

For the others, check the fund's issuer page for the current expense ratio before you decide. Index growth funds from the big issuers tend to be cheap, while actively managed funds like CGGR and leveraged funds usually cost more. The reason fees matter is compounding: the money you pay is money that is no longer growing for you. I break it down in my expense ratio math guide.

Concentration and other risks

Most growth ETFs are top heavy. A handful of mega cap companies can make up a big share of the fund. That means when you buy QQQ, VUG, SCHG and MGK together, you may think you are diversified, but you are mostly owning the same giants four times.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Drawdowns are real. Growth funds can fall sharply when rates rise or when sentiment turns on tech.
• Valuation risk. You are often paying a high price for expected future earnings.
• Sector funds are a single bet. VGT and FTEC are tech only.
• Leveraged funds are a different animal. TQQQ shows 39,512% total return, the highest in the whole data set. It aims for three times the daily move of the Nasdaq-100, and that daily reset can badly erode returns over time in choppy markets. It can also swing violently. A number like that is not a signal that it is "the best." It tells you how risky the path was.

Close alternatives worth a look

If you like the idea of large-cap growth, you will run into a long list of near twins. Same idea, slightly different index:

• IWF (757%) and VONG (1,106%) both follow Russell 1000 Growth style indexes.
• IVW (888%), SPYG (581%), VOOG (1,146%) and IUSG (711%) focus on the growth side of the S&P 500.
• EEM (840%) and VEU (179%) give you international and emerging market exposure if you want to look beyond the U.S.

Again, these start dates differ, so a lower number does not automatically mean a worse fund. Some of them simply launched later or used a different index. For a wider screen, I keep a full list at GrowthETFs.com.

The income reality check

Growth funds are not built to pay you. SCHG yields 0.4% and pays Quarterly. VOO yields 1.0% and also pays Quarterly.

On $10,000, that is about $40 a year from SCHG and $100 a year from VOO. If you wanted $1,000 a month from VOO's yield alone, you would need roughly $1,200,000 invested. That is the trade-off. You give up cash flow today for the chance at more growth later. If you need income now, look at my guide to dividend ETFs for beginners instead.

Who each type tends to fit

• Long time horizon, wants simple and cheap: broad large-cap funds like VUG, SCHG or VOO tend to fit.
• Comfortable with a tech heavy ride: QQQ or MGK fit this profile.
• Wants a deliberate sector bet: VGT or FTEC, with eyes open about concentration.
• Wants to spread beyond mega caps: mid-cap and small-cap growth like IWP or VBK can complement a large-cap core.
• Needs steady cash soon: a growth fund is probably the wrong tool.

If you are new to how these funds trade and hold assets, my plain English explainer on how an ETF actually works is a good place to start.

My bottom line

The best growth ETFs by the numbers are the ones with strong total return, low fees and real size behind them. QQQ, VUG, SCHG and VGT all check boxes, and VOO keeps everyone honest as the benchmark. But the shiny returns come with concentration, big drawdowns and a start date that flatters some funds more than others.

Pick the fund that matches your time horizon and your stomach, not the one with the biggest percentage on a table. This isn't a buy or sell signal, so do your own due diligence. For more screens and comparisons, browse GrowthETFs.com.

How this article was made: Benjie picks every topic based on what he finds useful as a dividend investor and what readers ask about. Parts of this article were drafted with help from AI tools, then edited, fact-checked and shaped by Benjie. All fund numbers come from the TopETFs database and update daily.

Disclaimer: TopETFs.com is published by Dividend Empire LLC for educational and entertainment purposes only. We are not financial advisors, and nothing on this site is financial advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. ETF data is compiled from public sources and fund issuers, may be delayed, inaccurate or outdated, and may differ from the fund sponsor's own figures. Yields are trailing distribution yields, are not guaranteed, and distributions may include return of capital, which reduces your cost basis and is not a measure of performance. Total returns are since each fund's inception unless noted and are not comparable across funds with different start dates. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing carries risk, including loss of principal. Read each fund's prospectus and consult a licensed financial advisor before investing. Dividend Empire LLC receives compensation from ETF issuers for sponsored placements, which are labeled as such.