- ISIN
- US9219261016
- CUSIP
- 921926101
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Inception Date
- Dec 11, 1967
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Small Cap Growth Equities
- Min. Investment
- $3,000
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Small-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Growth
- Assets Under Management
- $22B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
VEXPX Performance Chart
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares (VEXPX) is up 18.1% since the beginning of the year. VEXPX is currently trading at $136 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VEXPX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,407.
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Returns By Period
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares (VEXPX) has returned 18.10% so far this year and 30.63% over the past 12 months. Over the last decade, VEXPX has posted an annualized return of 13.96%, slightly higher than the S&P 500 Index benchmark’s 13.71%.
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares
- 1D
- 0.78%
- 1M
- 4.49%
- YTD
- 18.10%
- 6M
- 15.76%
- 1Y
- 30.63%
- 3Y*
- 18.13%
- 5Y*
- 7.07%
- 10Y*
- 13.96%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -1.44%
- 1M
- -1.45%
- YTD
- 7.60%
- 6M
- 6.59%
- 1Y
- 22.24%
- 3Y*
- 19.20%
- 5Y*
- 11.54%
- 10Y*
- 13.71%
VEXPX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jan 2, 1980, VEXPX's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +0.97%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.0 years.
Historically, 61% of months were positive and 39% were negative. The best month was Feb 2000 with a return of +20.1%, while the worst month was Oct 1987 at -28.1%. The longest winning streak lasted 11 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 8 months.
On a daily basis, VEXPX closed higher 55% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +10.6%, while the worst single day was Oct 19, 1987 at -20.2%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.69% | 1.26% | -4.87% | 11.04% | 3.73% | 2.65% | 18.10% | ||||||
| 2025 | 4.45% | -6.28% | -6.97% | -1.88% | 5.57% | 4.62% | 0.93% | 4.08% | 1.45% | 1.12% | 1.60% | -0.89% | 7.08% |
| 2024 | -1.95% | 6.33% | 2.86% | -6.11% | 4.04% | -1.32% | 4.63% | 1.42% | 0.98% | -1.72% | 9.13% | -1.31% | 17.25% |
| 2023 | 10.33% | -1.63% | -1.41% | -1.56% | -1.58% | 8.14% | 3.22% | -3.62% | -5.23% | -6.25% | 9.52% | 10.38% | 19.78% |
| 2022 | -10.25% | -0.03% | 0.87% | -9.35% | -2.58% | -7.70% | 10.75% | -3.30% | -9.09% | 8.39% | 3.97% | -5.27% | -23.32% |
| 2021 | 1.66% | 5.12% | -0.25% | 4.82% | -1.71% | 2.92% | 0.78% | 2.11% | -3.69% | 5.06% | -3.31% | 1.90% | 15.96% |
Benchmark Metrics
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares has an annualized alpha of 1.81%, beta of 0.90, and R2 of 0.69 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since January 02, 1980.
- This fund captured 108.33% of S&P 500 Index gains and 106.09% of its losses - amplifying both gains and losses, but participating more in upside than downside.
- With beta of 0.90 and R2 of 0.69, this fund moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- 1.81%
- Beta
- 0.90
- R²
- 0.69
- Upside Capture
- 108.33%
- Downside Capture
- 106.09%
Expense Ratio
VEXPX has an expense ratio of 0.40%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
VEXPX ranks 53 for risk / return — on par with similar mutual funds. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares (VEXPX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VEXPX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.11 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.32 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.13 | 2.46 | +0.68 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.10 | 10.92 | +1.19 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares provided a 6.25% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $8.48 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $8.48 | $8.48 | $14.47 | $0.88 | $4.75 | $20.48 | $8.55 | $5.19 | $9.16 | $10.89 | $3.89 | $8.61 |
Dividend yield | 6.25% | 7.38% | 12.59% | 0.79% | 5.09% | 16.00% | 6.64% | 4.97% | 10.95% | 11.46% | 4.49% | 10.71% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $8.48 | $8.48 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $14.47 | $14.47 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.88 | $0.88 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4.75 | $4.75 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $20.48 | $20.48 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares was 57.40%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 485 trading sessions.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -57.40%Mar 2009 | 1y 7mo | 1y 11mo | 3y 6moJul 2007 - Feb 2011 |
Black Monday1987 | -47.37%Oct 1987 | 4y 4mo | 4y 2mo | 8y 6moJun 1983 - Dec 1991 |
Dot-com crash2000–2002 | -43.82%Oct 2002 | 2y 7mo | 1y 3mo | 3y 10moMar 2000 - Jan 2004 |
COVID crash2020 | -39.87%Mar 2020 | 26d | 4mo 18d | 5mo 14dFeb 2020 - Aug 2020 |
1982 bear market1982 | -39.10%Mar 1982 | 9mo 10d | 10mo 1d | 1y 7moJun 1981 - Jan 1983 |
Drawdown Indicators
| VEXPX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -57.40% | -56.78% | -0.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.18% | -9.10% | -1.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.38% | -18.90% | -5.48% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.71% | -25.43% | -7.28% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.87% | -33.92% | -5.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -3.21% | +3.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.89% | -10.71% | -2.18% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.63% | 2.04% | +0.59% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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