Many top exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have been outperforming the S&P 500 in recent years all have a common theme, which is that their top three holdings usually include at least one of the following tech stocks: Nvidia, Microsoft, or Apple.
There's nothing wrong with those stocks, as they give investors exposure to some fantastic companies, but their high valuations could make investors hesitant about investing in funds that are so dependent on them. If there's a correction in the market, particularly in tech, those three stocks may be particularly vulnerable.
For investors who want to focus on growth stocks but don't want heavy exposure to those three tech giants, one ETF you may want to consider is American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF (QGRO +0.22%). Here's a closer look at the fund, and why it could make for a fantastic long-term investment.
The fund offers broad exposure to top growth stocks
The American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF holds 200 stocks in its portfolio, with a weighted average market cap of around $407 billion. The fund's top three holdings are Netflix, Booking Holdings, and TJX Companies. And none of those three stocks individually account for even 4% of the ETF's total weight. Its top 10 stocks, in total, represent a fairly modest 29% of American Century's total portfolio. That's great diversification for investors as it reduces the risk that one or even a few poor-performing stocks could sink the fund.
Tech stocks still play an important role in its performance, however, making up 37% of the ETF's holdings. But without heavy exposure to any individual stock, that can make American Century a much more attractive option for growth investors. You're still getting exposure to many great tech stocks, but that diversification can help reduce your overall risk. Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple are all within the fund's portfolio but together, they represent just 3.8% of its total weight.
Other sectors that are key components of the ETF include consumer discretionary, which accounts for 16% of its holdings, followed by industrials at 11%, and communication services at 10% -- the last one to be in the double digits.
Strong returns and a modest fee make it a good option for investors
The American Century ETF has only been around since 2018 and so it doesn't have a long track record. But over the past five years, it has easily outperformed the S&P 500, without having to rely heavily on a select few tech stocks. That's an impressive performance and speaks to the quality of the growth stocks it contains in its portfolio.
The fund has an expense ratio of 0.29%, which is a bit higher than other ETFs, but it's still fairly low overall. And I believe it's justifiable given the more balanced growth option it provides investors.
Can this fund continue to outperform the market?
As well as the fund has performed of late, American Century can potentially remain a market-beating ETF in the years ahead due to its diversification. Its safer mix of growth stocks can position investors to benefit from the market's long-term gains without having to worry about a few stocks that could derail its performance.
For investors who want a fund that isn't as dependent on the three most valuable stocks in the world, this ETF can be a great option to add to your portfolio right now and hang on to for the long haul.
