Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX) Investor Shares

Vanguard Total International Stock Index fund is part of Vanguard index mutual funds. This international stock mutual fund are popular among investors. You can find the fund review below.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Investor (Ticker: VGTSX)

The investment aim of Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index fund is to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by companies located in developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. This Vanguard fund is designed to track the performance of the MSCI All Country World ex USA Investable Market Index. The index includes more than 6,000 stocks of companies located in 44 countries.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: April 29, 1996
• Ticker Symbol: VGTSX
• CUSIP: 921909602
• Beta (3yr): 1.05
• Rank in category (YTD): 25%
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 2.62%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.22%
• Net Assets: $ 270.60 billion
• Number of Years Up: 9 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 3.0%

Updated 4/16/2012

This best stock fund has total net assets of $66.53 billion. Morningstar analysts have rated this fund with Gold rating. It also has 4-stars rating. The 12-month dividend yield is 2.72%. The fund was first introduced to public in April 1996. The current fund manager is Michael Perre. He started managing this fund in August 2008. This fund has paid its dividend in December 2011 ($ 0.12). The annual holdings turnover as of March 15, 2012 is 3.00%. This expense fee is lower compared to the average in the Foreign Large Blend category (59.88%). Its annual expense ratio is 0.22%.

Based on the load adjusted return, this international stock mutual fund has returned 22.52% over the past 3-year and 7.55% over the past 10-year. The fund has recorded a return of 9 years in positive return and 6 years in negative return. The YTD return of this fund is 12.79%. The fund recorded its best 1-year total return in 2003 with 40.34%. This worst 1-year total return was in 2008 with -44.10%.

• Year 2017: 10.79% (YTD)
• Year 2016: 4.65%
• Year 2015: -4.37%
• Year 2014: -4.24%
• Year 2013: 15.04%

more: Best Vanguard Mutual Funds 2012

The minimum initial investment of this foreign large blend fund is $3,000 for either brokerage or retirement account. The minimum next purchase is $100. Investors can purchase this fund from 77 brokerages, such as JP Morgan, Schwab Retail, T Rowe Price, Pershing Fund Center, E Trade Financial, Vanguard NTF, etc. There is no management fee and management fee for investing in this fund.

As of February 2012, the top region allocation of this fund is Europe (42.70%), Pacific (24.20%), Emerging Markets (24.10%) and North America (8.50). The top 10 equity holdings as of February 2012 are Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Nestle SA, BHP Biliton Ltd, HSBC Holdings PLC, BP PLC, Vodafone Group PLC, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Novartis AG, Roche Holding AG and Total SA. These ten largest holdings represent 8.8% of the total net assets.

Investing in this international stock mutual fund involve principal investment risks including: Stock market risk, Investment style risk, Country/ regional risk, Currency risk, Emerging markets risk, etc.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros of investing in this Vanguard fund are:

• Low expense fee cost and no sales load
• Good long term record
• Low annual holdings turnover rate

Cons are:

• The fund performance is only corresponding to its index benchmark

Disclosure: No Position

Other Mutual Funds article:

• BlackRock International Opportunities Investor A (BREAX)
• Aberdeen International Equity A (GIGAX)