Just about a month after slashing dozens of fund fees, Vanguard has dropped the fees on 15 more of its mutual funds and exchange-traded funds — and raised the expense ratio on one, the Vanguard Precious Metals Fund Investor Shares (MUTF:), from 0.27% to 0.29%.
The most significant cuts came to two yield-focused funds: the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Investor Shares (MUTF:) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE:), both of which dropped 5 basis points to 0.25% and 0.13%, respectively.
| Fund | Ticker | Old expenses |
New expenses |
Effective Date |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (Investor) |
VDAIX | 0.30% | 0.25% | 5/29/12 |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | VIG | 0.18% | 0.13% | 5/29/12 |
| Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund (Investor) |
VDIGX | 0.34% | 0.31% | 5/29/12 |
| Vanguard REIT Index Fund (Investor) | VGSIX | 0.26% | 0.24% | 5/29/12 |
| Vanguard REIT Index Fund (Admiral) | VGSLX | 0.12% | 0.1% | 5/29/12 |
| Vanguard REIT Index ETF | VNQ | 0.12% | 0.1% | 5/29/12 |
| Vanguard GNMA Fund (Investor) | VFIIX | 0.23% | 0.21% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund (Investor) |
VWEHX | 0.25% | 0.23% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund (Investor) |
VFICX | 0.22% | 0.2% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund (Investor) |
VFITX | 0.22% | 0.2% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund (Investor) | VWESX | 0.24% | 0.22% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund (Investor) |
VUSTX | 0.22% | 0.2% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund (Investor) |
VSGBX | 0.22% | 0.2% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund (Investor) | VFSTX | 0.22% | 0.2% | 5/30/12 |
| Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund (Investor) | VFISX | 0.22% | 0.2% | 5/30/12 |
As always, never ignore the
importance of the expense ratio. While they’re often just fractions of a percent, they represent real money out of your pocket. Performance is important — but gaudy fees can take a significant bite out of returns.
The fee changes, as well as other funds with updated prospectuses, .
Kyle Woodley is the assistant editor of InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Follow him on Twitter at . Check out recaps from previous trading days here.
