Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (2024)

Background

The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) is the world's largest mutual fund. The fund, as of February 28, 2019 has an astounding $757 billion under management and holds 3,573 individual companies. Vanguard is one of the largest investment management companies in the world and is well known for their low cost fund offerings. Vanguard was founded by the late John Bogle who revolutionized the low cost index fund investing movement. In this article, we will break down the characteristics of the fund, who the fund is suitable for, and some reasonable investment alternatives.

VTSAX Fund Profile

The fund profile of VTSAX describes the product summary as follows, "Created in 1992, Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is designed to provide investors with exposure to the entire U.S. equity market, including small-, mid-, and large-cap growth and value stocks. The fund's key attributes are its low costs, broad diversification, and the potential for tax efficiency." More simply, the fund essentially tracks the U.S. stock market in the most cost efficient way possible.

The VTSAX mutual fund has a minimum investment of $3,000. This was changed in late 2018 as the prior minimum investment in VTSAX was $10,000. The $3,000 minimum investment is much more reasonable for the average person and allows the fund to be more widely available to retail investors. As an alternative, the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) can be purchased in any quantity (minimum 1 share) to replicate the performance of VTSAX.

VTSAX holds the all the big names that you may expect a U.S. market fund to hold in their top 10 largest holdings.

Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (1)

Source: VTSAX Fund Profile

As shown, the 10 largest holdings of the fund represent 17.9% of the total net assets of the fund. This allocation does raise the question of concentration risk within these 10 companies. However, the sector diversification achieved through these 10 names is more reassuring. That being said, a look at the overall sector diversification held by VTSAX fund is warranted.

Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (2)

Source: VTSAX Fund Profile

This portfolio composition reveals that the fund does have some concentration risk in the technology and financial sectors, which make up almost 39% of the fund. It should however be noted that the weightings of these two particular sectors are not that uncommon when compared to other total U.S. market mutual funds or ETFs.

Performance

VTSAX's three year performance chart is provided below. The performance of the S&P 500 has been added for comparative purposes.

Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (3)Data by

YCharts

As shown above, VTSAX has tracked the S&P 500 almost identically over the bull run in the market for the preceding three year period.

Who Should Invest in VTSAX

Per the Vanguard fund profile "Investors looking for a low-cost way to gain broad exposure to the U.S. stock market who are willing to accept the volatility that comes with stock market investing may wish to consider this fund as either a core equity holding or your only domestic stock fund."

VTSAX is a great way for a passive investor to make one fund purchase and simplify their portfolio. Clearly, this is only reasonable if you are able to accept the volatility of the broad U.S. market and accept the risk of not adding diversification international equities or through bonds. I think VTSAX is effective at replicating the domestic equity component of a balanced portfolio. Further diversification through bonds, international equities and other vehicles would be preferable for many investors.

The idea of being a passive investor in a fund like VTSAX is to buy and hold for the long term and not try outsmart that market by actively trading a brokerage account. As most retail investors are not able to beat the market return of the long-term, the buy and hold approach in a broad based fund like VTSAX is typically recommended for most investors.

As VTSAX is a mutual fund, there are no available option markets however there are monthly options available in $0.05 spreads for VTI.

Fees

Per Vanguard, the fund has an expense ratio of 0.04% and the current net assets of the fund are $757 billion as of February 28, 2019. This is clearly one of the greatest benefits of the fund as the ultra-low expense ratio allows investors to keep more of their returns. At the current net asset level of the fund, Vanguard would be earning approximately $300M annually for managing the fund.

Distributions

A nice benefit of owning the U.S. market through a fund like VTSAX, is being able to enjoy the regular dividend distributions in addition to the capital appreciation. The current yield of the fund is 1.88%. Dividends are declared and paid quarterly with the most recent dividends being shown below

Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (4)

Source: (Vanguard Website )

Alternatives to VTSAX

Some alternatives to VTSAX are provided below. Generally, the funds are quite similar and as such the differentiating factors have been highlighted.

Fidelity ZERO Total Stock Market Index Fund (FZROX)

This fund, similar to VTSAX replicates the total U.S. stock market index. It is attractive as there actually no management fee charged by Fidelity. The drawback however of investing in this fund is that it is only available to Fidelity customers.

Source: FZROX Fund Profile

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO)

This fund is very similar to VTSAX however it only holds approximately 500 companies versus the 3,700 companies held by VTSAX. The fees are consistent across both funds at 0.04% so the only difference is the level of diversification between the fund's holdings.

Source: Vanguard VOO Fund Profile

iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT)

This is another fund similar to VTSAX with fees of 0.03%. The fund holds over 3,500 companies and has a net asset value of over $19M. The sector exposure to technology is a bit higher than VTSAX at approximately 21%.

Source: iShares ITOT Fund Profile

In addition, as discussed above, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) can be purchased as an ETF that mirrors the performance of VTSAX if that is preferred.

Overall Takeaway

VTSAX is a great investment vehicle to purchase a large basket of U.S. companies in a cost effective manner. I do not see any reason why VTSAX will not continue to be the world's largest mutual fund. Although some similar alternatives do exist, the size and fee structure are unmatched. The simplicity of buying and holding a small number of funds would be very appealing and appropriate for most retail investors. I would recommend adding VTSAX as domestic equity component of a balanced portfolio.

This article was written by

Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (5)

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Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Buy VTSAX To Keep It Simple (VTSAX) (2024)

FAQs

What is the minimum balance for VTSAX? ›

You can invest in VTSAX once you meet the minimum initial investment of $3,000. Accessing VTI is much easier, as you only need enough money to buy a single share that costs $204.45 as of Sept. 10, 2022.

What is the best way to buy VTSAX? ›

In terms of how to buy VTSAX stock, the process is straightforward. VTSAX is available for trade through any online brokerage firm that deals in mutual funds. If you don't already have an account, you can open one by completing a short enrollment form and verifying your identity.

What is the average annual return on VTSAX? ›

Daily Total Returns as of 04/28/2023
Actual ReturnsAverage Annual Returns
DescriptionYTD04/28/20231 Year
Large Blend3Morningstar Category+6.94%-1.65%
Rank in Category4169
1 VTSAX return as of 04/28/2023 2 S&P 500 TR USD return as of 04/28/2023 3 Category: Large Blend return as of 04/28/2023
2 more rows

How much do I need to buy VTSAX? ›

If you want to invest less than $3,000 in one of the two funds, you should choose VTI over VTSAX because VTSAX requires a $3,000 minimum. You may also prefer VTI due to its slightly lower expense ratio at 0.03% compared with 0.04% for VTSAX.

Can you buy VTSAX with less than 3000? ›

VTSAX is a total stock market index fund that holds every publicly traded stock in the U.S. Specifically, it is a Vanguard mutual fund that requires a minimum investment of $3,000 and has an expense ratio of 0.04%.

Is VTSAX good for beginners? ›

Is VTSAX good for beginners? This is a complicated answer. It is great for new investors because it offers a diversified exposure to the stock market. If you invest in this fund, you own large cap growth, large cap value, small cap growth, small cap value, and many other asset classes.

Is VTSAX good for retirement? ›

Ideal For Financial Independence and Retiring Early

VTSAX is great if you are looking for a fund you can invest in and maximize the efficiency of the use of your money to retire early. VTSAX allows you to get diversification, has a good history of returns, and provides a dividend that you can reinvest.

Why do people like VTSAX? ›

Created in 1992, Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is designed to provide investors with exposure to the entire U.S. equity market, including small-, mid-, and large-cap growth and value stocks. The fund's key attributes are its low costs, broad diversification, and the potential for tax efficiency.

Do you get dividends from VTSAX? ›

Model portfolio targeting 7-9% dividend yield. Master Limited Partnerships. Business Development Companies. You must be a shareholder on or before the next ex-dividend date to receive the upcoming dividend.

What is the 5 year forecast for VTSAX? ›

Based on our forecasts, a long-term increase is expected, the "Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Admiral" fund price prognosis for 2028-04-26 is 146.335 USD. With a 5-year investment, the revenue is expected to be around +47.62%. Your current $100 investment may be up to $147.62 in 2028.

Is it better to buy VTSAX or VTI? ›

VTSAX is a mutual fund whereas VTI is an exchange traded fund (ETF) VTSAX has a minimum investment threshold whereas VTI does not. VTI has over-performed VTSAX by 0.37% since inception. VTSAX is 0.01% more expensive than VTI.

Which Vanguard fund has the highest return? ›

Annual Return. The Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund is the company's top performing bond fund over the past decade, featuring a high-yield, intermediate-term fixed income portfolio.

What percentage of VTSAX is large mid and small? ›

YTD Return is adjusted for possible sales charges, and assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.
...
Holdings Details.
• Giant Cap41.1%
• Large Cap31.2%
• Mid Cap19.4%
• Small Cap6.2%
• Micro Cap2.2%

Is VTSAX good for a taxable account? ›

Is VTSAX more tax efficient than VTI? VTSAX is not more tax efficient than VTI. As a mutual fund, VTSAX generates more capital gains, resulting in higher income tax and forcing investors to pay capital gains tax. Since ETFs are usually index based, they generate fewer taxable capital gains.

Does VTSAX charge a transaction fee? ›

Trades in no-load mutual funds available through Mutual Funds OneSource service (including SchwabFunds) as well as certain other funds, are available without transaction fees.

Why does VTSAX have a $3000 minimum? ›

The VTSAX mutual fund has a minimum investment of $3,000. This was changed in late 2018 as the prior minimum investment in VTSAX was $10,000. The $3,000 minimum investment is much more reasonable for the average person and allows the fund to be more widely available to retail investors.

What is a substitute for VTSAX? ›

All Cap Equities ETFs
Symbol SymbolETF Name ETF NameExpense Ratio Expense Ratio
FABFirst Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund0.67%
CVYInvesco Zacks Multi-Asset Income ETF1.00%
CSDInvesco S&P Spin-Off ETF0.65%
PEYInvesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers™ ETF0.53%
89 more rows

How much should I invest in mutual funds every month? ›

One should invest at least 20% of their salary in mutual funds and can later increase whenever possible. The effect of inflation has made it essential for investors to look at options such as mutual funds to prevent their investment from losing its value over time.

Is VTSAX good for 401k? ›

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSAX)

Plenty of 401k plans feature the top-notch Vanguard 500 Index Admiral (MUTF:VFIAX), which tracks the S&P 500. However, the Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Index (MUTF:VTSAX) may be a better choice for your 401k.

Is Tesla in VTSAX? ›

Top 25 Holdings
CompanySymbolTotal Net Assets
Amazon.com Inc.AMZN2.22%
NVIDIA Corp.NVDA1.60%
Alphabet Inc. Cl AGOOGL1.53%
Tesla Inc.TSLA1.38%
21 more rows

Is VTSAX actively or passively managed? ›

Seeks to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index. Large, mid-, and small-cap equity diversified across growth and value styles. Passively managed, using index sampling.

What is the Morningstar rating for VTSAX? ›

All of its share classes earn a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Gold, except for its pricier investor share class, which is rated Silver.

Is VTSAX better than spy? ›

SPY - Performance Comparison. In the year-to-date period, VTSAX achieves a 6.90% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 9.06% return. Over the past 10 years, VTSAX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 11.37%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.11% annualized return.

How do I diversify my Vanguard funds? ›

Diversification can be achieved in many ways, including spreading your investments across:
  1. Multiple asset classes, by buying a combination of cash, bonds, and stocks.
  2. Multiple holdings, by buying many bonds and stocks (which you can do through a single ETF) instead of just one or a few.

Is VTSAX risky? ›

The risk of the fund is tied to that of the U.S. stock market. Equities can lose value based on any number of factors and this fund is no exception.

What is the oldest index fund? ›

For a product that would end up changing the investment world, ETFs started off poorly. Vanguard founder Jack Bogle had launched the first index fund, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund, 17 years before, in 1976.

What is the best total stock market fund? ›

Our recommendation for the best overall total stock market index fund is the Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX). While this fund does not have the lowest expense ratio like Fidelity's Zero series of funds, it comes close at 0.015%. A $10,000 investment equals around $1.50 in annual fees.

How often does VTSAX pay dividend? ›

Dividend Payout History
Declare DateEx-Div DateFrequency
3/22/20223/22/2022Quarterly
12/22/202112/23/2021Quarterly
9/22/20219/23/2021Quarterly
6/23/20216/23/2021Quarterly
80 more rows

What is the yield for VTSAX? ›

Dividend Yield History
YearYear End YieldMax Yield
2023-1.67%
20221.65%1.72%
20211.20%1.43%
20201.41%2.58%
7 more rows
Apr 27, 2023

What is the annual dividend on VTSAX? ›

Dividend Growth History
YearPayout AmountYear End Yield
2022$1.53971.65%
2021$1.41521.22%
2020$1.33941.45%
2019$1.40611.84%
19 more rows
Apr 13, 2023

Is VTSAX a good buy? ›

Assuming the 90 days horizon and your above-average risk tolerance, our recommendation regarding VANGUARD TOTAL STOCK is 'Buy'. Macroaxis provides VANGUARD TOTAL buy-hold-or-sell recommendation only in the context of selected investment horizon and investor attitude towards risk assumed by holding VTSAX positions.

What was Vanguard's average return last 30 years? ›

In the last 30 Years, the Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) ETF obtained a 9.79% compound annual return, with a 15.37% standard deviation.

What is the best 2030 target-date fund? ›

Here are the best Target-Date 2030 funds
  • BlackRock Retirement Income 2030 Fund.
  • Fidelity Advisor Freedom® 2030 Fund.
  • BlackRock LifePath ESG Index 2030 Fund.
  • Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund.
  • Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2030 Fund.
  • Empower Lifetime 2030 Fund.
  • BlackRock LifePath® Dynamic 2030 Fund.

Should I buy both VTSAX and VOO? ›

For the US Stocks fund, you could choose between VOO or VTSAX. In this article we've looked at several factors between VTSAX and VOO. Overall, you can't go wrong with either fund. If you prefer a little more exposure to small-cap securities then VTSAX is for you.

Why would you choose VTSAX over VTI? ›

The main difference between VTSAX and VTI is that VTSAX is a mutual fund and VTI is an exchange traded fund. VTSAX, as a mutual fund, has a minimum investment and you buy and sell shares just once a day. VTI, which is an ETF, has no minimum investment and is traded throughout the day.

What is a good expense ratio? ›

A number of factors determine whether an expense ratio is considered high or low. A good expense ratio, from the investor's viewpoint, is around 0.5% to 0.75% for an actively managed portfolio. An expense ratio greater than 1.5% is considered high.

What is the fastest growing Vanguard? ›

The fastest growing exchange traded fund (ETF) managed by U.S. asset management company Vanguard is the Vanguard Energy Index Fund. Over the year to January 16, 2023, the ETF generated an annual return of 44.19 percent.
...
Fund name (ticker)One year return
--
8 more rows
Jan 16, 2023

What would happen if Vanguard went bust? ›

Vanguard is paid by the funds to provide administration and other services. If Vanguard ever did go bankrupt, the funds would not be affected and would simply hire another firm to provide these services.

What is considered high net worth at Vanguard? ›

Investors with $1 million to $5 million*

You're a Flagship client at Vanguard, which means you get personalized services reserved for our high-net-worth investors. Helping you look at your wealth holistically is important to us.

How many mid-cap funds should I have in my portfolio? ›

Ideally, investing in one or two good mid cap funds and one small cap fund in your portfolio could be a good strategy.

What is the minimum initial investment for VTSAX? ›

The fund's expense ratio is 0.15 percent, which is classified as low by Morningstar. The minimum initial investment is $3,000.

How much should I invest in a large mid small-cap? ›

Large-cap companies have a market cap of Rs 20,000 crore or more. Meanwhile, the market cap of mid-cap companies is between Rs 5,000 crore and less than Rs 20,000 crore. Small-cap companies have a market cap of below Rs 5,000 crore.

How should I invest in VTSAX? ›

VTSAX is available for trade through any online brokerage firm that deals in mutual funds. If you don't already have an account, you can open one by completing a short enrollment form and verifying your identity.

Can you buy fraction of VTSAX? ›

On the other hand, you may prefer VTSAX if you don't have access to fractional shares. VTSAX allows you to invest the entire amount of money you put into it, regardless of how many shares this amount can buy.

Does Vanguard report to IRS? ›

Cost basis reporting: An overview

Although we'll include details for sales of both covered shares and noncovered shares only the cost basis information for sales of covered shares will be reported to the IRS.

Should I buy VTSAX on Fidelity? ›

This is one of the most common mistakes I see among newer investors. Getting it right might save you $75 EVERY TIME you buy or sell. When you're buying MUTUAL FUNDS, make sure you only buy “no transaction fee” funds.

What is the minimum balance for Vanguard VTSAX? ›

Risk of this Type of Fund
Morningstar Category: Large Blend Popover AS OF 03/31/2023VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral SharesFXAIX Fidelity® 500 Index Fund
Minimum to Invest 3$2,500.00$0.00
Expense Ratio (Net | Gross)0.04% | 0.04%0.015% | 0.015%
YTD (Daily)* AS OF 04/18/20238.15%8.76%
1 Yr-8.78%-7.74%
5 more rows

How much does it cost to open a VTSAX account? ›

VTSAX requires a $3,000 minimum balance; however, VTI is the easier version of VTSAX to use since it is an ETF w/ no minimum.

What is the minimum balance required for a Vanguard account? ›

Vanguard's account minimum is $0, but keep in mind many mutual funds may require a minimum initial investment. Vanguard funds have minimums that start at $1,000.

What is the minimum amount in a Vanguard money market account? ›

Vanguard money market funds

Most funds allow you to access your money without penalty. Focus on maintaining a stable share price. Have a $3,000 minimum investment requirement.

Is VTSAX good for retirees? ›

Ideal For Financial Independence and Retiring Early

VTSAX is great if you are looking for a fund you can invest in and maximize the efficiency of the use of your money to retire early. VTSAX allows you to get diversification, has a good history of returns, and provides a dividend that you can reinvest.

How do I avoid Vanguard annual fee? ›

  1. Account type. Individual 401(k) & Individual Roth 401(k) plans.
  2. Fees. $20 for each Vanguard mutual fund in each account.
  3. How you can avoid the fee. We'll waive the fee for all participants in the plan if at least one participant has at least $50,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets. See what Vanguard assets qualify.

What is the average account balance at Vanguard? ›

The average participant account balance at Vanguard was $112,572 at the end of 2022, down 20% from the close of 2021. The median balance was $27,376 at the end of last year, an annual drop of 23%.

What is the average balance by age for Vanguard? ›

Average retirement savings by age

For people age 25 to age 34, the average account balance was $24,728. For people age 35 to age 44, the average account balance was $68,935. For people age 45 to age 54, the average account balance was $129,051. For people age 55 to age 64, the average account balance was $190,505.

Can I take money out of my Vanguard money market account? ›

You have the option to transfer funds from your Vanguard account to your bank by wire transfer or by electronic bank transfer (EBT). Find more information about the difference between the two options.

What is the typical minimum money market account? ›

Banks often require a minimum deposit to open the account, then a minimum balance to keep in the account. It's usually much higher than regular savings accounts. This often means $5,000, but can be up to $10,000 at some banks. As stated above, you need to pay a fee if your balance dips below the minimum requirement.

Is Vanguard good for beginners? ›

Vanguard is best suited for beginner and seasoned investors alike who are seeking access to an array of low-cost vast mutual fund and ETF offerings, all packaged into a simple-to-use brokerage platform.

Can I put my 401k in VTSAX? ›

It's all here in VTSAX. This makes the option one of the best mutual funds for your core portfolio. After all, the whole point of a 401k is long-term growth. With VTSAX, you can get that all with ease.

What percent dividend does VTSAX pay? ›

Dividend Yield History
YearYear End YieldMax Yield
2023-1.67%
20221.65%1.72%
20211.20%1.43%
20201.41%2.58%
7 more rows
Apr 24, 2023

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