Broad low cost global stock portfolio with a strong US core and small value tilt
Report created on Aug 8, 2026Risk profile
5/7
Diversification profile
3/5
Positions
-
VO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
VOO - US9229083632 70.00% -
VX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares
VXUS - US9219097683 20.00% -
AV Avantis® U.S. Small Cap Value ETF
AVUV - US0250728773 10.00%
This portfolio is a straightforward three‑ETF setup fully invested in stocks. About 70% sits in a broad US large‑cap fund, 20% in a total international stock ETF, and 10% in a US small‑cap value ETF. Structurally, that means most of the heavy lifting comes from mainstream US companies, with a meaningful slice in overseas markets and a smaller “tilt” toward smaller, cheaper US stocks. This simple structure is easy to understand and track. It also makes it clear where returns and risk mainly come from: large established US firms, with some diversification from foreign stocks and a dash of small‑cap value as a satellite position.
Growth
From late 2019 to August 2026, $1,000 in this mix grew to about $2,703. That translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.63%, which is like averaging that yearly “speed” over the whole trip. The portfolio slightly lagged the broad US market but beat the global market, reflecting its US tilt. The worst drop, or max drawdown, was about ‑35% during early 2020, similar in depth and timing to major benchmarks. This shows that while the portfolio participated in strong equity returns, it also fully shared in equity‑style downturns, which is expected for an all‑stock, growth‑oriented allocation.
Projection
The Monte Carlo projection looks at many possible futures by mixing and matching returns based on historical patterns and volatility. Here, 1,000 simulations over 15 years show a median outcome of about $2,727 from $1,000, or an annualized 8.13% across all scenarios. The ranges are wide: roughly $1,075 to $7,735 between the 5th and 95th percentiles, highlighting uncertainty. Around three‑quarters of simulations end positive, but that still leaves a meaningful chance of low or even negative real returns. These projections are educational, not promises; they reuse past volatility and relationships that may not repeat in the same way going forward.
Asset classes
- Stocks 100%
The allocation is 100% in stocks and 0% in bonds or cash‑like assets. Equities historically have offered higher long‑term returns but with larger and more frequent price swings. With no stabilizing bond component, this portfolio’s value can move sharply during market stress, as seen in the 2020 drawdown. Compared with more mixed stock‑bond allocations, this structure leans fully into growth potential at the cost of higher short‑term uncertainty. For investors, that means performance will closely follow global equity markets rather than offering a smoother ride that fixed‑income components can sometimes provide.
Sectors
- Technology 32%
- Financials 15%
- Industrials 10%
- Consumer Discretionary 10%
- Health Care 8%
- Telecommunications 8%
- Consumer Staples 5%
- Energy 4%
- Basic Materials 3%
- Utilities 2%
- Real Estate 2%
Sector exposure is led by technology at 32%, with financials, industrials, and consumer discretionary each around 10–15%. Health care, telecom, staples, energy, materials, utilities, and real estate fill out smaller slices. This pattern looks broadly similar to major global equity benchmarks, where tech and related industries have grown in index weight. A tech‑heavy allocation often benefits when innovation‑driven companies and growth themes are in favor, but it can be more sensitive when interest rates rise or sentiment turns against high‑growth names. The balanced presence of more defensive areas like staples and utilities provides some counterweight, though they are much smaller pieces.
Regions
- North America 81%
- Europe Developed 7%
- Asia Developed 4%
- Japan 3%
- Asia Emerging 3%
- Australasia 1%
- Africa/Middle East 1%
- Latin America 1%
Geographically, about 81% of the portfolio is in North America, with the rest spread across Europe, developed Asia, Japan, and emerging regions. This is a clear US‑led stance, more concentrated than a purely global market‑cap index, where the US typically sits closer to 60%. The advantage of this alignment is that it closely tracks US equity performance, which has been strong in recent years. The trade‑off is that returns are heavily linked to one economy, one political system, and largely one currency. The non‑US slice, while smaller, still adds some diversification through different economic cycles and policy environments.
Market capitalization
- Mega-cap 40%
- Large-cap 30%
- Mid-cap 16%
- Small-cap 6%
- Micro-cap 5%
By market cap, the portfolio tilts toward large, established companies: 40% in mega‑caps and 30% in large‑caps, with mid‑caps, small‑caps, and micro‑caps making up the remaining 27%. This is broadly similar to a standard global equity index, but the explicit 10% allocation to a small‑cap value ETF boosts exposure to the smaller end of the market. Larger companies often bring more stability and liquidity, while smaller firms can be more volatile and more sensitive to economic conditions. This blend means most risk and return come from big names, with an extra dose of movement from smaller, more economically sensitive businesses.
True holdings
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NV NVIDIA Corporation 5.26%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
AA Apple Inc. 4.61%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
MS Microsoft Corporation 3.01%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
AM Amazon.com Inc 2.53%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
GO Alphabet Inc Class A 2.28%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
AV Broadcom Inc 1.94%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
GO Alphabet Inc Class C 1.81%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
MU Micron Technology Inc 1.41%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
ME Meta Platforms Inc. 1.34%
Part of fund(s):- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
-
TS Tesla Inc 1.29%
Part of fund(s):- LS 1x Tesla Tracker ETP Securities GBP
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
- Top 10 total 25.49%
Looking through ETF top‑10 holdings, a noticeable chunk of the visible portfolio sits in a handful of mega‑cap US names like NVIDIA, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Broadcom, and Meta. Combined, the largest visible positions add up to over 25% of the covered slice, reflecting how index funds naturally concentrate in the biggest companies. Because only ETF top holdings are shown, actual overlap is likely higher than stated. This kind of overlap creates a hidden concentration: multiple funds own the same giants, amplifying the impact these few companies can have on portfolio performance, both on the upside and during periods of stress in large growth stocks.
Factors
Factor exposures — value, size, momentum, quality, yield, and low volatility — are all listed as neutral, meaning the portfolio behaves broadly like the overall market along these dimensions. Factor exposure is basically how much a portfolio leans into certain traits that research has linked to returns, like cheaper stocks (value) or recent winners (momentum). Here, no factor shows a strong tilt, even with the small‑cap value ETF included, likely because it’s only 10% of the mix. This balanced profile suggests the portfolio’s ups and downs are mainly driven by broad market moves rather than by emphasizing any particular factor strategy.
Risk contribution
-
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Weight: 70.00% 70.4% -
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares
Weight: 20.00% 17.5% -
Avantis® U.S. Small Cap Value ETF
Weight: 10.00% 12.1%
Risk contribution shows how much each holding drives the portfolio’s overall volatility, which can differ from its percentage weight. The S&P 500 ETF is 70% of assets and contributes about 70% of the risk, so it’s almost one‑for‑one. The international fund is 20% of assets but only about 17% of risk, indicating it slightly dampens overall volatility. The small‑cap value ETF is 10% of assets but contributes around 12% of risk, showing it’s a bit punchier than its size suggests. All risk comes from these three positions, so the main question is how comfortable one is with the S&P 500 driving most of the ride.
Risk vs. return
This chart shows the Efficient Frontier, calculated using your current assets with different allocation combinations. It highlights the best balance between risk and return based on historical data. "Efficient" portfolios maximize returns for a given risk or minimize risk for a given return. Portfolios below the curve are less efficient. This is informational and not a recommendation to buy or sell any assets.
Click on the colored dots to explore allocations.
The efficient frontier chart compares this portfolio’s risk and return to the best combinations possible using the same three ETFs. The current mix has a Sharpe ratio of 0.64, while the maximum‑Sharpe blend is 0.82 and the minimum‑risk blend is 0.69. The Sharpe ratio is a way to measure return per unit of risk, after accounting for a risk‑free rate; higher is better. The analysis notes the portfolio sits on or very near the frontier, meaning that for its level of volatility, it’s using these holdings in an efficient way. In plain terms, the weighting is already doing a good job with the ingredients chosen.
Dividends
- Avantis® U.S. Small Cap Value ETF 1.20%
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF 1.00%
- Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares 2.50%
- Weighted yield (per year) 1.32%
The overall dividend yield is about 1.32%, with the international ETF paying the highest yield and the US large‑cap fund the lowest. Dividend yield is the annual cash payout as a percentage of price, similar to a rent check from owning shares. In this portfolio, income is a relatively small part of total return; most of the historical growth has come from price appreciation. For growth‑oriented stock portfolios, that’s common. Dividends can still offer a modest cushion in flat or slightly down markets, but given the low starting yield, short‑term income from this mix should be viewed as a secondary feature rather than a primary driver.
Ongoing product costs
- Avantis® U.S. Small Cap Value ETF 0.25%
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF 0.03%
- Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares 0.05%
- Weighted costs total (per year) 0.06%
The total expense ratio (TER) across the portfolio is a very low 0.06%, thanks mainly to the rock‑bottom fees on the broad Vanguard ETFs. TER is the annual percentage fee charged by a fund, quietly deducted from returns, like a small ongoing service charge. Here, that drag is minimal. Over long periods, keeping fees low can meaningfully preserve more of the portfolio’s gross returns, especially when compounding over decades. The slightly higher cost of the small‑cap value ETF has only a modest impact because it’s a small slice overall. This cost structure is impressively lean and strongly supports long‑term performance.
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