Morningstar

How the Largest US ETFs Performed in October

The Vanguard Growth Index Fund led stock ETF returns, while the Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund lagged.

Illustration of generic coins and bills floating over graph with the 'ETF' in the center
Securities in This Article
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares
(BSV)
Dimensional U.S. Core Equity 2 ETF
(DFAC)
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF
(JEPQ)
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares
(BIV)
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares
(BND)

This article mentions funds that have an issuer-initiated rating and/or track a Morningstar Index. For full disclosure information, please refer to the specific funds, which are demarcated with a * symbol, listed below.

Each month we check in on the performance of the largest US stock, bond, and active exchange-traded funds.

The Morningstar US Market Index fell 0.74% during October and is up 38.09% over the past year. The Morningstar US Core Bond Index fell 2.46% last month and is up 10.37% over the past year.

In the global markets, stocks lost 2.34% during October, as measured by the Morningstar Global Markets Index. Bonds fell 3.35%, as measured by the Morningstar Global Core Bond Index. Over the past year, global stocks are up 32.74% and global bonds are up 9.22%.

Largest US Stock ETF Performance

Out of the 10 largest US stock ETFs, last month’s top performer was the $261.4 billion Vanguard Growth Index Fund, which lost 0.27%. The bottom performer was the $207 billion Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund, which lost 5.30%.

Here’s more about the performance of the largest US stock ETFs.

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund

In October, the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund fell 0.75%, while the average large blend fund lost 1.09%. The fund placed in the 33rd percentile for performance. The $1.8 trillion fund has climbed 37.85% over the past 12 months, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 34.47%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in May 2001, has climbed 7.48% over the past three years and 14.53% over the past five.

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

The Vanguard 500 Index Fund lost 0.91% in October, falling less than the average fund in the large blend category, which fell 1.09%. The $1.3 trillion fund has gained 37.98% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 34.47%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in September 2010, has climbed 9.04% over the past three years and 15.23% over the past five.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

The $590.7 billion SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust fell 0.91% in October. That loss edged out the 1.09% loss on the average fund in the large blend category, leaving the fund in the 46th percentile for performance. Over the past 12 months, the State Street fund rose 37.82%, while the average fund in its category rose 34.47%. The fund, which launched in January 1993, has climbed 8.99% over the past three years and 15.19% over the past five.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF lost 0.91% in October, falling less than the average fund in the large blend category, which fell 1.09%. The $540.7 billion fund has gained 37.97% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 34.47%. The iShares fund, which launched in May 2000, has climbed 9.05% over the past three years and 15.24% over the past five.

Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund

The Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund lost 4.71% in October, performing roughly in line with the average fund in the foreign large blend category, which fell 4.79%. The $463.3 billion fund has gained 23.37% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 22.44%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in January 2011, has climbed 1.50% over the past three years and 6.04% over the past five.

Largest US Bond ETF Performance

Out of the 10 largest US bond ETFs, last month’s top performer was the $54.1 billion Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund, which lost 0.43%. The bottom performer was the $59.4 billion iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, which lost 5.42%.

Here’s more about the performance of the largest US bond ETFs.

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund

The $343.4 billion Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund fell 2.42% in October. That loss was roughly in line with the 2.41% loss on the average fund in the intermediate core bond category, leaving the fund in the 37th percentile for performance. Over the past 12 months, the Vanguard fund rose 10.49%, while the average fund in its category rose 10.57%. The fund, which launched in April 2007, has dropped 2.19% over the past three years and 0.21% over the past five.

iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF

The iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF lost 2.48% in October, performing roughly in line with the average fund in the intermediate core bond category, which fell 2.41%. The $117.7 billion fund has gained 10.52% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 10.57%. The iShares fund, which launched in September 2003, has dropped 2.19% over the past three years and 0.25% over the past five.

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund

The $98.3 billion Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund fell 0.71% in October. That loss edged out the 1.18% loss on the average fund in the global bond-USD hedged category, leaving the fund in the 23rd percentile for performance. Over the past 12 months, the Vanguard fund rose 9.60%, while the average fund in its category rose 10.15%. The fund, which launched in May 2013, has dropped 0.71% over the past three years and 0.19% over the past five.

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF

In October, the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF fell 5.42%, while the average long government fund lost 5.16%. The fund placed in the 69th percentile for performance. The $59.4 billion fund has climbed 15.05% over the past 12 months, performing roughly in line with the average fund in its category, which rose 14.42%. The iShares fund, which launched in July 2002, has dropped 11.80% over the past three years and 5.87% over the past five.

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund

In October, the Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund fell 1.05%, while the average short-term bond fund lost 0.67%. The fund placed in the 85th percentile for performance. The $59.3 billion fund has climbed 6.88% over the past 12 months, underperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 8.03%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in April 2007, has climbed 0.73% over the past three years and 1.22% over the past five.

Largest US Active ETF Performance

While passive ETFs have portfolios with holdings that track an index, active ETFs have managers who decide which investments to own. Active ETFs trade on an exchange and are typically lower-cost and more tax-efficient than traditional actively managed mutual funds.

Out of the 10 largest US active ETFs, last month’s top performer was the $13.9 billion Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF, which gained 0.56%. The bottom performer was the $15.1 billion Fidelity Total Bond ETF, which lost 2.22%.

Here’s more about the performance of the largest US active ETFs.

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

The $36.2 billion JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF fell 0.70% in October. The fund edged out its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, by 0.21 percentage points. Over the past 12 months, the JPMorgan fund rose 20.21%. The fund, which launched in May 2020, has gained 7.46% over the past three years.

Dimensional US Core Equity 2 ETF

The Dimensional US Core Equity 2 ETF lost 0.85% in October, falling less than the average fund in the large blend category, which fell 1.09%. The fund placed in the 39th percentile for performance and fell further than its benchmark, the Russell 3000 Index, by 0.12 percentage points.

The $31.4 billion fund has gained 35.83% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 34.47%. The Dimensional fund, which launched in October 2007, has climbed 7.96% over the past three years and 13.96% over the past five.

JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF

The $26.8 billion JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF rose 0.16% in October. The fund lagged its benchmark, the ICE BofA 0-3 Month US Treasury Bill Index, by 0.23 percentage points. Over the past 12 months, the JPMorgan fund rose 6.24%. The fund, which launched in May 2017, has climbed 3.64% over the past three years and 2.73% over the past five.

JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF

The $17.8 billion JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF rose 0.35% in October. The fund beat its benchmark, the NASDAQ 100 Index, by 1.16 percentage points. Over the past 12 months, the JPMorgan fund rose 30.70%. The fund launched in May 2022.

Fidelity Total Bond ETF

The $15.1 billion Fidelity Total Bond ETF fell 2.22% in October. The loss on the fund was roughly in line with the 2.32% loss on the average fund in the intermediate core-plus bond category, leaving it in the 29th percentile for performance. The fund edged out its benchmark, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index, by 0.26 percentage points.

Over the past 12 months, the Fidelity fund rose 11.84%, while the average fund in its category rose 11.67%. The fund, which launched in October 2014, has dropped 1.33% over the past three years and gained 0.99% over the past five.

This article was generated with the help of automation and reviewed by Morningstar editors. Learn more about Morningstar’s use of automation.

The author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar’s editorial policies.

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