2 Vanguard ETFs to Buy With $1,000 and Hold Forever

By Geoffrey Seiler – Feb 13, 2026 at 6:00AM ESTKey PointsThe S&P 500 has proven a great ETF to invest in that consistently outperforms actively managed funds.With growth stocks outperforming over the past decade, the Vanguard Growth ETF is also a top choice. Dollar cost averaging into these ETFs over a long period can be a smart move that builds long-term wealth. These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NYSEMKT: VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFToday's Changeangle-down(-1.55%) $9.86Current Price$626.49Price as of February 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM ETThe Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Growth ETF are two top investment choices.While the market has been on a strong run the past few years, that doesn't mean you should wait for a pullback before investing. That can be one of the biggest mistakes an investor can make, as when investors try to time the market, they are often left waiting while the market continues to climb. Instead, the best strategy is to take a dollar-cost averaging approach, where you invest a set amount each month, like $1,000, regardless of how the market is performing. This helps take away the worry of investing at the wrong time and smooths out your cost basis. Image source: Getty Images. One of the best ways to employ this strategy is with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which give you an instant portfolio of stocks. Let's look at two Vanguard ETFs that I'd start dollar-cost averaging into with $1,000 today and hold for the long term. 1. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ExpandNYSEMKT: VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFToday's Change(-1.55%) $-9.86Current Price$626.49Key Data PointsDay's Range$625.76 - $639.5252wk Range$442.80 - $641.81Volume42K If I could choose only one ETF to invest in, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 1.55%) would be my top choice. The ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, which is a market-cap weighted index made up of about the 500 largest stocks in the U.S. Since the S&P 500 is market-cap weighted, that means the bigger a company is by market capitalization (stock price multiplied by shares outstanding), the larger the stock is in the ETF. This lets the fund's winners keep running, which is a big reason most actively managed funds fail to keep pace with the index. In fact, only about 14% of of actively managed large-cap funds have outperformed the index over the past decade. Over the past 10 years, the ETF has generated an average annual return of more than 15.5%, while it's been even better over the last three years, with an average annual return of 21.1%. Those are some nice gains that build up over time. 2.

The Vanguard Growth ETF ExpandNYSEMKT: VUGVanguard Growth ETFToday's Change(-1.89%) $-8.88Current Price$460.15Key Data PointsDay's Range$459.17 - $471.4352wk Range$316.14 - $505.38Volume119 The other Vanguard ETF I really like is the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG 1.89%). Growth stocks have outperformed for much of the past 10 years, which has led to the Vanguard Growth ETF outperforming its better-known ETF peer over this period. During that stretch, the fund has produced an 18% annual return, while its up an average of 27.7% over the past three years. The fund is heavily weighted toward top artificial intelligence (AI) and other tech stocks, with about two-thirds of its portfolio in the tech sector. With AI still looking as if it is in its early innings and tech valuations looking pretty reasonable overall, this is a great ETF to invest in for the long haul.Read NextFeb 11, 2026 •By Leo SunWhy Leveraged ETFs Are Considered Among the Market's Most Speculative ProductsFeb 9, 2026 •By Neil PatelHow I'd Invest $10,000 for the Long Term If I Had to Start From Scratch Right NowFeb 8, 2026 •By Katie BrockmanIs VOO or MGK the Better Vanguard ETF Buy Right Now? Here's What Investors Need to Know.Feb 8, 2026 •By Katie BrockmanIs Vanguard VOO or Invesco QQQ the Better Buy? How S&P 500 Diversification Compares to Tech-Focused GrowthFeb 7, 2026 •By Katie BrockmanBetter Vanguard ETF Buy: Mega-Cap Giant MGK vs. S&P 500 Powerhouse VOOFeb 7, 2026 •By Katie BrockmanQQQ vs. VOO: Which Powerhouse ETF Is the Better Buy for Investors Right Now?About the AuthorGeoffrey Seiler is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology, consumer goods, healthcare, energy, and materials stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Geoffrey was a senior equity analyst at Raging Capital Management, a $600 million long-short hedge fund. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Haverford College.TMFFindProfitStocks MentionedVanguard S&P 500 ETFNYSEMKT: VOO$626.49 (1.55%) $9.86Vanguard Growth ETFNYSEMKT: VUG$460.15 (1.89%) $8.88*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.