VGRO Is Great: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Buy it

VGRO is a great ETF, but I think Canadian investors can do better.

| More on:

Canadians have long had a fondness for the Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio (TSX:VGRO), and it’s not hard to see why. The exchange-traded fund (ETF) even has its own community, r/JustBuyVGRO, on Reddit.

VGRO offers a compelling package: a vast array of thousands of U.S., Canadian, and international stocks, all neatly bundled into a single ticker. This stock allocation accounts for about 80% of the portfolio, complemented by 20% in bonds.

With an expense ratio of only 0.24%, it represents a cost-effective solution for diversified investing. The simplicity of VGRO allows investors to adopt a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach, making investing virtually effortless and akin to being on autopilot.

Despite its popularity and apparent benefits, I believe VGRO is far from being the ideal investment solution for everyone. There are specific aspects of this ETF that might not align with every investor’s needs or objectives.

Here’s why I’m not 100% sold on VGRO and my ETF alternative from Vanguard to replace it.

What I don’t like about VGRO

VGRO allocates approximately 30% of its equity holdings to another Vanguard index ETF that provides exposure to the broad Canadian stock market.

While Vanguard’s research might suggest that this allocation is beneficial for historical volatility, tax efficiency, and currency risk management, the question arises: is this really the optimal approach?

Let’s consider the global stock market context. Canada’s weight in the global stock market is about 3%. For passive investors aiming to mirror the global market’s composition, a 30% allocation to Canadian stocks seems disproportionately high at nearly 10 times Canada’s actual market weight.

This approach could be seen as an outsized bet on the Canadian market, which might not align with the principle of global diversification that many passive investors seek.

While a certain degree of home country bias is understandable and can be justified up to a point—perhaps around 5% or even 10%—the 30% allocation to Canadian stocks in VGRO appears excessive.

In my opinion, this heavy weighting toward the Canadian market might not make sense for investors who are looking for a portfolio that more accurately reflects the global market’s distribution.

The better ETF to buy

I personally find Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ex Canada Index ETF (TSX:VXC) to be a more appealing option for Canadian investors. VXC essentially offers what VGRO does but without the significant 30% allocation to Canadian stocks.

In fact, VXC entirely excludes Canadian stocks from its portfolio, focusing instead on a more globally diversified mix. It allocates around 60% to U.S. stocks, 30% to international stocks from developed markets, and 10% to emerging markets.

This composition makes VXC an excellent candidate for a core-and-explore investment strategy. For example, you could allocate a significant portion, say, 90%, of your investment portfolio to VXC.

This would give you broad exposure to global markets while excluding Canada, thus avoiding the home-country bias issue present in VGRO.

The remaining 10% of your portfolio could then be dedicated to select Canadian dividend stocks or other investment vehicles that align with your specific financial goals or interests.

This approach allows for a more balanced and globally diversified portfolio while still providing the opportunity to selectively invest in the Canadian market according to your preferences.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Tony Dong has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Investing

bulb idea thinking
Stocks for Beginners

2 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy With Less Than $1,000

There are some stocks that are risky to even consider, but not these two! Consider these stocks if you want…

Read more »

space ship model takes off
Investing

These 2 Small-cap Stocks Offer Massive Return Potential

If you invest exclusively in blue chips and large caps, you may miss out on some fantastic growth opportunities that…

Read more »

coins jump into piggy bank
Investing

Could This Undervalued Canadian Stock Be Your Ticket to Millionaire Status?

Here's why Manulife Financial (TSX:MFC) certainly looks like an undervalued Canadian stock worth buying right now for long-term investors.

Read more »

ways to boost income
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

These dividend stocks are likely to consistently increase their dividends, making them attractive investment for your TFSA portfolio.

Read more »

open vault at bank
Investing

2 Defence Stocks That Canadian Investors Should Keep an Eye on in November

Canadians should keep an eye on two TSX stocks that could rise higher as global defence demand rises.

Read more »

how to save money
Dividend Stocks

Passive-Income Seekers: Invest $10,000 for $59.75 Monthly Income

Passive-income seekers can transform their money into monthly cash flow streams through dividend investing.

Read more »

happy woman throws cash
Dividend Stocks

2 Canadian Dividend Stars Set for Strong Returns

You can add these two fundamentally strong Canadian dividend stocks to your portfolio now and expect steady income and strong…

Read more »

Man in fedora smiles into camera
Dividend Stocks

Is it Better to Collect the CPP at 60, 65, or 70?

Canadian retirees can consider supporting their CPP benefit by investing in blue-chip dividend stocks with high yields.

Read more »