<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF is a strong buy-the-dip candidate right now.</li><li>Those situations have been hard to come by, but the ETF is in the middle of one right now.</li><li>It's also one of the least expensive small-cap value funds you can own.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF ›</li></ul>As experienced investors know, there are always buy-the-dip candidates. The other side of that coin is that in strong bull markets, pullbacks don't always materialize to the extent that market participants would like.Amid the recent small-cap resurgence, that's been the case with the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSEMKT: VBR). Dating back to 2025, this exchange-traded fund's (ETF) dips, if they can even be called that, have been as shallow as rain puddles until recently. Following a modest gain on Monday, March 16, the Vanguard ETF resides 8% below its 52-week high set last month. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MDk4OS9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0xMTcwMzk4MzU0LTEuanBnJnc9NzAw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MDk4OS9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0xMTcwMzk4MzU0LTEuanBnJnc9NzAw"/>This popular Vanguard ETF looks like an attractive buy-the-dip idea. Image source: Getty Images. That's not quite a correction. A decline of 10% defines that, but the small-cap fund's slide may prove to be the buying opportunity some investors have been waiting for. At a minimum, this Vanguard ETF warrants monitoring over the near term because there are occasions in investing when it pays to get in. At the same time, the getting is good, and there's no guarantee this ETF will enter an extended slumber.<h2>This Vanguard ETF is a candidate for dip buyers</h2>Undoubtedly, there have been lulls, and lengthy ones at that, but the combination of small-cap and value stocks has been a potent one over the long term, making this Vanguard ETF suitable for inclusion in buy-and-hold strategies. Speaking of performance, this value fund has beaten some of its most vaunted rivals over the past decade.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEueWNoYXJ0cy5jb20vY2hhcnRzLzA1N2E0NzQyZmU1NjljODRiMTg4YTVmMjAwNjAyMzFhLnBuZyZ3PTcwMA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="459" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEueWNoYXJ0cy5jb20vY2hhcnRzLzA1N2E0NzQyZmU1NjljODRiMTg4YTVmMjAwNjAyMzFhLnBuZyZ3PTcwMA"/>VBR data by YChartsPart of the &#34;secret&#34; of this ETF's success lies in its plumbing. It tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Value Index, which is the value offshoot of the CRSP US Small Cap index. That benchmark excludes the 85% of the largest domestic stocks and the 2% of the smallest. That results in a median market capitalization of $9.8 billion for this ETF's holdings. That's nearly five times the size of the high end of the strict definition of small cap. Some investors see that median market cap and may think they're being &#34;cheated&#34; out of a pure small-cap experience. However, what they're really getting is a buffer against some of the volatility that comes along with investing in smaller stocks. That protection is enhanced by the parent index sweeping out the smallest 2% of U.S. stocks.What they're not being cheated out of is broad exposure to the U.S. smaller value stock opportunity set. This ETF holds 846 stocks, which is a beefy lineup compared to some competing funds.<h2>More reasons to buy this ETF's pullback</h2>The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF features other attractive attributes that make it a potentially rewarding buy-the-dip candidate. First, some experts argue that both small-cap and value stocks are setting up for an extended period of outperforming large caps and the broader market. Second, this $34.4 billion ETF is easy to own over the long haul thanks to its low expense ratio. It charges just 0.05% per year, or $5 on a $10,000 investment. So not only is it inexpensive like so many of its Vanguard peers, its annual fee is well below the 1.09% category average. <h2>Should you buy stock in Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $510,710!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,949!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 929% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 186% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 19, 2026. Todd Shriber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends iShares Trust - iShares S&amp;P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF is currently viewed as a strong buy-the-dip candidate, trading 8% below its 52-week high. This ETF, which tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Value Index, offers broad exposure to smaller value stocks with a median market cap of $9.8 billion. Its low expense ratio of 0.05% makes it an attractive long-term investment. Experts suggest that small-cap and value stocks may outperform larger stocks in the near future, making this ETF a potential opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on market dips.

1 Vanguard ETF I Keep Buying Every Time the Market Dips