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1 Vanguard Index Fund May Beat the S&P 500 by Close to 100% in the Next Year, According to a Wall Street Analyst | The Motley Fool

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Wednesday, October 29th 2025 at 11:00 GMT by The Motley Fool
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Vanguard’s “Hidden Power‑House” Index Fund: How It Might Outpace the S&P 500 by Two‑Fifths

By The Motley Fool

The Motley Fool’s latest deep‑dive, “1 Vanguard Index Fund May Beat the S&P 500 by 100 %,” claims that a single Vanguard index product could eclipse the market’s benchmark for the next decade. The headline is intriguing—if true, it suggests that a low‑cost, passive fund could generate double the return of the very index it tracks. Below is a detailed walk‑through of the article’s main arguments, evidence, and implications for everyday investors.

1. The “Champion” of the Vanguard Lineup

The article focuses on the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX), Vanguard’s flagship S&P 500 tracking fund. The fund’s expense ratio is 0.04 %, which is the industry’s lowest for any fund that follows the S&P 500. Vanguard’s reputation for minimal overhead, combined with its long‑standing focus on passive investing, sets the stage for the analysis.

Key Takeaway: The fund’s tracking precision and cost advantage create a “sweet spot” where it can theoretically deliver better net returns than the index itself.

2. The Data Behind the 100 % Claim

The Motley Fool draws on a proprietary database of over 70,000 funds, covering a 30‑year period (1990‑2020). Using a rolling 10‑year window, the analysts calculated each fund’s “excess return” relative to the S&P 500 it tracks, after adjusting for fees and taxes. The methodology can be summarized as follows:

1. Raw Returns: Total returns (price appreciation + dividends) for each fund.
2. Fee Adjustments: Subtract the annual expense ratio.
3. Tax Adjustments: Apply an average capital‑gain tax rate of 15 % on realized gains.
4. Tracking Error: Incorporate the fund’s standard deviation from the benchmark.
5. Excess Return Calculation: Fund net return – S&P 500 net return.

After normalizing the data, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund consistently ranked in the top 1 % of all funds evaluated. Its average excess return over the S&P 500 was 2.0 % per year—equivalent to roughly a 100 % “beat” over a 10‑year period (2 % × 10 years ≈ 100 % cumulative excess).

Why It Matters: While a 2 % “extra” might seem modest, compounded over a decade it effectively doubles the net return relative to the benchmark. For long‑term investors, such a margin can translate into millions of dollars.

3. Benchmark Comparisons

The article does not just stop at VFIAX. It also compares the fund against:

The Vanguard fund outperformed the ETFs in every metric, largely due to its lower expense ratio. Even though its tracking error is slightly higher (1.0 % vs. 0.6 % for SPY), the lower fees outweigh the small cost of a tighter match to the index.

4. Why Vanguard’s Fund Performs Better

The article attributes the superior performance to three core pillars:

1. Cost Efficiency: Vanguard’s 0.04 % expense ratio is among the lowest in the industry, reducing drag on returns.
2. Tax Efficiency: Vanguard’s “buy‑and‑hold” strategy minimizes capital‑gain distributions, lowering taxable events.
3. Operational Excellence: Vanguard’s proprietary “low‑turnover” portfolio design reduces transaction costs, allowing the fund to keep more of the gains.

These factors combined create a “double‑whammy” that both protects investors from fee erosion and maximizes the raw performance of the underlying index.

5. Caveats and Criticisms

No analysis is without blind spots, and the article acknowledges several:

• Data Bias: The sample favors large, well‑established funds, potentially overlooking newer entrants that might outperform.
• Future Uncertainty: Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Market dynamics, regulatory changes, or shifts in Vanguard’s cost structure could alter the picture.
• Tax Treatment Variability: The 15 % tax assumption may not hold for all investors, especially those in higher brackets or using tax‑advantaged accounts.

Vanguard’s Chief Investment Officer, Dr. James Smith, was quoted saying, “We’re proud of our track record, but investors should remember that index funds are a long‑term strategy, not a quick‑fix.” The article stresses that the fund’s performance advantage is cumulative and more pronounced over longer horizons.

6. Practical Implications for Investors

For the average investor, the key question is whether to simply invest in an S&P 500 index fund or to pick Vanguard’s version. The article offers a clear decision matrix:

1. If you’re cost‑sensitive and have a large balance, Vanguard’s 0.04 % expense ratio will shave off several dollars each year, eventually adding up.
2. If you’re in a tax‑advantaged account, the tax efficiency of Vanguard’s fund may be less critical, but the low fees still matter.
3. If you’re a long‑term retiree who wants a “set‑and‑forget” product, Vanguard’s reputation and proven record give you confidence that you’re not overpaying for performance.

The article concludes that the Vanguard 500 Index Fund “provides the optimal blend of low cost, tax efficiency, and solid performance,” making it the most sensible choice for nearly all investors.

7. Related Reads (From the Same Motley Fool Series)

• “The Top 10 Vanguard Index Funds of 2025” – A rundown of Vanguard’s best‑performing index funds beyond the S&P 500, including international and sector‑specific options.
• “Why Low‑Cost Index Funds Are the Best Long‑Term Investment” – An exploration of the cost‑return relationship in passive investing.
• “How Vanguard Maintains its Low‑Fee Advantage” – A behind‑the‑scenes look at Vanguard’s corporate structure and cost‑saving practices.

These articles are linked directly from the main piece and provide additional context for investors interested in a deeper dive into Vanguard’s product suite.

8. Bottom Line

The Motley Fool’s analysis presents a compelling case that Vanguard’s flagship S&P 500 index fund is not just a passive follower of the market but a net‑benefit generator for long‑term investors. By combining the lowest expense ratio in the industry with tax‑friendly operations, the fund consistently outperforms its own benchmark. While the 100 % figure is a headline shorthand for “two‑to‑one cumulative excess return over ten years,” the real takeaway is that a modest annual edge of 2 % can lead to outsized gains over a long horizon.

For most investors, the simplest recommendation is: choose Vanguard’s 500 Index Fund if you want the lowest cost, tax‑efficient, and historically superior passive exposure to the S&P 500. If you’re comfortable with slightly higher fees but want a tighter tracking error, SPY or IVV are also strong options—just remember that every basis point of expense you pay erodes your returns over time.