VDE — Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares

Overview

The Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares (VDE) operates within the Energy category, which currently contains two ETFs tracked by ETFValuer. Issued by Vanguard, this fund has accumulated assets under management of $11.1 billion and trades at a price of $156.94. It holds an overall rank of #41 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all categories and has received an ETFValuer grade of B with a score of 69.6 out of 100. The fund offers a low-cost structure with an expense ratio of 0.09% while providing a dividend yield of 1.60%. The substantial asset base and moderate trading price suggest significant investor adoption relative to the limited number of peers in its specific sector. These metrics collectively position the fund as a widely held option within the broader market landscape despite its specific industry focus.

Recent performance data shows a sharp one-day gain of +1.69% followed by a weekly increase of +4.54%, contrasting with a one-month decline of -2.69%. Over the longer term, the fund has demonstrated strong momentum with a three-month return of -7.36% giving way to a six-month gain of +20.72%. Year-to-date returns have accelerated significantly to +23.51%, while the one-year return stands at +33.52%. This upward trajectory continues into the three-year horizon, where the fund has posted a cumulative return of +47.63%. The pattern indicates a divergence between short-term volatility and sustained long-term growth, with the fund recovering from mid-term dips to achieve substantial gains over the past year and three years.

The fund carries a moderate volatility label and exhibits a beta of -0.01, indicating a unique correlation profile relative to broader market movements. A Sharpe ratio of 1.37 suggests that the returns generated have been efficient relative to the amount of risk taken over the measured period. Despite the positive risk-adjusted metrics, the fund experienced a maximum drawdown of -21.41%, highlighting the potential for significant temporary losses during market downturns. The combination of a negative beta and moderate volatility implies the fund may not move in lockstep with general market trends, potentially offering distinct behavior in varying market conditions. Investors should consider that while the Sharpe ratio reflects strong historical efficiency, the maximum drawdown figure underscores the inherent downside risk associated with the Energy sector exposure.

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

VDE Top Holdings

Holdings as of 2026-02-28 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing.

Market Backdrop

10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.55% (as of 2026-07-07) — 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): 16.13 (as of 2026-07-07) — 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 2026-06-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.

VDE Performance History

How VDE Compares to Other Energy ETFs