Fund number: 0540 | CUSIP: 922908710 | Symbol: VFIAX | Category: Large Blend
The first index fund for individual investors, according to the company, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) provides exposure to a subset of the entire U.S. equity market—specifically, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, whose component companies account for about three-fourths of the U.S. stock market’s value.
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund seeks to replicate its benchmark index by investing its total net assets in the stocks comprising the index and holding each component with approximately the same weight as the index. In this way, the fund barely deviates from the S&P 500, which it is designed to mimic.
The fund was issued on Aug. 31, 1976. As of March 31, 2020, it has generated an average annual return of 10.53%. The fund's Admiral Shares—the only ones currently available to new investors—have returned an average of 5.44% annually since their inception on Nov. 13, 2000, only slightly less than the S&P 500.
As of Feb. 29, 2020, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund had $500.9 billion in total net assets and, despite its name, holds 508 stocks. Like its sister fund, VFIAX charges an expense ratio of 0.04% and requires a minimum investment of $3,000.
In comparison to the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (Admiral Shares), the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (Admiral Shares) has historically experienced slightly lower volatility and return. However, the Sharpe ratios (the most widely used method for calculating risk-adjusted return) are nearly identical, which indicates that investors in both funds had similar returns on a risk-adjusted basis.
The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is best suited for moderately to highly risk-tolerant investors seeking low-cost exposure to the U.S. stock market. Additionally, it could function as a single domestic equity fund in a portfolio.
Meanwhile, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund is suitable as a core equity holding for investors with a long-term investment horizon and a preference for the lower risk of the large-cap equity market. Since it does concentrate on more conservative, large-cap stocks, the fund might work best in a diversified portfolio that contains exposure to other types of equities for growth. Two of the investment company Vanguard's most popular products are the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX). While both can function as suitable core holdings in a stock portfolio, the similar-sounding mutual funds pursue different investment strategies.
As its name implies, the Total Stock Market Index Fund provides exposure to the entire U.S. equities market, as represented by the Center for Research in Securities Prices (CRSP) U.S. Total Market Index of over 3,550 stocks.
On the other hand, the 500 Index Fund only provides exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, similar to the S&P 500 Index. In this article, we'll review some of the similarities and differences between these two popular Vanguard mutual funds.
Technical Analysis VFIAX
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX)
As the industry’s first index fund for individual investors, the 500 Index Fund is a low-cost way to gain diversified exposure to the U.S. equity market. The fund offers exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, which span many different industries and account for about three-fourths of the U.S. stock market’s value. The key risk for the fund is the volatility that comes with its full exposure to the stock market. Because the 500 Index Fund is broadly diversified within the large-capitalization market, it may be considered a core equity holding in a portfolio.The first index fund for individual investors, according to the company, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) provides exposure to a subset of the entire U.S. equity market—specifically, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, whose component companies account for about three-fourths of the U.S. stock market’s value.
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund seeks to replicate its benchmark index by investing its total net assets in the stocks comprising the index and holding each component with approximately the same weight as the index. In this way, the fund barely deviates from the S&P 500, which it is designed to mimic.
The fund was issued on Aug. 31, 1976. As of March 31, 2020, it has generated an average annual return of 10.53%. The fund's Admiral Shares—the only ones currently available to new investors—have returned an average of 5.44% annually since their inception on Nov. 13, 2000, only slightly less than the S&P 500.
As of Feb. 29, 2020, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund had $500.9 billion in total net assets and, despite its name, holds 508 stocks. Like its sister fund, VFIAX charges an expense ratio of 0.04% and requires a minimum investment of $3,000.
In comparison to the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (Admiral Shares), the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (Admiral Shares) has historically experienced slightly lower volatility and return. However, the Sharpe ratios (the most widely used method for calculating risk-adjusted return) are nearly identical, which indicates that investors in both funds had similar returns on a risk-adjusted basis.
The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is best suited for moderately to highly risk-tolerant investors seeking low-cost exposure to the U.S. stock market. Additionally, it could function as a single domestic equity fund in a portfolio.
Meanwhile, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund is suitable as a core equity holding for investors with a long-term investment horizon and a preference for the lower risk of the large-cap equity market. Since it does concentrate on more conservative, large-cap stocks, the fund might work best in a diversified portfolio that contains exposure to other types of equities for growth. Two of the investment company Vanguard's most popular products are the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX). While both can function as suitable core holdings in a stock portfolio, the similar-sounding mutual funds pursue different investment strategies.
As its name implies, the Total Stock Market Index Fund provides exposure to the entire U.S. equities market, as represented by the Center for Research in Securities Prices (CRSP) U.S. Total Market Index of over 3,550 stocks.
On the other hand, the 500 Index Fund only provides exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, similar to the S&P 500 Index. In this article, we'll review some of the similarities and differences between these two popular Vanguard mutual funds.