Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares Returns Calculator
Calculate historical returns and project future compounding for Vanguard 500 Index Admiral. Test different monthly amounts, tenures, and step-up scenarios using real historical NAV performance.
Category
Large Blend (US)
AUM
$1.76 Trillion
Expense Ratio
0.04%
Fund Manager
Michelle Louie & Nick Birkett
Vanguard 500 Index Admiral Historical SIP Performance & Returns Table
Historical value of standard monthly SIP investments based on actual fund CAGRs.
| Monthly SIP | 3 Years @ 22.8% CAGR | 5 Years @ 13.8% CAGR | 10 Years @ 15.3% CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | $5,200 Invested: $3,600 | $8,659 Invested: $6,000 | $28,352 Invested: $12,000 |
| $250/mo | $13,000 Invested: $9,000 | $21,648 Invested: $15,000 | $70,879 Invested: $30,000 |
| $500/mo | $26,001 Invested: $18,000 | $43,297 Invested: $30,000 | $141,758 Invested: $60,000 |
| $1,000/mo | $52,001 Invested: $36,000 | $86,594 Invested: $60,000 | $283,515 Invested: $120,000 |
| $2,500/mo | $130,003 Invested: $90,000 | $216,484 Invested: $150,000 | $708,788 Invested: $300,000 |
* Projections calculated using actual historical 3-year (22.83%), 5-year (13.75%), and 10-year (15.28%) performance data. Actual mutual fund returns fluctuate with market NAV.
About Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares
The Admiral share class of the world's first retail index mutual fund created by Jack Bogle in 1976. VFIAX provides low-cost, precise tracking of the 500 largest US companies.
Investment Strategy
Passive Indexing â VFIAX invests virtually all assets in the common stocks comprising the S&P 500 Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its index weighting.
Key Facts
- Direct descendant of the first retail index mutual fund launched in 1976
- Low 0.04% expense ratio with $3,000 minimum initial investment
- Tracks 500 large-cap US corporations representing ~80% of US equity market capitalization
- Over $1.3 Trillion in Admiral share class assets
Historical Returns
3-Year CAGR
22.83%
5-Year CAGR
13.75%
10-Year CAGR
15.28%
Benchmark
S&P 500 Index
Historical returns as of August 2026. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Top Holdings & Sector Allocation
As of September 2026, Vanguard 500 Index Admiral's portfolio includes:
Top 5 Holdings
- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
- Apple Inc. (AAPL)
- NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA)
- Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
- Meta Platforms Inc. (META)
Sector Allocation
Information Technology 32.3%, Financials 12.8%, Healthcare 11.6%, Consumer Discretionary 10.2%, Communication Services 8.9%, Industrials 8.4%, Consumer Staples 5.8%, Energy 3.6%, Others 6.4%
Risk & Drawdowns
Trailing 3-year standard deviation is ~15.1% with beta of 1.00 versus the S&P 500 Index.
Max drawdown of -33.8% during the Q1 2020 pandemic crash and -23.9% in 2022.
Tax Treatment
Shares ETF tax efficiency through Vanguard's patented structure. Distributions are primarily qualified dividends.
Who Should NOT Invest in Vanguard 500 Index Admiral?
Investors needing capital preservation, fixed income, or short-term horizons (<5 years).
About the Fund Manager
Managed by Vanguard's Equity Index Group: Michelle Louie, CFA (since 2023) and Nick Birkett, CFA (since 2025).
Who Is This Fund Suitable For?
Suitable for long-term investors, retirement accounts, and buy-and-hold investors seeking core US large-cap equity exposure backed by Vanguard's mutual ownership model.
More Funds from Vanguard & Similar Schemes
Similar Funds to Consider
- Fidelity 500 Index Fund
- Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund
- Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
Or compare side by side using our main SIP calculator â you can test different funds with the same investment amount and dates to see which performed better.
Other Tools for Vanguard 500 Index Admiral Investors
- FIRE Calculator â Plan your retirement corpus with Vanguard 500 Index Admiral as part of your portfolio
- Cost of Delay Calculator â See how much delaying your SIP in Vanguard 500 Index Admiral could cost you
- SIP vs EMI Calculator â Compare investing in Vanguard 500 Index Admiral vs paying off loans
Frequently Asked Questions About Vanguard 500 Index Admiral
What is the historical SIP return of Vanguard 500 Index Admiral?
Based on the latest data, Vanguard 500 Index Admiral has delivered an annualized return (CAGR) of 22.83% over 3 years, 13.75% over 5 years, and 15.28% over 10 years. Max drawdown of -33.8% during the Q1 2020 pandemic crash and -23.9% in 2022.
How is Vanguard 500 Index Admiral SIP return calculated?
SIP returns are calculated using the XIRR (Extended Internal Rate of Return) method. Each monthly installment buys units at the fund's Net Asset Value (NAV) on that specific day. When markets are down, your SIP buys more units, and when markets are up, it buys fewer units (rupee cost averaging). Our calculator replays this exact process using historical NAV data to compute the precise current value of your accumulated units.
How much return would $500 monthly SIP in Vanguard 500 Index Admiral generate over 5 years?
At an estimated annual return rate of 13.75%, a monthly $500 investment ($30,000 total invested) would grow to approximately $43,297 in 5 years, yielding an estimated wealth gain of $13,297. Use our interactive calculator above to test custom amounts with actual historical NAV data.
What are the top holdings in Vanguard 500 Index Admiral?
Vanguard 500 Index Admiral's top holdings include Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Apple Inc. (AAPL), NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN). The fund's sector allocation is Information Technology 32.3%, Financials 12.8%, Healthcare 11.6%, Consumer Discretionary 10.2%, Communication Services 8.9%, Industrials 8.4%, Consumer Staples 5.8%, Energy 3.6%, Others 6.4%.
What is the risk profile of Vanguard 500 Index Admiral?
Trailing 3-year standard deviation is ~15.1% with beta of 1.00 versus the S&P 500 Index. This fund may not be suitable for investors needing capital preservation, fixed income, or short-term horizons (<5 years)..
What are the tax implications of investing in Vanguard 500 Index Admiral?
Shares ETF tax efficiency through Vanguard's patented structure. Distributions are primarily qualified dividends.
Data last updated: September 2026 | Fund data sourced from SEC filings and public exchanges
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