Why Is Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) Up Today, 3/4/2026?

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO -0.88% ▼ , which tracks the S&P 500 Index (SPX), was up 0.28% in Wednesday’s pre-market trading as investors reacted to rising oil prices and geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Oil surged after reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of potential supply disruptions.

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President Trump stated last night that the U.S. Navy stands ready to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s actions. Nonetheless, oil prices continued rising on supply fears, with Brent crude up 2.55% at $83.95 per barrel, near its highest since January 2025.

During Tuesday’s regular trading, the three major indexes closed lower after early-session plunges marked some of their worst declines in years. The S&P 500 closed down 0.94%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 1.02%, and the Dow fell 0.83%.

Overall, VOO has lost 0.43% over the past five days but has gained 19% over the past year.

VOO’s Key Holdings with Highest Upside/Downside Potential

According to TipRanks’ unique ETF analyst consensus, determined based on a weighted average of analyst ratings on its holdings, VOO is a Moderate Buy. The Street’s average price target of $773.52 implies an upside of 23.62%.

Currently, VOO’s five holdings with the highest upside potential are:

• Oracle ORCL -0.16% ▼

• ServiceNow Inc. NOW +3.45% ▲

• KKR & Co KKR -0.07% ▼

• Adobe ADBE +3.88% ▲

• Datadog Inc. DDOG +0.59% ▲

Meanwhile, its five holdings with the greatest downside potential are:

• Loews L -0.62% ▼

• Moderna MRNA -5.71% ▼

• LyondellBasell LYB +0.57% ▲

• Comfort Systems FIX -3.27% ▼

• APA Corp. APA +0.50% ▲

Revealingly, VOO ETF’s Smart Score is seven, implying that this ETF will likely perform in line with the market.

Does VOO Pay Dividends?

Yes, VOO pays dividends. These payments come from the dividends paid by the companies in the S&P 500, and VOO distributes them to shareholders every quarter. The payout amount can change from quarter to quarter because company dividends vary. Investors can receive the dividend as cash or choose to automatically reinvest it into more shares through a dividend reinvestment program.

VOO’s dividend yield as of today is 1.13%.

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