The Best Vanguard ETFs of 2023: A Comprehensive Guide to Diversified Investing

Introduction

Vanguard is one of the leading investment management companies globally, known for its low-cost, high-quality investment products, including index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Founded in 1975 by John C. Bogle, Vanguard has grown to manage trillions of dollars in assets and offers a wide range of ETFs to cater to various investment objectives and risk profiles. In this blog post, we will explore the best Vanguard ETFs of 2023, spanning various asset classes and investment strategies.

About Vanguard

Vanguard’s mission is to provide investors with low-cost, high-quality investment products that empower them to achieve their financial goals. As a pioneer in the world of index investing, Vanguard has built a reputation for offering well-diversified, tax-efficient, and cost-effective ETFs, making it a popular choice among both individual and institutional investors.

Best Vanguard ETFs of 2023

Best for Breadth – Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTI)

• Annual fee: 0.03%
• Fund size: $1.15 trillion
• Top Holdings: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon

VTI is designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index, providing investors with exposure to the entire US stock market, including large-, mid-, small-, and micro-cap stocks. With its unmatched breadth of holdings, VTI offers a well-diversified investment solution for investors seeking broad market exposure.

Investing in VTI allows investors to capture the long-term growth potential of the US stock market while minimizing the risk associated with individual stocks. Furthermore, VTI’s low expense ratio and tax efficiency make it an attractive choice for cost-conscious investors.

Best for International – Vanguard Developed Markets Index (VEA)

• Annual fee: 0.05%
• Fund size: $149 billion
• Top holdings: Nestle SA, Samsung Electronics, Roche Holding

VEA seeks to replicate the performance of the FTSE Developed All Cap ex-US Index, offering investors exposure to a broad range of companies from developed markets outside the United States. By investing in VEA, investors can tap into the growth potential of international equities and diversify their portfolios beyond domestic stocks.

VEA’s diversified exposure to international stocks allows investors to benefit from potential growth in developed markets, while also mitigating the risks associated with single-country or single-region investments. Additionally, VEA’s low expense ratio makes it a cost-effective option for investors seeking international exposure.

Best for Bonds – Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (BND)

• Annual fee: 0.03%
• Fund size: $279 billion

BND is designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, providing investors with diversified exposure to the US investment-grade bond market, including government, corporate, and mortgage-backed securities. BND serves as an essential building block for a well-balanced investment portfolio.

Investing in BND offers investors a stable source of income and helps to reduce overall portfolio volatility. Moreover, BND’s low expense ratio and broad diversification across various bond sectors make it a cost-effective and reliable choice for fixed-income exposure.

Best for Growth – Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index (VOOG)

• Annual fee: 0.1%
• Fund size: $7.15 billion
• Top Holdings: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon

VOOG seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P 500 Growth Index, providing investors with exposure to large-cap US companies that exhibit strong growth characteristics. With its focus on growth-oriented stocks, VOOG is an ideal investment choice for investors seeking capital appreciation.

VOOG offers investors the potential for above-average returns by investing in growth companies, which often outperform their value counterparts during economic expansions. Additionally, VOOG’s low expense ratio and tax efficiency make it a cost-effective option for investors seeking growth exposure within their portfolios.

Best for Alternatives – Vanguard Real Estate Index (VNQ)

• Annual fee: 0.12%
• Fund size: $63 billion
• Top Holdings: Prologis, American Tower, Equinix

VNQ is designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index, providing investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of real estate investment trusts (REITs). Investing in VNQ allows investors to gain exposure to the real estate sector, which can offer both income and diversification benefits.

By investing in VNQ, investors can benefit from the income potential of REITs, which are required to distribute the majority of their taxable income to shareholders. Additionally, VNQ offers a measure of diversification, as the real estate sector often has a low correlation with traditional stock and bond investments.

Best for Taxes – Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index (VTEB)

• Annual fee: 0.05%
• Fund size: $27 billion

VTEB seeks to track the performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, providing investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of investment-grade, tax-exempt municipal bonds. By investing in VTEB, investors can benefit from tax-free income at the federal level and potentially at the state and local levels, depending on their residency.

VTEB’s focus on tax-exempt municipal bonds makes it an attractive choice for investors in high tax brackets who seek to maximize their after-tax income. Furthermore, VTEB’s low expense ratio and diversified exposure to municipal bonds make it a cost-effective and reliable option for tax-sensitive investors.

Best for Sustainability – Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock (ESGV)

• Annual fee: 0.09%
• Fund size: $5.7 billion
• Top Holdings: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon

ESGV is designed to track the performance of the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index, providing investors with exposure to a broad range of US companies that meet specific environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. By investing in ESGV, investors can align their investments with their values while still seeking competitive returns.

ESGV’s focus on companies with strong ESG practices allows investors to support responsible business practices while potentially benefiting from the long-term outperformance of ESG-focused companies. Moreover, ESGV’s low expense ratio makes it an affordable option for investors seeking a sustainable investment solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Vanguard offers a wide range of ETFs that cater to various investment objectives, risk profiles, and preferences. Our top Vanguard ETF picks for 2023 – Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTI), Vanguard Developed Markets Index (VEA), Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (BND), Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index (VOOG), Vanguard Real Estate Index (VNQ), Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index (VTEB), and Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock (ESGV) – provide excellent options for investors seeking to build well-diversified and cost-effective investment portfolios.