VAW — Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares

VAW Price Performance — Growth of $10,000

Value of a $10,000 investment in VAW over time, compared with SPY. Both lines are rebased to $10,000 on the first shared date. Based on total returns — prices are adjusted for dividends and splits, so this assumes distributions were reinvested. Hover or tap the chart for exact values.

VAW Drawdown

The "underwater" chart: VAW's decline from its highest prior value at each point in time. It shows how deep past losses ran and how long the fund took to recover to break-even.

Overview

VAW is a Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF, positioned within a category that includes 15 other ETFs. It holds an overall rank of #338 among 458 tracked ETFs, indicating a moderate standing. The fund is issued by Vanguard, known for its low-cost offerings, and carries an expense ratio of 0.09%, which is relatively low. It also offers a dividend yield of 1.42%, providing a modest income stream for investors. The fund's price of $239.67 and assets under management (AUM) of $4.39B suggest a high level of investor adoption, as the fund has attracted significant capital despite its high price point.

VAW's performance shows a mix of short-term and long-term gains. Over the past year, the fund has seen a strong return of +19.54%, while over three years, it has delivered a more robust +40.62%. The one-month return of +7.00% and the one-week return of +1.78% indicate a positive trend in the short term. However, the one-day return of +2.16% suggests some volatility in daily performance. The six-month return of +0.01% and the year-to-date return of +14.44% show a more moderate pace, with the one-month return being the most significant contributor to the overall performance.

VAW's risk profile is characterized by a moderate volatility label, a beta of 0.91, a Sharpe ratio of 0.77, and a maximum drawdown of -23.21%. The moderate volatility label suggests that the fund's price movements are somewhat stable but not entirely free from significant fluctuations. The beta of 0.91 indicates that the fund's returns tend to move in line with the broader market, but with slightly less sensitivity. The Sharpe ratio of 0.77 suggests that the fund provides a reasonable risk-adjusted return, balancing potential gains with the level of risk taken. The maximum drawdown of -23.21% highlights the fund's potential for significant losses during market downturns, which is typical for equity-focused ETFs. Overall, these figures imply that VAW is suitable for investors who are willing to accept moderate risk for the potential of moderate returns and income generation.

AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.

VAW Top Holdings

Holdings as of 2026-05-31 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing. Top 10 holdings make up 55.4% of net assets — a rough gauge of concentration risk (the higher this figure, the more the fund's return depends on a handful of names). To see how VAW's holdings overlap with other ETFs you own or are considering, check the Stock Overlap tool.

Which Funds Overlap With VAW

Holding two funds that own the same companies adds cost and complexity without adding much diversification. These tracked ETFs share the most names with VAW's top 10 — FMAT overlaps most, holding 10 of the same companies as VAW's top 10 (55.4% of VAW's assets).

Compares the top 10 reported holdings of each fund, so it's a floor on true overlap — two S&P 500 trackers overlap ~100% even when only 10 names are listed. Use the Stock Overlap tool to search by individual company.

Market Backdrop

10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.69% (as of 2026-08-20) — The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds — the standard "risk-free rate" benchmark used to contextualize this fund’s Sharpe ratio and returns.

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 16.01 (as of 2026-08-20) — A real-time gauge of expected S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days — useful context for this fund’s own volatility label.

Federal Funds Rate: 3.63% (as of 2026-07-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.

VAW Liquidity, Domicile & Tax Treatment

Liquidity: Quoted bid/ask spread is 2.38% and average daily volume is 50K/day. Tighter spreads and higher volume mean lower round-trip trading costs; this is a live-market snapshot and can widen during volatile sessions. AUM of $4.39B provides ample scale, supporting tight spreads and issuer commitment to keep the fund open.

Domicile & tax treatment: VAW is a US-domiciled, SEC-registered ('40 Act) exchange-traded fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions are reported to US investors on Form 1099-DIV, and the fund is not subject to the PFIC reporting or UCITS-specific rules that apply to Irish- or Luxembourg-domiciled funds. Non-US investors should note that US-domiciled ETFs are generally subject to 30% US withholding tax on dividends (unless reduced by treaty) and to US estate tax exposure on the position — Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs tracking the same index often avoid both, which is why non-US residents frequently prefer the UCITS equivalent where one exists. This is general information, not tax advice — consult a tax professional for your situation.

VAW Performance History

How VAW Compares to Other Materials ETFs