# Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional Shares (VGSNX): Mutual Fund Facts & Distributions > Markdown mirror of https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vgsnx for AI agents. Same live data as the HTML page, regenerated on the same refresh cycle. Not investment advice. - Issuer: Vanguard · Asset class: Real Estate (Listed/REITs) - Strategy: Thematic · Inception: 2003-12-02 This fund offers investors exposure to the real estate sector by investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). These entities acquire and operate various income-producing properties, such as office buildings, hotels, and retail spaces. Given that REITs often exhibit performance trends that diverge from traditional stocks and bonds, this fund may enhance diversification within a portfolio already composed of equity and fixed-income assets. While it can potentially generate a higher dividend income stream than other funds, it does carry inherent risks. A significant risk factor is its c... ## Key Facts | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Price | $20.13 | | Expense Ratio | 0.11% | | AUM (All Share Classes) | $66.40B | | NAV | $20.26 | | Holdings Count | 158 | | Distribution Yield (TTM) | 3.73% | | Annual Distribution (TTM) | $0.75 /share | | Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | | 52-Week Range | $19.09 – $22.13 | | Beta | 0.99 | ## Latest Distribution - Amount: $0.1775 /share - Ex-date: 2026-09-23 - Pay date: 2026-09-24 ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does VGSNX invest in? This fund offers investors exposure to the real estate sector by investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). These entities acquire and operate various income-producing properties, such as office buildings, hotels, and retail spaces. Given that REITs often exhibit performance trends that diverge from traditional stocks and bonds, this fund may enhance diversification within a portfolio already composed of equity and fixed-income assets. While it can potentially generate a higher dividend income stream than other funds, it does carry inherent risks. A significant risk factor is its concentrated focus exclusively on the real estate industry, which may result in increased volatility compared to more broadly diversified stock funds. ### What is the expense ratio of VGSNX? Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional Shares (VGSNX) charges an expense ratio of 0.11%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations. ### How big is VGSNX? Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional Shares (VGSNX) is one share class of a fund that manages $66.40B across all of its share classes (VGSLX, VNQ report the same total). Our data does not carry the assets of this share class alone. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure. Funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation. ### Is VGSNX actively managed or an index fund? VGSNX's management style is described in the fund's prospectus. See the description on the Summary tab for the published strategy. ### When was VGSNX launched? Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional Shares (VGSNX) launched in December 2003 and is managed by Vanguard. ### How has VGSNX performed? VGSNX'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 VGSNX pay a dividend? Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional Shares (VGSNX) currently distributes little or no income. Trailing-twelve-month yield is 3.73%. Investors looking for income should consider income-focused alternatives. See the Peers tab. ### How often does VGSNX pay dividends? Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional 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 VGSNX's dividend yield? VGSNX's trailing-twelve-month yield is 3.73%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price. ### When is VGSNX's next ex-dividend date? The most recently announced ex-dividend date for VGSNX 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 VGSNX's expense ratio cost me over 30 years? On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 0.11% 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 VGSNX charge its expense ratio? The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from VGSNX'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 VGSNX cost more than a fund like VOO? VGSNX's strategy (current expense ratio 0.11%) 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 VGSNX sits within its own category, which is the comparison that actually matters. ### Are there cheaper alternatives to VGSNX? The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists mutual funds following the same investment strategy as VGSNX (0.11%) 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/vgsnx - Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vgsnx/dividend - Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vgsnx/diversification - Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vgsnx/expenses - Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vgsnx/peers Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.