For the first time in at least 15 years, new investors can buy shares in two of Vanguard’s best-regarded actively managed mutual funds. In June, Vanguard fully reopened Vanguard Primecap (VPMCX) and Vanguard Primecap Core (VPCCX). Both funds are run by Primecap Management, described by Jeff DeMaso, editor of The Independent Vanguard Adviser newsletter, as, “arguably, one of the best active managers out there.”
Vanguard locked new investors out of Primecap in 2004 and out of Core in 2009, limiting existing investors to adding no more than $25,000 a year. The funds’ strong performances had attracted more money than the managers felt they could put to work in the long-term, value-priced growth opportunities they seek.
But in recent years, performance — especially at Primecap — has been lumpy. Investors have withdrawn more than $38 billion from Primecap since 2019 (leaving it with assets of $76.1 billion), and nearly $5 billion from Core (now with $13.2 billion). And, says Ryan Barksdale, who oversees Vanguard’s active stock funds, “the market has evolved,” creating new investment opportunities for additional cash. Both funds require a minimum initial investment of $3,000 for investor-class shares.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The two funds hold many of the same stocks. Both are tilted toward health care and industrial firms, and have benefited from a boom in Eli Lilly, which makes up more than 10% of each portfolio. Lilly has returned 94% over the past 12 months.
Although it can invest in stocks of any size, Primecap is currently weighted slightly more toward large companies. Charging an expense ratio of 0.38%, it has returned 27.5% over the past 12 months, beating the 24.6% return of the S&P 500. The fund gained 15.5% annualized over the past 15 years, compared with 14.8% for the S&P 500. Core, with expenses of 0.46%, has returned 25.4% over the past year; 14.7% over the past 15 years.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related Content
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rally Despite Rising Geopolitical TensionThe main indexes were mixed on Tuesday but closed well off their lows after an early flight to safety.
-
What's at Stake for Alphabet as DOJ Eyes Google's ChromeAlphabet is higher Tuesday even as antitrust officials at the DOJ support forcing Google to sell its popular web browser. Here's what you need to know.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rally Despite Rising Geopolitical Tension
The main indexes were mixed on Tuesday but closed well off their lows after an early flight to safety.
-
What's at Stake for Alphabet as DOJ Eyes Google's Chrome
Alphabet is higher Tuesday even as antitrust officials at the DOJ support forcing Google to sell its popular web browser. Here's what you need to know.
-
Lowe's Stock Is Falling After Earnings. Here's WhyLowe's stock is lower Tuesday as Wall Street weighs a beat-and-raise quarter against declining revenue. This is what you need to know.
-
Why Walmart Stock's a Buy After Its Beat-And-Raise QuarterWalmart is the best Dow Jones stock Tuesday after the retail giant's solid earnings report and outlook and Wall Street thinks it's just getting started. Here's what they're saying.
-
Winners and Losers of Fed Rate CutsNavigating interest-rate changes can seem daunting, but these areas of the fixed-income market could perform better (or worse) than others.
-
Six Ways to Optimize Your Charitable Giving Before Year-EndAs 2024 winds down, right now is the time to look at how you plan to handle your charitable giving. The sooner you start, the more tax-efficient you can be.
-
How Preferred Stocks Can Boost Your Retirement PortfolioHigher yields, priority on dividend payments and the potential for capital appreciation are just three reasons to consider investing in preferred stocks.
-
Structured Settlement Annuity vs Lump-Sum Payout: Which Is Better?As the use of structured settlement annuities grows, it can be tough to decide whether to take the lump sum to invest or opt instead for guaranteed payments.
