UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT
OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

 

Semiannual Report | June 30, 2017

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

 

A new format, unwavering commitment

As you begin reading this report, you’ll notice that we’ve made some improvements to the opening sections—based on feedback from you, our clients.

Page 1 starts with a new ”Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance,” a concise, handy summary of how your fund performed during the period.

In the renamed ”Chairman’s Perspective,” Bill McNabb will focus on enduring principles and investment insights.

We’ve modified some tables, and eliminated some redundancy, but we haven’t removed any information.

At Vanguard, we’re always looking for better ways to communicate and to help you make sound investment decisions. Thank you for entrusting your assets to us.

 

Please note: The opinions expressed in this report are just that—informed opinions. They should not be considered promises or advice. Also, please keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date on the front of this report. Of course, the risks of investing in your fund are spelled out in the prospectus.

See the Glossary for definitions of investment terms used in this report.

About the cover: No matter what language you speak, Vanguard has one consistent message and set of principles. Our primary focus is on you, our clients. We conduct our business with integrity as a faithful steward of your assets. This message is shown translated into seven languages, reflecting our expanding global presence.

 

Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance

• Vanguard 500 Index Fund returned about 9% for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The fund closely tracked its target index, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, and exceeded the average return of its large-capitalization core fund peers.

• The fund offers investors exposure to roughly 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 fund recorded positive returns in nine of the 11 market sectors, with three posting double-digit gains.

• Information technology, the fund’s largest sector, was the top contributor; health care, consumer discretionary, industrials, and financials also added significantly to returns. Only telecommunication services and energy stocks declined.

 

Admiral Shares carry lower expenses and are available to investors who meet certain account-balance requirements. Institutional Select
Shares are available to certain institutional investors who meet specific administrative, service, and account-size criteria. The Vanguard
ETF® Shares shown are traded on the NYSE Arca exchange and are available only through brokers. The table provides ETF returns based
on both the NYSE Arca market price and the net asset value for a share. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,879,964; 7,337,138; 7,720,749; 7,925,573;
8,090,646; and 8,417,623.
For the ETF Shares, the market price is determined by the midpoint of the bid-offer spread as of the closing time of the New York Stock
Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time). The net asset value is also determined as of the NYSE closing time. For more information about
how the ETF Shares' market prices have compared with their net asset value, visit vanguard.com, select your ETF, and then select the
Price and Performance tab. The ETF premium/discount analysis there shows the percentages of days on which the ETF Shares' market
price was above or below the NAV.

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The fund expense ratios shown are from the prospectus dated April 27, 2017, and represent estimated costs for the current fiscal year. For
the six months ended June 30, 2017, the fund’s annualized expense ratios were 0.14% for Investor Shares, 0.04% for ETF Shares, 0.04%
for Admiral Shares, and 0.01% for Institutional Select Shares. The peer-group expense ratio is derived from data provided by Lipper, a
Thomson Reuters Company, and captures information through year-end 2016.

Peer group: Large-Cap Core Funds.

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Chairman’s Perspective

Bill McNabb
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dear Shareholder,

More than a decade ago, the eminent investor and commentator Howard Marks published a memo to his clients titled simply “Risk.” In it, Howard distilled the relationship between investors and risk. “When you boil it all down, it’s the investor’s job to intelligently bear risk for profit,” he wrote.

It’s not surprising, then, that everyone from portfolio managers to behavioral economists avidly studies how investors’ reactions to risk influence not only individual investment decisions but also the broader financial markets. I’m a big fan of some of the behavioral finance work being done, which includes studies by our own investment strategists and analysts.

A lens on investor behavior

For example, Vanguard’s Investment Strategy Group introduced a “risk speedometers” report in January to look at how investors are reacting to market developments. This lens on real-world behavior measures the risk investors are taking in a given period by calculating the difference between net cash flows into higher-risk assets, such as stocks, and net cash flows into lower-risk assets, such as Treasuries. The measures are then compared with long-term averages.

In the spring, the risk speedometer spiked. The spike was fueled by investors’ decisions to direct more of their equity

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dollars to international investments in developed and emerging markets, and their bond dollars to riskier credit categories.

A spiking speedometer seems a fitting analogy for what can happen. I consider myself a responsible driver. Still, when the highway is clear and the weather is nice, I might glance down at the speedometer and find that my right foot has gotten a little heavy.

The same phenomenon is possible with our investment portfolios. Just as our attention can drift from our speed—and the risk level on the road—we can neglect the risk level of our portfolio’s asset allocation. Experience teaches that investors are especially prone to lose sight of risk when markets have been buoyant.

How I manage risk in my own portfolio

Rebalancing—periodically adjusting your asset allocation so it stays in line with your goals and risk tolerance—is one of the best ways I know of to help manage risk. Without rebalancing, your portfolio may end up potentially riskier than you intended and no longer aligned with your goals.

I have a ritual I perform every June and again each December, between Christmas and New Year’s, as I prepare for a series of annual meetings with the Vanguard crew. I’ll set aside some time, review my

 

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investment portfolio, and, if necessary, rebalance back to my target asset allocation.

My own portfolio is a mix of equity and fixed income funds, and I invest in both actively managed funds and index funds. Most years, I’ll make a minor adjustment to get back to the appropriate asset allocation for my own longer-term goals and risk tolerance. It’s not all that complicated, although my portfolio is a little more complex than some because I own more funds than we’d typically suggest. As chairman of Vanguard’s funds, I feel I should own a significant number of them.

Consider your options

You should consider rebalancing if your target allocation is off by 5 percentage points or more. Admittedly, this is often easier said than done. When an investment has performed exceptionally well, people have a hard time trimming it. They can be led astray by that old (and none-too-helpful) investing saw: Let your winners run.

Fortunately, in recent years we’ve seen all sorts of investors take steps to rebalance. Many of the endowments, foundations, and traditional pension plans that Vanguard serves have good processes built into their investment guidelines to make sure rebalancing takes place on a regular basis. And among investors in defined contribution retirement plans, more and more are using target-date funds, where rebalancing happens automatically.

If you choose to rebalance on your own, use your target asset allocation as your guidepost. Don’t be afraid to buy into bad news. In a sense, don’t worry about the noise of the marketplace. If you work with an advisor, make sure he or she understands the importance you place on your rebalancing ritual.

And remember, the goal of rebalancing is to manage risk, not to avoid it altogether. Risk is inherent in investing—we just want to bear that risk intelligently.

In that insightful memo on risk, Howard Marks included a saying often attributed to Will Rogers: “You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes because that’s where the fruit is.”

Tim Buckley chosen as Vanguard’s next CEO

In closing, I’ll note senior leadership changes that we announced in July. Our board of directors has elected Vanguard Chief Investment Officer Tim Buckley as president and director of Vanguard. Under the planned transition, Tim will succeed me as Vanguard’s chief executive officer on January 1, 2018.

I’m delighted with our board’s selection of Tim. We first met in 1991 when Tim was interviewing for a job at Vanguard. In the decades since, we’ve worked closely together, and he’s always impressed me as a man of tremendous character and an outstanding leader with a passion for serving our clients. During the transition

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period, I will work closely with Tim in managing the firm and overseeing its operations.

Replacing Tim as chief investment officer is Greg Davis, who had been global head of Vanguard Fixed Income Group. And succeeding Greg as our fixed income leader is John Hollyer, who most recently served as our global head of investment risk management. I know Greg and John will both do a superb job in their new roles.

As with past successions, I will remain as chairman for a period of time determined by the board. On a personal note, it has been an honor and a privilege to lead Vanguard. Having spent more than half my life at Vanguard, I have come to know many fabulous crew members who are incredibly dedicated to Vanguard’s mission. Please be assured that Tim and the rest of the team will serve you and our other clients extremely well as Vanguard prepares for its next chapter.

As always, thank you for investing with Vanguard.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

F. William McNabb III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
July 14, 2017

 

 

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500 Index Fund

Fund Profile
As of June 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

These measures show the degree and timing of the fund’s
fluctuations compared with the indexes over 36 months.

The holdings listed exclude any temporary cash investments and
equity index products.

 

1 The expense ratios shown are from the prospectus dated April 27, 2017, and represent estimated costs for the current fiscal year. For
the six months ended June 30, 2017, the fund’s annualized expense ratios were 0.14% for Investor Shares, 0.04% for ETF Shares, 0.04%
for Admiral Shares, and 0.01% for Institutional Select Shares.

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500 Index Fund

Investment Focus

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500 Index Fund

Performance Summary

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at vanguard.com/performance.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

Fiscal-Year Total Returns (%): December 31, 2006, Through June 30, 2017

Note: For 2017, performance data reflect the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

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500 Index Fund

Financial Statements (unaudited)

Statement of Net Assets
As of June 30, 2017

The fund reports a complete list of its holdings in regulatory filings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

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500 Index Fund

 

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500 Index Fund

 

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500 Index Fund

 

 

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500 Index Fund

 

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500 Index Fund

 

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500 Index Fund

 

 

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500 Index Fund

 

• See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.
* Non-income-producing security.
^ Includes partial security positions on loan to broker-dealers. The total value of securities on loan is $268,591,000.
1 The fund invests a portion of its cash reserves in equity markets through the use of index futures contracts. After giving effect to futures
investments, the fund’s effective common stock and temporary cash investment positions represent 100.0% and 0.2%, respectively, of
net assets.
2 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the
7-day yield.
3 Includes $278,767,000 of collateral received for securities on loan.
4 Securities with a value of $40,545,000 have been segregated as initial margin for open futures contracts.
See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Statement of Operations

 

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Financial Highlights

 

The expense ratio, net investment income ratio, and turnover rate for the current period have been annualized.
1 Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown. Fund prospectuses provide information
about any applicable account service fees.
2 Excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind purchases or redemptions of the fund’s capital
shares, including ETF Creation Units.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Financial Highlights

 

The expense ratio, net investment income ratio, and turnover rate for the current period have been annualized.
1 Adjusted to reflect a 1-for-2 reverse share split as of the close of business on October 24, 2013.
2 Excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind purchases or redemptions of the fund’s capital
shares, including ETF Creation Units.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Financial Highlights

 

The expense ratio, net investment income ratio, and turnover rate for the current period have been annualized.
1 Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown. Fund prospectuses provide information
about any applicable account service fees.
2 Excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind purchases or redemptions of the fund’s capital
shares, including ETF Creation Units.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Financial Highlights

 

The expense ratio, net investment income ratio, and turnover rate for the current period have been annualized.
1 Inception.
2 Annualized.
3 Excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind purchases or redemptions of the fund’s capital
shares, including ETF Creation Units.
4 Reflects the fund’s portfolio turnover for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

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500 Index Fund

Notes to Financial Statements

Vanguard 500 Index Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund offers four classes of shares: Investor Shares, ETF Shares, Admiral Shares, and Institutional Select Shares. Investor Shares are available to any investor who meets the fund’s minimum purchase requirements. ETF Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca; they can be purchased and sold through a broker. Admiral Shares and Institutional Select Shares are designed for investors who meet certain administrative, service, and account-size criteria.

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. investment companies. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been materially affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the board of trustees to represent fair value. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund’s net asset value. Temporary cash investments are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services.

2. Futures Contracts: The fund uses index futures contracts to a limited extent, with the objectives of maintaining full exposure to the stock market, enhancing returns, maintaining liquidity, and minimizing transaction costs. The fund may purchase futures contracts to immediately invest incoming cash in the market, or sell futures in response to cash outflows, thereby simulating a fully invested position in the underlying index while maintaining a cash balance for liquidity. The fund may seek to enhance returns by using futures contracts instead of the underlying securities when futures are believed to be priced more attractively than the underlying securities. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between changes in market values of stocks held by the fund and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Counterparty risk involving futures is mitigated because a regulated clearinghouse is the counterparty instead of the clearing broker. To further mitigate counterparty risk, the fund trades futures contracts on an exchange, monitors the financial strength of its clearing brokers and clearinghouse, and has entered into clearing agreements with its clearing brokers. The clearinghouse imposes initial margin requirements to secure the fund’s performance and requires daily settlement of variation margin representing changes in the market value of each contract.

Futures contracts are valued at their quoted daily settlement prices. The aggregate settlement values of the contracts are not recorded in the Statement of Net Assets. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Net Assets as an asset (liability) and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) until the contracts are closed, when they are recorded as realized futures gains (losses).

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the fund’s average investments in long and short futures contracts represented less than 1% and 0% of net assets, respectively, based on the average of aggregate settlement values at each quarter-end during the period.

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500 Index Fund

3. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Management has analyzed the fund’s tax positions taken for all open federal income tax years (December 31, 2013–2016), and for the period ended June 30, 2017, and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the fund’s financial statements.

4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

5. Securities Lending: To earn additional income, the fund lends its securities to qualified institutional borrowers. Security loans are subject to termination by the fund at any time, and are required to be secured at all times by collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. Daily market fluctuations could cause the value of loaned securities to be more or less than the value of the collateral received. When this occurs, the collateral is adjusted and settled on the next business day. The fund further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into securities lending transactions only with a diverse group of prequalified counterparties, monitoring their financial strength, and entering into master securities lending agreements with its counterparties. The master securities lending agreements provide that, in the event of a counterparty’s default (including bankruptcy), the fund may terminate any loans with that borrower, determine the net amount owed, and sell or retain the collateral up to the net amount owed to the fund; however, such actions may be subject to legal proceedings. While collateral mitigates counterparty risk, in the event of a default, the fund may experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned. The fund invests cash collateral received in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, and records a liability in the Statement of Net Assets for the return of the collateral, during the period the securities are on loan. Securities lending income represents fees charged to borrowers plus income earned on invested cash collateral, less expenses associated with the loan. During the term of the loan, the fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities.

6. Credit Facility: The fund and certain other funds managed by The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”) participate in a $3.1 billion committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement that may be renewed annually; each fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facility. Borrowings may be utilized for temporary and emergency purposes, and are subject to the fund’s regulatory and contractual borrowing restrictions. The participating funds are charged administrative fees and an annual commitment fee of 0.10% of the undrawn amount of the facility; these fees are allocated to the funds based on a method approved by the fund’s board of trustees and included in Management and Administrative expenses on the fund’s Statement of Operations. Any borrowings under this facility bear interest at a rate based upon the higher of the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate, federal funds effective rate, or overnight bank funding rate plus an agreed-upon spread.

The fund had no borrowings outstanding at June 30, 2017, or at any time during the period then ended.

7. Other: Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income includes income distributions received from Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and is accrued daily. Premiums and discounts on debt securities purchased are amortized and accreted, respectively, to interest income over the lives of the respective securities. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

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500 Index Fund

Each class of shares has equal rights as to assets and earnings, except that each class separately bears certain class-specific expenses related to maintenance of shareholder accounts (included in Management and Administrative expenses) and shareholder reporting. Marketing and distribution expenses are allocated to each class of shares based on a method approved by the board of trustees. Income, other non-class-specific expenses, and gains and losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.

B. In accordance with the terms of a Funds’ Service Agreement (the “FSA”) between Vanguard and the fund, Vanguard furnishes to the fund investment advisory, corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services at Vanguard’s cost of operations (as defined by the FSA). These costs of operations are allocated to the fund based on methods and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. Vanguard does not require reimbursement in the current period for certain costs of operations (such as deferred compensation/benefits and risk/insurance costs); the fund’s liability for these costs of operations is included in Payables to Vanguard on the Statement of Net Assets.

Upon the request of Vanguard, the fund may invest up to 0.40% of its net assets as capital in Vanguard. At June 30, 2017, the fund had contributed to Vanguard capital in the amount of $21,361,000, representing 0.01% of the fund’s net assets and 8.54% of Vanguard’s capitalization. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.

C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels for financial statement purposes. The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3—Significant unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments).

The following table summarizes the market value of the fund’s investments as of June 30, 2017, based on the inputs used to value them:

 

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500 Index Fund

D. At June 30, 2017, the aggregate settlement value of open futures contracts and the related unrealized appreciation (depreciation) were:

 

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on open futures contracts is required to be treated as realized gain (loss) for tax purposes.

E. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes. These differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the fund realized $2,823,550,000 of net capital gains resulting from in-kind redemptions—in which shareholders exchanged fund shares for securities held by the fund rather than for cash. Because such gains are not taxable to the fund, and are not distributed to shareholders, they have been reclassified from accumulated net realized losses to paid-in capital.

The fund’s tax-basis capital gains and losses are determined only at the end of each fiscal year. For tax purposes, at December 31, 2016, the fund had available capital losses totaling $840,474,000 that may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future net capital gains. The fund will use these capital losses to offset net taxable capital gains, if any, realized during the year ending December 31, 2017; should the fund realize net capital losses for the year, the losses will be added to the loss carryforward balance above.

At June 30, 2017, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $210,121,979,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $119,760,650,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $123,433,262,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $3,672,612,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

F. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the fund purchased $31,799,423,000 of investment securities and sold $9,045,520,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments. Purchases and sales include $17,172,867,000 and $4,255,232,000, respectively, in connection with in-kind purchases and redemptions of the fund’s capital shares.

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500 Index Fund

G. Capital share transactions for each class of shares were:

 

H. Management has determined that no material events or transactions occurred subsequent to June 30, 2017, that would require recognition or disclosure in these financial statements.

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About Your Fund’s Expenses

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of the fund.

A fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.

The accompanying table illustrates your fund’s costs in two ways:

• Based on actual fund return. This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The ”Ending Account Value“ shown is derived from the fund‘s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your fund under the heading ”Expenses Paid During Period.“

• Based on hypothetical 5% yearly return. This section is intended to help you compare your fund‘s costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the fund had a yearly return of 5% before expenses, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case—because the return used is not the fund’s actual return—the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the Securities and Exchange Commission requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess your fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

Note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only and do not reflect transaction costs incurred by the fund for buying and selling securities. Further, the expenses do not include any purchase, redemption, or account service fees described in the fund prospectus. If such fees were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Your fund does not carry a “sales load.”

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

You can find more information about the fund’s expenses, including annual expense ratios, in the Financial Statements section of this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to your fund’s current prospectus.

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The calculations are based on expenses incurred in the most recent six-month period. The fund’s annualized six-month expense ratios for
that period are 0.14% for Investor Shares, 0.04% for ETF Shares, 0.04% for Admiral Shares, and 0.01% for Institutional Select Shares. The
dollar amounts shown as “Expenses Paid” are equal to the annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the
period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by the number of days in the most recent
12-month period (181/365).

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Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement

The board of trustees of Vanguard 500 Index Fund has renewed the fund’s investment advisory arrangement with The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), through its Equity Index Group. The board determined that continuing the fund’s internalized management structure was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

The board based its decision upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisor and made monthly presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.

The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.

In addition, the board received monthly reports, which included a Market and Economic Report, a Fund Dashboard Monthly Summary, and a Fund Performance Report.

Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangement. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decision.

Nature, extent, and quality of services

The board reviewed the quality of the fund’s investment management services over both the short and long term and took into account the organizational depth and stability of the advisor. The board considered that Vanguard has been managing investments for more than three decades. The Equity Index Group adheres to a sound, disciplined investment management process; the team has considerable experience, stability, and depth.

The board concluded that Vanguard’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.

Investment performance

The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the fund, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with its target index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangement should continue. Information about the fund’s most recent performance can be found in the Performance Summary section of this report.

Cost

The board concluded that the fund’s expense ratio was well below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the fund’s advisory expenses were also well below the peer-group average. Information about the fund’s expenses appears in the About Your Fund’s Expenses section of this report as well as in the Financial Statements section.

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The board does not conduct a profitability analysis of Vanguard because of Vanguard’s unique “at-cost” structure. Unlike most other mutual fund management companies, Vanguard is owned by the funds it oversees and produces “profits” only in the form of reduced expenses for fund shareholders.

The benefit of economies of scale

The board concluded that the fund’s at-cost arrangement with Vanguard ensures that the fund will realize economies of scale as it grows, with the cost to shareholders declining as fund assets increase.

The board will consider whether to renew the advisory arrangement again after a one-year period.

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Glossary

30-Day SEC Yield. A fund’s 30-day SEC yield is derived using a formula specified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Under the formula, data related to the fund’s security holdings in the previous 30 days are used to calculate the fund’s hypothetical net income for that period, which is then annualized and divided by the fund’s estimated average net assets over the calculation period. For the purposes of this calculation, a security’s income is based on its current market yield to maturity (for bonds), its actual income (for asset-backed securities), or its projected dividend yield (for stocks). Because the SEC yield represents hypothetical annualized income, it will differ—at times significantly—from the fund’s actual experience. As a result, the fund’s income distributions may be higher or lower than implied by the SEC yield.

Beta. A measure of the magnitude of a fund’s past share-price fluctuations in relation to the ups and downs of a given market index. The index is assigned a beta of 1.00. Compared with a given index, a fund with a beta of 1.20 typically would have seen its share price rise or fall by 12% when the index rose or fell by 10%. For this report, beta is based on returns over the past 36 months for both the fund and the index. Note that a fund’s beta should be reviewed in conjunction with its R-squared (see definition). The lower the R-squared, the less correlation there is between the fund and the index, and the less reliable beta is as an indicator of volatility.

Dividend Yield. Dividend income earned by stocks, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate market value (or of net asset value, for a fund). The yield is determined by dividing the amount of the annual dividends by the aggregate value (or net asset value) at the end of the period. For a fund, the dividend yield is based solely on stock holdings and does not include any income produced by other investments.

Earnings Growth Rate. The average annual rate of growth in earnings over the past five years for the stocks now in a fund.

Equity Exposure. A measure that reflects a fund’s investments in stocks and stock futures. Any holdings in short-term reserves are excluded.

Expense Ratio. A fund’s total annual operating expenses expressed as a percentage of the fund’s average net assets. The expense ratio includes management and administrative expenses, but does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Foreign Holdings. The percentage of a fund represented by securities or depositary receipts of companies based outside the United States.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund’s investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is measured from the inception date.

Median Market Cap. An indicator of the size of companies in which a fund invests; the midpoint of market capitalization (market price x shares outstanding) of a fund’s stocks, weighted by the proportion of the fund’s assets invested in each stock. Stocks representing half of the fund’s assets have market capitalizations above the median, and the rest are below it.

Price/Book Ratio. The share price of a stock divided by its net worth, or book value, per share.

For a fund, the weighted average price/book ratio of the stocks it holds.

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Price/Earnings Ratio. The ratio of a stock’s current price to its per-share earnings over the past year. For a fund, the weighted average P/E of the stocks it holds. P/E is an indicator of market expectations about corporate prospects; the higher the P/E, the greater the expectations for a company’s future growth.

R-Squared. A measure of how much of a fund’s past returns can be explained by the returns from the market in general, as measured by a given index. If a fund’s total returns were precisely synchronized with an index’s returns, its R-squared would be 1.00. If the fund’s returns bore no relationship to the index’s returns, its R-squared would be 0. For this report, R-squared is based on returns over the past 36 months for both the fund and the index.

Return on Equity. The annual average rate of return generated by a company during the past five years for each dollar of shareholder’s equity (net income divided by shareholder’s equity). For a fund, the weighted average return on equity for the companies whose stocks it holds.

Short-Term Reserves. The percentage of a fund invested in highly liquid, short-term securities that can be readily converted to cash.

Turnover Rate. An indication of the fund’s trading activity. Funds with high turnover rates incur higher transaction costs and may be more likely to distribute capital gains (which may be taxable to investors). The turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions, which have minimal impact on costs.

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The Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”) was developed by and is the exclusive property and a service mark
of MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”) and Standard and Poor’s, a division of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), and is licensed for use
by Vanguard. Neither MSCI, S&P nor any third party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classification
makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such standard or classification (or the results
to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy,
completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any such standard or classification.
Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, S&P, any of its affiliates or any third party involved in
making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classification have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive,
consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

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The People Who Govern Your Fund

The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them on an at-cost basis.

A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 197 Vanguard funds.

Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.

Interested Trustee¹

F. William McNabb III

Born 1957. Trustee Since July 2009. Chairman of the Board. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Chairman of the Board of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group, since January 2010; Director of The Vanguard Group since 2008; Chief Executive Officer and President of The Vanguard Group, and of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group, since 2008; Director of Vanguard Marketing Corporation; Managing Director of The Vanguard Group (1995–2008).

Independent Trustees

Emerson U. Fullwood

Born 1948. Trustee Since January 2008. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Executive Chief Staff and Marketing Officer for North America and Corporate Vice President (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services); Executive in Residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology; Lead Director of SPX FLOW, Inc. (multi-industry manufacturing); Director of the United Way of Rochester, the University of Rochester Medical Center, Monroe Community College Foundation, North Carolina A&T University, and Roberts Wesleyan College; Trustee of the University of Rochester.

Rajiv L. Gupta

Born 1945. Trustee Since December 2001.² Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (retired 2009) and President (2006–2008) of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Director of Arconic Inc. (diversified manufacturer), HP Inc. (printer and personal computer manufacturing), and Delphi Automotive plc (automotive components); Senior Advisor at New Mountain Capital.

Amy Gutmann

Born 1949. Trustee Since June 2006. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: President of the University of Pennsylvania; Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, School of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, with secondary faculty appointments in the Department of Philosophy, School of Arts and Sciences, and at the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania; Trustee of the National Constitution Center.

JoAnn Heffernan Heisen

Born 1950. Trustee Since July 1998. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Corporate Vice President and Member of the Executive Committee (1997–2008), Chief Global Diversity Officer (retired 2008), Vice President and Chief Information Officer (1997–2006), Controller (1995–1997), Treasurer (1991–1995), and Assistant Treasurer (1989–1991) of Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceuticals/medical devices/consumer products); Director of Skytop Lodge Corporation (hotels) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Women’s Leadership at Rutgers University.

F. Joseph Loughrey

Born 1949. Trustee Since October 2009. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: President and Chief Operating Officer (retired 2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery); Chairman of the Board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services), Oxfam America, and the Lumina

 

Foundation for Education; Director of the V Foundation for Cancer Research; Member of the Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Letters and Chair of the Advisory Board to the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, both at the University of Notre Dame.

Mark Loughridge

Born 1953. Trustee Since March 2012. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (retired 2013) at IBM (information technology services); Fiduciary Member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013); Director of the Dow Chemical Company; Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.

Scott C. Malpass

Born 1962. Trustee Since March 2012. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Chief Investment Officer and Vice President at the University of Notre Dame; Assistant Professor of Finance at the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame; Member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, the Board of Advisors for Spruceview Capital Partners, the Board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisor), and the Board of Superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion; Chairman of the Board of TIFF Advisory Services, Inc. (investment advisor).

André F. Perold

Born 1952. Trustee Since December 2004. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011); Chief Investment Officer and Co-Managing Partner of HighVista Strategies LLC (private investment firm); Overseer of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Peter F. Volanakis

Born 1955. Trustee Since July 2009. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: President and Chief Operating Officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment); Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Colby-Sawyer College; Member of the Board of Hypertherm, Inc. (industrial cutting systems, software, and consumables).

Executive Officers

Glenn Booraem

Born 1967. Investment Stewardship Officer Since February 2017. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Treasurer (2015–2017), Controller (2010–2015), and Assistant Controller (2001–2010) of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

Thomas J. Higgins

Born 1957. Chief Financial Officer Since September 2008. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Chief Financial Officer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group; Treasurer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group (1998–2008).

Peter Mahoney

Born 1974. Controller Since May 2015. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Controller of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group; Head of International Fund Services at The Vanguard Group (2008–2014).

Anne E. Robinson

Born 1970. Secretary Since September 2016. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Managing Director of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; General Counsel of The Vanguard Group; Secretary of The Vanguard Group and of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group; Director and Senior Vice President of Vanguard Marketing Corporation; Managing Director and General Counsel of Global Cards and Consumer Services at Citigroup (2014–2016); Counsel at American Express (2003–2014).

Michael Rollings

Born 1963. Treasurer Since February 2017. Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years and Other Experience: Managing Director of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Treasurer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group; Director of Vanguard Marketing Corporation; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MassMutual Financial Group (2006–2016).

 

1 Mr. McNabb is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
2 December 2002 for Vanguard Equity Income Fund, the Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds, and the Vanguard State Tax-Exempt Funds.

 

 

 

Semiannual Report | June 30, 2017

Vanguard U.S. Stock Index Funds
Small-Capitalization Portfolios

Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund

 

A new format, unwavering commitment

As you begin reading this report, you’ll notice that we’ve made some improvements to the opening sections—based on feedback from you, our clients.

Page 1 starts with a new ”Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance,” a concise, handy summary of how your fund performed during the period.

In the renamed ”Chairman’s Perspective,” Bill McNabb will focus on enduring principles and investment insights.

We’ve modified some tables, and eliminated some redundancy, but we haven’t removed any information.

At Vanguard, we’re always looking for better ways to communicate and to help you make sound investment decisions. Thank you for entrusting your assets to us.

 

Please note: The opinions expressed in this report are just that—informed opinions. They should not be considered promises
or advice. Also, please keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date on the front of this
report. Of course, the risks of investing in your fund are spelled out in the prospectus.
See the Glossary for definitions of investment terms used in this report.
About the cover: No matter what language you speak, Vanguard has one consistent message and set of
principles. Our primary focus is on you, our clients. We conduct our business with integrity as a faithful steward
of your assets. This message is shown translated into seven languages, reflecting our expanding global
presence.

 

Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance

• For the six months ended June 30, 2017, returns for Vanguard’s three small-capitalization U.S. index funds ranged from more than 2% for Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund to about 10% for Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund. Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund, which contains both growth and value stocks, returned almost 6%.

• All three funds closely tracked their target indexes. The Small-Cap Index Fund and Small-Cap Value Index Fund exceeded the average return of their peers, while the Small-Cap Growth Index Fund trailed the average return of its peers.

• Small-cap stocks trailed their large- and mid-cap counterparts, while growth stocks outperformed value stocks.

• Health care was the top-performing sector for all three funds; technology and industrial stocks also made strong contributions. However, all three funds suffered double-digit declines in the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.

 

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Admiral Shares carry lower expenses and are available to investors who meet certain account-balance requirements. Institutional Shares
and Institutional Plus Shares are available to certain institutional investors who meet specific administrative, service, and account-size
criteria. The Vanguard ETF® Shares shown are traded on the NYSE Arca exchange and are available only through brokers. The table
provides ETF returns based on both the NYSE Arca market price and the net asset value for a share. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,879,964; 7,337,138;
7,720,749; 7,925,573; 8,090,646; and 8,417,623.
For the ETF Shares, the market price is determined by the midpoint of the bid-offer spread as of the closing time of the New York Stock
Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time). The net asset value is also determined as of the NYSE closing time. For more information about
how the ETF Shares' market prices have compared with their net asset value, visit vanguard.com, select your ETF, and then select the
Price and Performance tab. The ETF premium/discount analysis there shows the percentages of days on which the ETF Shares' market
price was above or below the NAV.

2

 

 

The fund expense ratios shown are from the prospectus dated April 27, 2017, and represent estimated costs for the current fiscal year. For
the six months ended June 30, 2017, the funds’ annualized expense ratios were: for the Small-Cap Index Fund, 0.18% for Investor
Shares, 0.06% for ETF Shares, 0.06% for Admiral Shares, 0.05% for Institutional Shares, and 0.04% for Institutional Plus Shares; for the
Small-Cap Growth Index Fund, 0.19% for Investor Shares, 0.07% for ETF Shares, 0.07% for Admiral Shares, and 0.06% for Institutional
Shares; and for the Small-Cap Value Index Fund, 0.19% for Investor Shares, 0.07% for ETF Shares, 0.07% for Admiral Shares, and 0.06%
for Institutional Shares. The peer-group expense ratios are derived from data provided by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company, and
capture information through year-end 2016.

Peer groups: For the Small-Cap Index Fund, Small-Cap Core Funds; for the Small-Cap Growth Index Fund, Small-Cap Growth Funds; and for
the Small-Cap Value Index Fund, Small-Cap Value Funds.

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Chairman’s Perspective

Bill McNabb
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dear Shareholder,

More than a decade ago, the eminent investor and commentator Howard Marks published a memo to his clients titled simply “Risk.” In it, Howard distilled the relationship between investors and risk. “When you boil it all down, it’s the investor’s job to intelligently bear risk for profit,” he wrote.

It’s not surprising, then, that everyone from portfolio managers to behavioral economists avidly studies how investors’ reactions to risk influence not only individual investment decisions but also the broader financial markets. I’m a big fan of some of the behavioral finance work being done, which includes studies by our own investment strategists and analysts.

A lens on investor behavior

For example, Vanguard’s Investment Strategy Group introduced a “risk speedometers” report in January to look at how investors are reacting to market developments. This lens on real-world behavior measures the risk investors are taking in a given period by calculating the difference between net cash flows into higher-risk assets, such as stocks, and net cash flows into lower-risk assets, such as Treasuries. The measures are then compared with long-term averages.

In the spring, the risk speedometer spiked. The spike was fueled by investors’ decisions to direct more of their equity

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dollars to international investments in developed and emerging markets, and their bond dollars to riskier credit categories.

A spiking speedometer seems a fitting analogy for what can happen. I consider myself a responsible driver. Still, when the highway is clear and the weather is nice, I might glance down at the speedometer and find that my right foot has gotten a little heavy.

The same phenomenon is possible with our investment portfolios. Just as our attention can drift from our speed—and the risk level on the road—we can neglect the risk level of our portfolio’s asset allocation. Experience teaches that investors are especially prone to lose sight of risk when markets have been buoyant.

How I manage risk in my own portfolio

Rebalancing—periodically adjusting your asset allocation so it stays in line with your goals and risk tolerance—is one of the best ways I know of to help manage risk. Without rebalancing, your portfolio may end up potentially riskier than you intended and no longer aligned with your goals.

I have a ritual I perform every June and again each December, between Christmas and New Year’s, as I prepare for a series of annual meetings with the Vanguard crew. I’ll set aside some time, review my

 

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investment portfolio, and, if necessary, rebalance back to my target asset allocation.

My own portfolio is a mix of equity and fixed income funds, and I invest in both actively managed funds and index funds. Most years, I’ll make a minor adjustment to get back to the appropriate asset allocation for my own longer-term goals and risk tolerance. It’s not all that complicated, although my portfolio is a little more complex than some because I own more funds than we’d typically suggest. As chairman of Vanguard’s funds, I feel I should own a significant number of them.

Consider your options

You should consider rebalancing if your target allocation is off by 5 percentage points or more. Admittedly, this is often easier said than done. When an investment has performed exceptionally well, people have a hard time trimming it. They can be led astray by that old (and none-too-helpful) investing saw: Let your winners run.

Fortunately, in recent years we’ve seen all sorts of investors take steps to rebalance. Many of the endowments, foundations, and traditional pension plans that Vanguard serves have good processes built into their investment guidelines to make sure rebalancing takes place on a regular basis. And among investors in defined contribution retirement plans, more and more are using target-date funds, where rebalancing happens automatically.

If you choose to rebalance on your own, use your target asset allocation as your guidepost. Don’t be afraid to buy into bad news. In a sense, don’t worry about the noise of the marketplace. If you work with an advisor, make sure he or she understands the importance you place on your rebalancing ritual.

And remember, the goal of rebalancing is to manage risk, not to avoid it altogether. Risk is inherent in investing—we just want to bear that risk intelligently.

In that insightful memo on risk, Howard Marks included a saying often attributed to Will Rogers: “You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes because that’s where the fruit is.”

Tim Buckley chosen as Vanguard’s next CEO

In closing, I’ll note senior leadership changes that we announced in July. Our board of directors has elected Vanguard Chief Investment Officer Tim Buckley as president and director of Vanguard. Under the planned transition, Tim will succeed me as Vanguard’s chief executive officer on January 1, 2018.

I’m delighted with our board’s selection of Tim. We first met in 1991 when Tim was interviewing for a job at Vanguard. In the decades since, we’ve worked closely together, and he’s always impressed me as a man of tremendous character and an outstanding leader with a passion for serving our clients. During the transition

6

 

period, I will work closely with Tim in managing the firm and overseeing its operations.

Replacing Tim as chief investment officer is Greg Davis, who had been global head of Vanguard Fixed Income Group. And succeeding Greg as our fixed income leader is John Hollyer, who most recently served as our global head of investment risk management. I know Greg and John will both do a superb job in their new roles.

As with past successions, I will remain as chairman for a period of time determined by the board. On a personal note, it has been an honor and a privilege to lead Vanguard. Having spent more than half

my life at Vanguard, I have come to know many fabulous crew members who are incredibly dedicated to Vanguard’s mission. Please be assured that Tim and the rest of the team will serve you and our other clients extremely well as Vanguard prepares for its next chapter.

As always, thank you for investing with Vanguard.

Sincerely,

F. William McNabb III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
July 14, 2017

 

 

Small-Cap Index Fund

Fund Profile
As of June 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

1 The expense ratios shown are from the prospectus dated April 27, 2017, and represent estimated costs for the current fiscal year. For
the six months ended June 30, 2017, the annualized expense ratios were 0.18% for Investor Shares, 0.06% for ETF Shares, 0.06% for
Admiral Shares, 0.05% for Institutional Shares, and 0.04% for Institutional Plus Shares.

8

 

Small-Cap Index Fund

Investment Focus

9

 

Small-Cap Index Fund

Performance Summary

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at vanguard.com/performance.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

Fiscal-Year Total Returns (%): December 31, 2006, Through June 30, 2017

For a benchmark description, see the Glossary.
Note: For 2017, performance data reflect the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

See Financial Highlights for dividend and capital gains information.

10

 

Small-Cap Index Fund

Financial Statements (unaudited)

Statement of Net Assets—Investments Summary
As of June 30, 2017

This Statement summarizes the fund’s holdings by asset type. Details are reported for each of the fund’s 50 largest individual holdings and for investments that, in total for any issuer, represent more than 1% of the fund’s net assets. The total value of smaller holdings is reported as a single amount within each category.

The fund reports a complete list of its holdings in regulatory filings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the complete listing of the fund’s holdings is available electronically on vanguard.com and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (sec.gov), or you can have it mailed to you without charge by calling 800-662-7447. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the SEC on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

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