VTSAX stock holdings represent shares in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, which holds over 3,500 U.S. stocks spanning large-, mid-, and small-cap companies. This fund aims to replicate the entire U.S. equity market.
VTSAX tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, which includes nearly all publicly traded U.S. companies. The fund's holdings automatically adjust as the index changes, maintaining proportional representation of each company. As of June 2023, VTSAX held $1.3 trillion in assets under management.
| Sector | Representation (%) |
|---|---|
| Technology | 29% |
| Consumer discretionary | 14% |
| Financials | 13% |
| Healthcare | 13% |
| Industrials | 9% |
The top 10 holdings account for about 28% of the fund's total assets. For example, Apple Inc. represents approximately 6.5% of VTSAX's holdings.
Investors use VTSAX to achieve broad market exposure with minimal effort. Its low expense ratio (0.03%) makes it cost-effective for long-term investing. The fund's diversification reduces unsystematic risk, making it popular for retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s.
Some investors confuse VTSAX with funds tracking only the S&P 500. While both provide broad market exposure, VTSAX includes more companies, including mid- and small-cap stocks. The S&P 500 focuses solely on large-cap companies, missing out on smaller growth opportunities that VTSAX captures.
Another misconception is that VTSAX's performance mirrors the market. While it closely tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, minor deviations occur due to tracking error and cash drag. According to Vanguard's 2022 annual report, VTSAX's tracking error was 0.03%.