VOO Tops Most Popular Vanguard ETFs by 2025 Fund Flows
- Inflows reveal Vanguard investors are not panicking in 2025; they’re planning.
- Massive flows into VOO and other U.S. equity ETFs show that investors remain confident.
In a year marked by interest rate uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation anxiety, investors have kept the faith, and nowhere is that clearer than in Vanguard ETF fund flows. Topping the list is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which has attracted a staggering $82 billion in new assets year to date, leading not just Vanguard’s lineup but all ETFs industry-wide in 2025.
But VOO isn’t alone. Several other Vanguard ETFs, from total stock market to international to bond funds, are pulling in billions, offering a unique lens into retail investor sentiment, which appears more resilient than the headlines would suggest.
In this data dive, we’ll explore what these inflows may (or may not) signal about where investors see opportunity and safety in 2025 and what they reveal about the strength of the diversified, long-term investing mindset.
Vanguard ETFs: Fund Flows, Performance 2025
| Ticker | Fund | AUM | YTD Inflows | YTD Return |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | $681.6B | $81.9B | 2.3% |
| VTI | Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | $484.3B | $20.3B | 1.8% |
| VO | Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | $85.3B | $10.5B | 3.5% |
| VUG | Vanguard Growth ETF | $170.2B | $10.3B | 0.9% |
| BND | Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | $129.6B | $7.1B | 2.9% |
| VXUS | Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | $92.8B | $6.6B | 15.1% |
| VGK | Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | $25.3B | $5.2B | 20.8% |
| BNDX | Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | $67B | $4.7B | 1.8% |
| VTV | Vanguard Value ETF | $135.4B | $4.4B | 2.8% |
| VCIT | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | $53.8B | $4.3B | 3.8% |
Data from FactSet, etf.com Fund Screener tool, as of May 18, 2025.
What VOO, Vanguard Equity ETF Inflows Mean
Vanguard's VOO is often seen as a barometer of broad U.S. retail investor sentiment. And with over $82 billion in inflows so far in 2025, and another combined $40 billion+ of new assets flowing into VTI, VO and VUG, investors are clearly still betting on the strength of large-cap U.S. companies, even as macroeconomic uncertainty looms.
Massive Vanguard equity ETF inflows suggest several possible interpretations:
- Optimism about U.S. corporate resilience, especially in tech, industrials and consumer sectors
- A buy-the-dip mentality during periods of volatility, as many of these ETFs saw increased flows after short-term market pullbacks
- Continued faith in passive investing and long-term growth, with VOO and VTI serving as core holdings in retirement and taxable portfolios.
Tip: Inflows aren’t a prediction of future returns. In some cases, they can indicate herd behavior, particularly in momentum-driven markets. Still, Vanguard’s dominance in index-based investing and its appeal to long-term retail investors suggest these flows are more strategic than speculative.
5 of Top 10 Vanguard ETFs Are International or Fixed Income
While U.S. stock funds have led the charge for Vanguard ETF fund flows in 2025, a surprising theme emerges in the rest of the top 10: strong inflows into international equities and bonds. These inflows tell a more nuanced story:
- Global diversification is still a core focus, even amid U.S. market strength. VXUS and VGK flows suggest that investors are positioning for value opportunities abroad, particularly in Europe and emerging markets, which are trading at discounts to U.S. valuations.
- Fixed income is back in favor, as investors look for income and stability amid rate volatility. BND and BNDX, covering domestic and global bonds, offer broad exposure, while VCIT targets higher yields with manageable duration risk.
Vanguard inflows outside of U.S. stocks reflect a strategic shift toward balanced portfolios, with many investors reallocating to Europe amid U.S. trade policy uncertainty and to bonds after years of underweighting fixed income during the 2020-2022 zero-rate era.
In short, Vanguard flows indicate that investors aren't just chasing U.S. stocks; they're rebalancing thoughtfully.
Diversification Still Works, and Vanguard Investors Know It
When you step back, the message from Vanguard ETF flows in 2025 is clear: Investors are leaning into diversified, low-cost, long-term strategies, and it’s working.
Massive flows into VOO and other U.S. equity ETFs show that investors remain confident in the power of compounding and U.S. corporate earnings.
Meaningful allocations to international stocks and fixed income suggest that investors are resisting the temptation to go “all in” on any one sector or region and instead are spreading risk thoughtfully.
The resilience of inflows, even during a volatile year, underscores a key theme: retail investors, especially Vanguard’s base, are maturing. They’re tuning out the noise and sticking with the plan.
Final Thoughts on Vanguard ETF Inflows
In a year where markets have been anything but predictable, the predictable strength of Vanguard ETF inflows offers a reassuring narrative: Disciplined, diversified investing still matters and still works. Whether it's the record-setting $82 billion flowing into VOO or the quiet strength of VXUS and BND, 2025’s most popular Vanguard ETFs reveal a retail investor base that’s not panicking; they’re planning.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investing in ETFs involves risks, and investors should carefully consider their investment objectives and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.
At the time of publication, Kent Thune did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
