When evaluating the performance of the stock market, investors’ primary focus is generally the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) index.
This is the ultimate benchmark, comprising around 500 large, profitable U.S. businesses
It’s a good way for investors to gauge the state of the American economy. In the past decade, the S&P 500 index has generated a phenomenal total return of 327% (as of June 26), which is significantly higher than its long-term annualized average of 10%. Investors observing this trend certainly want to build some exposure.
Here’s the smartest way to allocate capital to the S&P 500 index right now. Look to Vanguard Founded in 1975, Vanguard has a whopping $12 trillion in assets under management (as of November 2025) and offers 458 different funds. Perhaps its most popular product is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO).