Key Points

• The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF tracks the movements of more than 200 growth stocks.

• You can instantly diversify across the U.S. economy with the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.

• Both are great long-term investment options, and each one charges a low annual fee.

• 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ›

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are popular investment vehicles because they're easy to buy and sell, they give you exposure to different companies, and many of them charge low expense ratios. Some of them have even put up very impressive gains over time.

If you're looking for one or two ETFs to buy right now, you'd be hard pressed to find better ones than the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) and the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF (NYSEMKT: VOOG). Both funds cost more than $100, but you can buy fractional shares through many brokerages, making it easier than ever to get started. Here's why putting $100 toward each Vanguard ETF and holding forever is a smart move.

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Why buy the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF now

As its name implies, the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF focuses on growth stocks, specifically more than 200 of the top growth companies in the S&P 500.

The companies in the fund are picked based on their revenue and earnings growth, as well as their share price momentum. If that sounds too risky for you, consider that these companies all come from the S&P 500, so they're already some of the largest publicly traded U.S.-based companies.

Of course, the benefit of owning a fund that focuses on growth stocks is that when the market is experiencing big gains and the economy is on the right track, the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF tends to benefit in big ways. Consider that the fund's total returns over the past 10 years are 340%, compared to the S&P 500's 261% increase.

There's gotta be a catch, right? Nope. At least not when it comes to the expense ratio. Vanguard charges just 0.07% annually to be invested in the fund, which is significantly cheaper than the industry average of 0.14%. This means for every $1,000 you have invested, you'll pay just $0.70 annually.

It's worth mentioning, too, that while returns of the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF have been impressive over the past decade, there's no guarantee of future success. Growth stocks tend to underperform in recessions, but they also rebound faster when the economy turns around. All the more reason to take a buy-and-hold approach with this fund so you don't miss out on the large gains when they come.

Why the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is an excellent choice as well

You might assume that if you want to ride the biggest trends in the market, like artificial intelligence, then you need to own growth stocks or a growth stocks fund. But that's not true because some of the largest companies in the S&P 500 have been the biggest beneficiaries of AI.

Consider that some top AI companies, including Nvidia and Broadcom, have soared 1,500% and 800% over the past five years, respectively, helping to push up the gains of the S&P 500. This is one of the reasons why owning the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is so great. Your investment tracks the top 500 publicly traded companies in the U.S., giving you lots of diversification, but you're also benefiting from the most innovative companies in the country. As the legendary investor Warren Buffett put it so well in a 2021 investor letter, "Despite some severe interruptions, our country's economic progress has been breathtaking. Our unwavering conclusion: Never bet against America."

The result of betting on America is that the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF's total returns have doubled over the past five years, a very impressive return for a passively managed fund. And considering that Vanguard charges an expense ratio of just 0.03%, you'll pay just $0.30 annually for every $1,000 invested.

Personally, I like the idea of having my money spread out across many companies benefiting from the U.S. economy, which is why most of my portfolio is in this fund. Not only do I get to benefit from some big trends like AI, but I also sleep a little better at night knowing that I don't have all of my chips on just a handful of companies.

Whether you buy the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF or the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index ETF, or both, a $100 investment in these funds is a great way to diversify your investments and track some of the most innovative companies in the U.S. at the same time.

Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF right now?

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Chris Neiger has positions in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Many investors are interested in buying Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) stock on the dip.

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*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Aug. 4, 2025. The video was published on Aug. 6, 2025.

Should you invest $1,000 in Novo Nordisk right now?

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The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Novo Nordisk 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 $635,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,099,758!*

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Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

Key Points

• Achieved positive Adjusted EBITDA for the first time in Q2 2025; Non-GAAP EPS and GAAP revenue for Q2 2025 both exceeded analyst estimates.

• North America and international (Rest of World) subscriber counts declined year over year in Q2 2025 by 6.5% and 12.5%, respectively, signaling continued churn and pressure on scale.

• No forward guidance was provided; the pending merger with Hulu + Live TV introduces future uncertainty.

• These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›

fuboTV (NYSE:FUBO), a streaming service focused on live sports and entertainment, released its earnings for Q2 2025 on August 8, 2025. The big headline: it achieved its first-ever quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2025 and reported better-than-expected non-GAAP EPS of $0.05 (versus consensus estimate of -$0.03) and GAAP revenue of $379.97 million (versus consensus estimate of $367.08 million). Adjusted EPS (earnings per share, excluding certain one-time items) was $0.05, outperforming the analyst expectation of -$0.03 (non-GAAP). Revenue (GAAP) came in at $379.968 million, also above the $367.08 million GAAP consensus estimate. Despite this operational progress, Paid subscriber numbers dropped in both its North American and international markets compared to Q1 2025, and Advertising revenue in North America fell by 2% year-over-year. Management provided no new forward guidance, leaving future visibility limited, especially with a major merger with Hulu + Live TV still pending.

Metric	Q2 2025	Q2 2025 Estimate	Q2 2024	Y/Y Change
EPS (Non-GAAP)	$0.05	($0.03)	($0.04)	$0.09
EPS (GAAP)	($0.02)		($0.08)	($0.06)
Revenue (GAAP)	$380.0 million	$367.08 million	$391.0 million	(2.8%)
Adjusted EBITDA	$20.7 million		($11.0 million)	N/A
Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP)	($37.7 million)		($35.3 million)	N/A

Source: Analyst estimates provided by FactSet. Management expectations based on management's guidance, as provided in Q2 2025 earnings report.

Business Overview and Focus Areas

fuboTV offers a live TV streaming platform focused on sports, news, and entertainment content. Its service bundles live sports channels, popular entertainment networks, and news, aiming to attract viewers leaving traditional cable and satellite TV. The business provides flexibility so subscribers can tailor their content bundles, a key feature in the shift away from legacy television.

The company's current strategy centers around five main areas: taking advantage of the cord-cutting trend in television, growing its subscription and advertising revenue, pushing into international markets, investing in new technology and data tools, and preparing for a transformative merger with Hulu + Live TV. These areas are crucial as fuboTV looks to boost revenue, retain and grow its subscriber base, and differentiate its service in a crowded streaming market.

Quarter in Review: Financials, Subscribers, Strategic Moves

fuboTV surpassed analyst expectations for both adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) and revenue (GAAP). Non-GAAP EPS turned positive at $0.05, compared with -$0.04 in Q2 2024. Revenue slightly decreased by 2.8% from the prior year period but still came in ahead of consensus, totaling $379.968 million (GAAP). The company delivered its first-ever quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), recording $20.7 million, a notable swing from negative $11.0 million in Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) in Q2 2024. Net loss (GAAP) narrowed sharply to -$8.0 million versus -$25.8 million in Q2 2024. Operating expenses (GAAP) dropped 9.5% year-over-year to $386.0 million.

Despite better profitability, fuboTV's subscriber numbers trended lower in both North America and Rest of World from Q4 2024 through Q2 2025. At quarter end, North American subscribers totaled 1.356 million, down 6.5% compared to the prior year. The Rest of World segment ended with 349,000 subscribers, a year-over-year decrease of 12.5%. North American segment revenue also dipped 3.0% year-over-year, though international markets saw revenue climb slightly by 4.7%. Revenue from advertising in North America decreased 2% to $25.5 million, attributed by management to the removal of certain ad-insertable content. New advertising strategies included the introduction of "pause ads" and the launch of a Women's Sports Zone, the latter delivering seven figures in ad revenue. These initiatives mark early efforts to offset shrinking ad inventory from lower subscriber counts.

The company noted several technology improvements to its platform. Product refinements such as "Catch Up to Live," "Game Highlights," and "Timeline Markers" intend to enhance the viewing experience and boost user engagement. Although management claims these enhancements led to a lift in time spent watching, no external engagement statistics were provided. fuboTV also continued to expand its content through partnerships for Pay-Per-View sports events and broadened distribution deals with DAZN (a sports streaming service) and ELF (European League of Football). The Rest of World business retained exclusive English Premier League soccer streaming rights in Canada and though subscriber gains in these regions did not materialize this quarter.

A major strategic development for fuboTV during the period was the announced merger with Hulu + Live TV, publicly announced on January 6, 2025, with the transaction anticipated to close in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. This business combination, expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026, remains subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. Hulu will hold a 70% economic interest in the combined entity, with fuboTV owning 30% as outlined in the Business Combination Agreement announced January 6, 2025. While management describes this as a move to "increase competition and consumer choice," the filing did not provide updated guidance on projected synergies, future subscriber trends, or the expected financial impact. No material one-time gains or losses linked to the pending merger were recognized in the quarter. Costs related to legal and advisor fees for the transaction were included in adjusted EBITDA as "certain litigation and transaction expenses." fuboTV does not currently pay a dividend.

Looking Ahead: Guidance, Cash Flow, and What to Watch

The company declined to provide detailed financial guidance for the next quarter or full fiscal 2025. Management focused remarks on the upcoming combination with Hulu + Live TV, upcoming product rollouts, and content partnerships. With no explicit outlook, investors face uncertainty regarding the ability to sustain positive adjusted EBITDA, as well as the future trajectory of revenue and subscribers following the merger.

fuboTV closed the quarter with $283.6 million in cash and equivalents, up from $161.4 million as of December 31, 2024. Free cash flow (non-GAAP) remained negative at -$37.7 million, a decrease of $2.4 million compared to Q2 2024. With subscriber counts falling and no guidance on merger outcomes, investors may closely watch subscriber retention, advertising trends, and merger developments in the months ahead.

Revenue and net income presented using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) unless otherwise noted.

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JesterAI is a Foolish AI, based on a variety of Large Language Models (LLMs) and proprietary Motley Fool systems. All articles published by JesterAI are reviewed by our editorial team, and The Motley Fool takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this article. JesterAI cannot own stocks and so it has no positions in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends fuboTV. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO) reported a GAAP net loss per share of ($0.86) for Q2 2025, narrower than the consensus estimate of ($0.92).

• Key clinical trial results for efruxifermin (EFX) were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and highlighted at major scientific conferences.

• Operating expenses (GAAP) rose 23% year over year, driven by manufacturing scale-up and three concurrent Phase 3 trials.

• These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›

Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO), a biotechnology company focused on developing medicines for fatty liver diseases, released its second-quarter results on August 8, 2025. The most notable news in this quarter was continued progress in clinical trials for its lead drug candidate, efruxifermin (EFX), including positive data publications and conference presentations. Akero reported a GAAP net loss per share of ($0.86), $0.06 less than analysts had estimated. The company did not report revenue, as expected given its pre-commercial status. Akero’s operating expenses (GAAP) climbed to $80.9 million, mainly reflecting higher research spending as Phase 3 trials scaled up. Overall, the quarter saw meaningful scientific and operational milestones, with financial performance largely tracking expectations given the stage of development.

Metric	Q2 2025	Q2 2025 Estimate	Q2 2024	Y/Y Change
EPS (GAAP)	($0.86)	($0.92)	($0.81)	6.2%
Revenue (GAAP)	$0.0	$0.0	$0.0	--
Research and Development Expenses	$69.3 million		$55.3 million	25.3%
General and Administrative Expenses	$11.6 million		$10.4 million	11.5%
Total Operating Expenses	$80.9 million		$65.7 million	23.1%
Cash, Cash Equivalents & Marketable Securities	$1.09 billion			N/A

Source: Analyst estimates for the quarter provided by FactSet.

Company Overview and Business Focus

Akero Therapeutics’ main objective is developing new treatments for liver diseases resulting from abnormal fat accumulation, specifically conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The company’s strategy revolves around its lead drug candidate, efruxifermin (EFX), a biological drug designed to mimic the natural hormone FGF21 and target both fibrotic and metabolic elements of MASH.

Akero’s recent business efforts have centered on advancing EFX through multiple late-stage clinical trials to support regulatory approval. The success of these trials is crucial for both future revenue and regulatory clearance. Key business drivers include demonstrating the efficacy and safety of EFX, building strong scientific credibility, securing strategic manufacturing partnerships, and maintaining financial flexibility as operational costs rise during the transition to late-stage development.

Quarter Highlights: Operations, Financials, and Clinical Progress

This period marked important validation for Akero’s main product candidate, efruxifermin. Data from the Phase 2b SYMMETRY study in patients with advanced liver scarring (compensated cirrhosis) due to MASH was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 9, 2025. That publication in a leading medical journal highlighted EFX’s potential to reverse advanced fibrosis—a disease stage without available treatments today.

Results from both the SYMMETRY and HARMONY Phase 2b studies were featured at the 2025 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress, with conference presentations underlining EFX’s impact across several patient subgroups, including those with diabetes and cryptogenic cirrhosis. For example, week 96 data showed a statistically significant portion of patients receiving the 50mg EFX dose achieved cirrhosis reversal compared to placebo: 39% in the 50mg EFX group versus 15% in the placebo group (p=0.009), among patients with baseline and week 96 biopsies. These analyses also used artificial intelligence (AI) for deeper biopsy review and consistently reinforced efficacy signals, strengthening scientific confidence in the results.

The company reported that all three pivotal Phase 3 trials -- SYNCHRONY Histology, SYNCHRONY Real-World, and SYNCHRONY Outcomes -- remain ongoing. Importantly, management expects preliminary results from the Real-World study in the first half of 2026, and key histology results in the first half of 2027. These trials are designed to generate data for both U.S. and international regulatory submissions and address a wide spectrum of MASH patients, ranging from early liver damage to advanced cirrhosis.

Financially, Akero’s operating expenses (GAAP) were $80.9 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025, compared to $65.7 million in the same period of 2024, representing a 23% increase as the company invested further in large-scale clinical trials and manufacturing preparations. Research and development spending saw the largest increase, up 25.3% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting the cost of running several complex global studies simultaneously and efforts to scale production. General and administrative costs for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025 were $11.6 million, compared to $10.4 million in the same period of 2024. Akero ended Q2 2025 with $1.09 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, which management states will fund current activities into 2028.

No notable one-time financial events were highlighted for the period, except for a previously disclosed capital raise in January, which helped strengthen the company’s cash position for ongoing trials and future commercial plans.

Product Pipeline and Strategic Context

EFX is a biologic drug, meaning it is produced using living cells and targets the hormone pathways that underlie metabolic and fibrotic liver diseases. The SYMMETRY and HARMONY studies have confirmed EFX’s ability to reduce or reverse liver scarring, which is the main driver of poor outcomes in advanced fatty liver disorders.

Results showed that a significant portion of patients taking the highest dose regimen experienced clear benefits in liver health, measured both by traditional biopsy and new imaging and AI-based techniques. These findings were consistent across patients with pre-cirrhotic disease and advanced cirrhosis, even in groups considered difficult to treat. Akero’s ongoing Phase 3 SYNCHRONY program now includes approximately 3,500 participants and features a mix of traditional and real-world-data trial approaches.

Akero has also secured important U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory designations—namely Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy status—which signal that EFX may offer major advancements over existing care and can be reviewed more quickly by regulators. The company’s pipeline continues to rely on EFX, which carries both the promise of first-mover advantage in a large disease market and the typical risks seen with single-product biopharma firms.

Building for commercialization, Akero has struck manufacturing agreements with established industry partners and is working to develop a commercial infrastructure for potential drug launch in the U.S. The firm is evaluating further market entry strategies in Europe, Japan, and China, using both internal resources and partnerships. Intellectual property agreements, including an exclusive license deal with Amgen and a robust patent portfolio, help protect and extend the commercial lifespan of EFX if it is approved and launched.

Outlook and What to Watch Next

Management projects that current cash reserves are sufficient to fund Akero’s operating plan through at least 2028, supporting late-stage clinical work and pre-commercialization activities regardless of near-term trial results. (As stated in Akero's Q2 2025 and Q1 2025 earnings releases, the company believes its cash, cash equivalents, and short- and long-term marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into 2028.) The next anticipated event is the data release from the SYNCHRONY Real-World Phase 3 study in the first half of 2026, followed by the histology study readout in 2027. No additional financial guidance was provided for the remainder of the year or next quarter.

With no revenue until EFX is approved and launched, investor attention remains on the success of ongoing Phase 3 trials, the pace of clinical enrollment and data read-outs, and management’s ability to balance cash burn with operational progress. Risks include the inherent uncertainties of clinical development and the company’s dependence on its sole lead asset. Akero Therapeutics does not currently pay a dividend.

Revenue and net income presented using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) unless otherwise noted.

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When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,046%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 181% for the S&P 500.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of August 4, 2025

JesterAI is a Foolish AI, based on a variety of Large Language Models (LLMs) and proprietary Motley Fool systems. All articles published by JesterAI are reviewed by our editorial team, and The Motley Fool takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this article. JesterAI cannot own stocks and so it has no positions in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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