# Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX): Mutual Fund Facts & Distributions

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- Issuer: Vanguard · Asset class: Sector Equity
- Strategy: Thematic · Inception: 2004-01-30

This cost-efficient index fund offers focused exposure to the U.S. consumer staples sector, which includes companies producing direct-to-consumer goods considered essential for daily life based on typical spending habits. A significant risk lies in its specialized nature, as it invests exclusively in consumer staples equities. Expect considerable price volatility from this fund, and it should therefore represent only a minor portion of an already broadly diversified investment portfolio.

## Key Facts

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | $120.10 |
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% |
| Assets Under Management | $8.70B |
| NAV | $120.10 |
| Holdings Count | 103 |
| Distribution Yield (TTM) | 2.00% |
| Annual Distribution (TTM) | $2.41 /share |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly |
| 52-Week Range | $101.90 – $120.42 |
| Beta | 0.51 |

## Latest Distribution

- Amount: $0.5972 /share
- Ex-date: 2026-09-23
- Pay date: 2026-09-24

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does VCSAX invest in?

This cost-efficient index fund offers focused exposure to the U.S. consumer staples sector, which includes companies producing direct-to-consumer goods considered essential for daily life based on typical spending habits. A significant risk lies in its specialized nature, as it invests exclusively in consumer staples equities. Expect considerable price volatility from this fund, and it should therefore represent only a minor portion of an already broadly diversified investment portfolio.

### What is the expense ratio of VCSAX?

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) charges an expense ratio of 0.09%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations.

### How big is VCSAX?

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) manages $8.70B in total assets. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure. Funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation.

### Is VCSAX actively managed or an index fund?

VCSAX's management style is described in the fund's prospectus. See the description on the Summary tab for the published strategy.

### When was VCSAX launched?

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) launched in January 2004 and is managed by Vanguard.

### How has VCSAX performed?

VCSAX's total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon.

### Does VCSAX pay a dividend?

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) currently distributes little or no income. Trailing-twelve-month yield is 2.00%. Investors looking for income should consider income-focused alternatives. See the Peers tab.

### How often does VCSAX pay dividends?

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares pays dividends Quarterly. Each ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date is listed in the dividend history table on this page.

### What is VCSAX's dividend yield?

VCSAX's trailing-twelve-month yield is 2.00%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price.

### When is VCSAX's next ex-dividend date?

The most recently announced ex-dividend date for VCSAX was 2026-09-23. The next ex-date typically follows Quarterly; once announced it appears at the top of the dividend history table on this page.

### How much will VCSAX's expense ratio cost me over 30 years?

On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 0.09% expense ratio quietly compounds against your balance every year. The Fee Compounding Forecast card above projects the dollar drag for any holding period and assumption you pick. The typical result for a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year hold is roughly 25% of the final balance lost to fees.

### How does VCSAX charge its expense ratio?

The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from VCSAX's net asset value (NAV). You never see a bill. The price quoted on every exchange is already net of fees. There's no "fee day" to avoid; the cost is continuous and built into the trading price.

### Why does VCSAX cost more than a fund like VOO?

VCSAX's strategy (current expense ratio 0.09%) is different from a broad-market index tracker like VOO, so its fee belongs to a different cohort. The Cost Verdict card above shows you where VCSAX sits within its own category, which is the comparison that actually matters.

### Are there cheaper alternatives to VCSAX?

The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists mutual funds following the same investment strategy as VCSAX (0.09%) but at a lower expense ratio. Each row shows the fee gap, the peer's AUM as a liquidity sanity-check, and a direct link to that fund's analysis page. Cheaper price doesn't automatically mean better. Verify the peer holds what you actually want.

## More on Dividend Data

- Overview (HTML): https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vcsax
- Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vcsax/dividend
- Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vcsax/diversification
- Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vcsax/expenses
- Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vcsax/peers

Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.