Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

Frequently Asked Questions About VSCSX

What does VSCSX invest in?

This cost-efficient index fund primarily allocates its assets to U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds. These taxable, fixed-rate securities are issued by industrial, utility, and financial firms, carrying maturities that span one to five years. A key characteristic is its relatively lower sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations compared to funds holding longer-duration bonds; while rising rates can depress bond prices, this fund experiences less severe price shifts. Nevertheless, investors should note that changes in interest rates could eventually lead to a decline in the fund's generated income. This fund is an appropriate choice for individuals pursuing short-term financial goals who are comfortable with some degree of market price movement.

What is the expense ratio of VSCSX?

Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) charges an expense ratio of 0.06%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations.

What is VSCSX's dividend yield?

VSCSX's trailing-twelve-month yield is 4.53%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price.

What is the duration of VSCSX?

Effective duration measures VSCSX's sensitivity to interest-rate changes: a duration of 6 means a 1% rate move shifts NAV by roughly 6% in the opposite direction. VSCSX's current duration is published on the fund's factsheet on the issuer's website.

What is the credit quality of VSCSX?

VSCSX's credit quality breakdown (the share of holdings rated AAA through CCC and below) is published on the fund's factsheet. Higher-quality (investment-grade) funds yield less but carry less default risk than high-yield / junk bond funds.

What is the yield to maturity of VSCSX?

Yield to maturity (YTM) is the total return you'd earn from VSCSX if every bond in the portfolio is held to maturity at the current price. VSCSX's YTM is published on the fund's factsheet on the issuer's website. It differs from the trailing-12-month yield because YTM reflects current bond prices rather than historical income paid.