Forecast: This Impressive Vanguard ETF is Set to Outperform the S&P 500 Once More in 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 11 2025
0mins
Should l Buy GOOG?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
S&P 500 Growth Index Overview: The S&P 500 Growth index consists of 216 top-performing growth stocks from the S&P 500, typically yielding higher returns but with increased volatility. The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF, which tracks this index, has outperformed the S&P 500 consistently since its inception.
Performance Comparison: In 2023, the S&P 500 delivered a total return of 17.8%, while the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF achieved a return of 22.7%. The ETF's success is attributed to its significant investments in tech giants like Nvidia and Alphabet, which have driven its performance.
Investment Strategy: The Growth index selects stocks based on momentum and sales growth, rebalancing quarterly to maintain high-performing stocks while avoiding underperformers. This strategy has contributed to the ETF's strong returns compared to the broader S&P 500.
Future Outlook: Analysts predict continued strong performance for the Vanguard ETF in 2026, driven by ongoing advancements in technology sectors such as AI, cloud computing, and potential future growth areas like autonomous vehicles and quantum computing. However, the ETF may experience sharper corrections during market downturns, making it suitable for investors comfortable with volatility.
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Analyst Views on GOOG
Wall Street analysts forecast GOOG stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GOOG is 336.08 USD with a low forecast of 255.00 USD and a high forecast of 400.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 331.330
Low
255.00
Averages
336.08
High
400.00
Current: 331.330
Low
255.00
Averages
336.08
High
400.00
About GOOG
Alphabet Inc. is a holding company. The Company's segments include Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. The Google Services segment includes products and services such as ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Google Maps, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. The Google Cloud segment includes infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers. Its Other Bets segment is engaged in the sale of healthcare-related services and Internet services. Its Google Cloud provides enterprise-ready cloud services, including Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace. Google Cloud Platform provides access to solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, including its AI infrastructure, Vertex AI platform, and Gemini for Google Cloud; cybersecurity, and data and analytics. Google Workspace includes cloud-based communication and collaboration tools for enterprises, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Meet.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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