The Balanced Portfolio returned –14.30% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, outperforming the –16.64% return of its blended benchmark (a mix of 65% large-capitalization stocks and 35% high-quality corporate bonds). The stock and bond portions of the portfolio outperformed their benchmarks, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Bloomberg U.S. Credit A or Better Bond Index, respectively.
The investment environment
Stock markets in the United States and abroad posted negative results for the year. The S&P 500 Index returned –18.11%, the MSCI World Index returned –17.73%, and the MSCI EAFE Index returned –14.45%.
Amid rising geopolitical instability, tighter monetary policy to address accelerating inflation, and fears about the global economic growth outlook, volatility rose sharply during the first quarter of 2022. Russia’s large-scale military attack on Ukraine forced more than 4 million people to flee Ukraine as fighting intensified and living conditions deteriorated rapidly in many cities. Prices for natural gas, select grains, and metals surged, and Brent crude oil prices topped $100 per barrel amid expectations that economic sanctions would cripple Russian energy exports and restrict supplies of key commodities.
Risk sentiment plunged in the second quarter as investors grew increasingly concerned about the economic toll of persistent geopolitical instability, soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and constrained supply chains. Inflation remained elevated globally and energy prices continued to rise. These challenges continued into the third quarter, with the U.S. Federal Reserve hiking interest rates to rein in decades-high inflation. During the fourth quarter, stocks rallied and investor sentiment improved after softer-than-expected inflation in the U.S. and Europe fueled hopes that the Fed and the European Central Bank would begin to taper their pace of rate hikes. That
triggered significant declines in U.S. Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar.
For the full year, broad fixed income markets largely generated negative total returns, driven by rising U.S. Treasury yields. Government bond yields moved sharply higher following ongoing monetary policy tightening intentions in response to persistent inflation pressures. U.S. labor market strength persisted while housing market resilience was tested by surging mortgage rates, lack of inventory, and home price appreciation. Central banks across most developed markets indicated their hawkish intentions and expressed a willingness to keep policy in restrictive territory, even in the face of slower growth and weaker labor markets. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returned –13.01% during the 12 months, outperforming the higher-quality credit market as represented by the Bloomberg U.S. Credit A or Better Bond Index, which returned –14.64%. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose 236 basis points, ending the period at 3.87%. (A basis point is one hundredth of a percentage point.)
Our successes
In the stock portfolio, sector allocation contributed most to relative performance, driven by an underweight allocation to information technology and overweight allocations to health care and financials. Strong security selection in consumer discretionary, utilities, and industrials also contributed to relative performance. Strong individual contributors to investment performance were positions in Shell, Progressive, and Charles Schwab. Not holding certain stocks, most notably Tesla and NVIDIA, also helped relative returns.
In the fixed income portfolio, relative results benefited from duration and yield curve positioning, an underweight allocation to the 1- and 30-year portion of the yield curve as yields rose. An underweight allocation to credit spread duration also contributed.
Our shortfalls
In the stock portfolio, weak selection in the energy, communication services, and consumer staples sectors detracted from relative performance. Underweight allocations to materials and real estate and an overweight allocation to consumer discretionary stocks also dampened results. Top detractors included Meta Platforms and Marvell Tech. Not holding Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Merck also detracted from relative returns.
In the fixed income portfolio, underperformance was primarily driven by security selection. Selection within investment-grade corporate bonds, particularly within financials (banking issuers) and industrials (consumer non-cyclical, technology, and communications) detracted most. Within non-corporate credit, security selection within taxable municipals (particularly revenue bonds) held back relative results.
An out-of-benchmark allocation to securitized sectors also detracted from relative returns, including agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS), asset-backed securities (ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).
Portfolio positioning
The range of potential outcomes is wide for the global economy and, therefore, for asset markets. On one hand, financial conditions have tightened considerably, causing economic growth to slow and inflation to begin to moderate. On the other hand, consumer spending and corporate earnings remain robust and have not yet experienced the significant slowdown central bankers are trying to engineer. We monitor the macro environment closely and direct most of our research efforts to company-specific analysis where we believe our most differentiated insights are likely to lie. Our focus remains on companies that can deliver resilient results across economic and market environments and on stock prices that trade at moderate valuations.
Over the year, we initiated new positions in ConocoPhilips, Honeywell, Glencore, and 15 other businesses. ConocoPhilips is a low-cost producer of oil and gas globally. We prefer Conoco over Total because of its U.S. domicile, where the risk of windfall tax and/or disruption around the Russia/Ukraine war is lower. Honeywell is a well-managed industrial conglomerate with concentrations in aerospace and building controls. We believe their long-term growth prospects are not fully reflected in its current valuation. Glencore is a low-cost producer of a range of metals, many of which will be necessary in the global energy transition away from combustible engine vehicles. We believe the supply side of metals production will remain constrained causing sustainably high metals prices.
Our largest sector overweights are to health care, consumer discretionary, and industrials. Conversely, our largest sector underweights are information technology, communication services, and real estate.
We remain committed to our investment philosophy and process to construct a portfolio of resilient businesses at reasonable valuations run by management teams that are likely to make value-enhancing decisions over the long-term. Our goal is for the portfolio to deliver a superior rate of economic growth over the long term and downside protection during difficult economic and market environments.
On the fixed income side, we maintain a modestly defensive stance in the portfolio. Market volatility has remained elevated because of sustained inflation pressures, the Fed engaging in an aggressive tightening agenda, continued COVID-19 impacts, and ongoing geopolitical risks. The Fed’s hawkish stance at a time of slowing growth has pushed the recession narrative to the market’s forefront, and the rapid pace of tightening by other central banks has raised concerns of global economic slowdown. The Treasury yield curve is reflective of recessionary expectations. During the 12-month period, the Fed responded to sustained inflation pressures with hawkish messaging in
conjunction with an aggressive tightening agenda and the start of quantitative tightening. While the substantially higher interest rate environment and growing growth concerns are likely to provide support for fixed income assets and greater downside protection going forward, we maintained a modest short duration position at year-end in light of recent interest rate volatility.
The fixed income portfolio maintains an out-of-benchmark allocation to U.S. governments and agency MBS as our liquidity buffer, which should provide downside protection for shareholders if the economic cycle or the equity portfolio takes an unfavorable turn. Although major central banks, including the Fed, will likely slow the pace of interest rate hikes from here, we expect they will continue to tighten in the near term and for interest rates to remain restrictive into a cyclical downturn, potentially resulting in global liquidity continuing to be drained. Given tight valuations and continued tail risks to markets, we maintain a robust liquidity profile using cash, U.S. government securities, and agency MBS.
The portfolio also holds out-of-benchmark allocations to the high-quality securitized sectors, such as traditional asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and very modestly to collateral loan obligations and non-agency residential mortgages. We are more cautious on certain securitized sectors, and this has been an area of reduced exposure during the period as the portfolio has focused on more liquid areas of the fixed income markets.
Investment-grade credit fundamentals are strong but have likely peaked. While financial conditions have tightened meaningfully in 2022, we believe their impacts are only beginning to be felt. Corporate fundamentals have surprised to the upside in the past year, but they are likely to deteriorate in the quarters ahead as sustained inflation pressures margins and as demand possibly wanes. We expect the evolving macroeconomic landscape will result in more fundamental and performance dispersion, which should
create better security selection opportunities. Our primary focus on fundamentals will be the impact of persistent cost inflation (particularly labor) on free-cash-flow generation. We have reduced exposure to more cyclical issuers that we feel will have difficulty generating positive free cash flow in a recessionary environment and to issuers operating with more levered balance sheets that will be more substantially impacted by higher borrowing costs. We have also been more cautious on companies that are mostly directly exposed to commodity cost inflation. From a sector perspective, we have increased our positions in the utility sector and some parts of the insurance sector where we view valuations as attractive. In terms of non-corporate credit, we remain positive on taxable municipals, as we think this sector still provides diversification and a broad selection of high-quality issuers that have benefited from fiscal support, although the ongoing operational headwinds make us more cautious on the not-for-profit hospital sector. In terms of quality, we have reduced our exposure to the BBB-rated cohort of our market and remain focused on investing in companies with defensive operating profiles and balance sheets that will be able to weather a more difficult operating environment in 2023.
We continue to be disciplined in our application of our investment process, which allows us to create a balanced portfolio that we believe should perform well in a variety of environments. We remain focused on long-term, low-turnover investing—features that we believe will serve the portfolio’s shareholders well over time.
Portfolio Managers:
Daniel J. Pozen,
Senior Managing Director and
Equity Portfolio Manager
Loren L. Moran, CFA,
Senior Managing Director and
Fixed Income Portfolio Manager
Wellington Management Company LLP
January 18, 2023
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, the Vanguard Capital Growth Portfolio returned –15.48%, exceeding the –18.11% return of its benchmark, the unmanaged S&P 500 Index. Relative to the S&P 500, both sector allocation and stock selection were favorable.
Investment environment
Market conditions deteriorated abruptly in 2022. The year began with yet another bout of COVID, as the Omicron variant peaked in mid-January. But in this case the prognosis was mostly good: Omicron proved more disruptive than destructive, and ultimately COVID’s grip on society was loosened.
Geopolitical hostility and widespread inflation, however, soon supplanted COVID as primary concerns. Russia’s invasion-turned-quagmire in Ukraine devastated the region and continues to pose risks to Europe and the world. At home, savings-rich consumers increasingly returned to pre-COVID activities, forcing businesses into a hiring spree. By summertime, record-high job openings outnumbered job seekers two-to-one, reflecting an unprecedented imbalance between labor demand and supply. Inflation thus broadened and worsened during the period. Price spikes in goods and commodities hemorrhaged into stickier categories, like wages and services.
The Federal Reserve, chagrined by its earlier complacency, executed a dramatic hawkish pivot, punctuated by a series of aggressive interest rate hikes. The real economy stalled somewhat; despite solid nominal economic growth and a tight labor market, real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product declined during the first half of 2022 before bouncing back modestly in the second half. Yet the Fed resolved to further reduce economic activity, raising the prospects of a hard landing—that is, a recession.
Equities unsurprisingly faltered amid this tumult, plummeting nearly –20%. Elevated
inflation and rising interest rates weighed especially on high-valuation growth stocks; the communication services (–40%), consumer discretionary (–37%), and information technology (–28%) sectors lagged the broad market. Energy (+66%) fared best, boosted by higher oil prices. Defensive sectors also outperformed, including utilities (+2%), consumer staples (–1%), and health care (–2%).
Outlook for U.S. equities
Following a partial recovery in the fourth quarter, the S&P 500 Index’s valuation returned to modestly elevated levels (16.7x price/expected earnings versus a 20-year average of 15.5x). But interest rates soared during the period, undermining a key rationale for above-average equity multiples; the current 3.9% yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury note is comparable to its longer-term historical norm. Meanwhile, expectations for corporate earnings in 2023 have declined meaningfully from their mid-2022 peak but may still be too high. We remain wary of above-average macroeconomic risks, most obviously a Fed intent on reducing aggregate demand for goods and services. These concerns leave us somewhat cautious overall, even after the market’s recalibration.
Portfolio update
The portfolio maintained large overweight positions in health care and industrials stocks; these sectors comprised 41% of average assets compared to their 22% combined average weighting in the S&P 500. Relative to the benchmark, the portfolio was roughly equally weighted in consumer discretionary, while information technology shifted to a slight underweight position. The portfolio maintained meaningful underweights in all other sectors, including consumer staples, communication services, energy, financials, materials, real estate, and utilities.
Sector allocation and stock selection both boosted results relative to the S&P 500.
The portfolio’s significant health care overweight position proved beneficial, as did a large underweight position in communication services. Underweight positions in energy and consumer staples partially offset those advantages.
Selection strength was concentrated in the health care sector, as key biopharmaceutical holdings Eli Lilly (+34%), Amgen (+20%), AstraZeneca (+19%), and Biogen (+15%) all outperformed. Eli Lilly, the portfolio’s largest position, was particularly important, logging another stellar year on the back of its new blockbuster obesity drug, tirzepatide. The portfolio also benefited from limited exposure to several mega-capitalization laggards, most notably Meta (–64%) in communication services and Amazon (–50%) in consumer discretionary. But several portfolio positions weighed on results: Tesla (–65%) and Sony (–39%) in consumer discretionary, FedEx (–32%) in industrials, and Intel (–47%), Micron (–46%), and Adobe (–41%) in information technology partially offset favorable selection elsewhere.
Advisor perspectives
We assess this year’s developments as a potential paradigm shift in the market. Notwithstanding an occasional glitch, the period since the 2008 global financial crisis had been remarkably benign, marked by accommodative financial conditions, steady if modest global economic growth, and a relentless equity bull market. A pliant Federal Reserve, offering investors quasi-insurance in the form of a “Fed put,” underwrote a “buy the dip” mentality that became ubiquitous.
But the COVID era—both the virus and especially the policy response to it—ultimately sowed enough dislocation to tip the proverbial apple cart. Ironically, it was COVID’s abrupt fade, or at least its welcome shift to endemic status, that applied the final push. The mass normalization of society, coupled with two
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
Conservative Allocation Portfolio
agreed-upon spread plus the higher of the federal funds effective rate, the overnight bank funding rate, or the Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate inclusive of an additional agreed-upon spread. However, borrowings under the uncommitted credit facility may bear interest based upon an alternate rate agreed to by the portfolio and Vanguard.
In accordance with an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the SEC, the portfolio may participate in a joint lending and borrowing program that allows registered open-end Vanguard funds to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes (the “Interfund Lending Program”), subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Order, and to the extent permitted by the portfolio’s investment objective and investment policies. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend overnight but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one business day’s notice. The interest rate to be charged is governed by the conditions of the Order and internal procedures adopted by the board of trustees. The board of trustees is responsible for overseeing the Interfund Lending Program.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio did not utilize the credit facilities or the Interfund Lending Program.
6. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.
B. In accordance with the terms of a Funds’ Service Agreement (the “FSA”) between Vanguard and the portfolio, Vanguard furnishes to the portfolio investment advisory, corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services at Vanguard’s cost of operations (as defined by the FSA). These costs of operations are allocated to the portfolio based on methods and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. The FSA provides that expenses otherwise allocable to Vanguard funds-of-funds may be reduced or eliminated to the extent of savings realized by the underlying Vanguard funds by virtue of being part of a fund-of-funds. Accordingly, all expenses for services provided by Vanguard to the portfolio and all other expenses incurred by the portfolio during the period ended December 31, 2022, were borne by the underlying Vanguard funds in which the portfolio invests. The portfolio’s trustees and officers are also trustees and officers, respectively, of the underlying Vanguard funds, as well as directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.
C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the portfolio’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels for financial statement purposes. The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3—Significant unobservable inputs (including the portfolio’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments). Any investments valued with significant unobservable inputs are noted on the Schedule of Investments.
At December 31, 2022, 100% of the market value of the portfolio's investments was determined based on Level 1 inputs.
D. Permanent differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of net assets, if any, are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
Temporary differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of total distributable earnings (loss) arise when certain items of income, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. The differences are primarily related to the deferral of losses from wash sales. As of period end, the tax-basis components of total distributable earnings (loss) are detailed in the table as follows:
| | Amount
($000) |
| Undistributed Ordinary Income | 8,390 |
| Undistributed Long-Term Gains | 11,190 |
| Capital Loss Carryforwards | — |
| Qualified Late-Year Losses | — |
| Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | (46,366) |
The Diversified Value Portfolio returned –11.49% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2022. It trailed the –7.54% return of its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index.
The portfolio is overseen by two independent advisors, a strategy that enhances its diversification by providing exposure to distinct yet complementary investment approaches. It is not uncommon for different advisors to have different views about individual securities or the broader investment environment.
The advisors, the amount and percentage of the portfolio’s assets each manages, and brief descriptions of their investment strategies are presented in the accompanying table. Each advisor has also prepared a discussion of the investment environment that existed during the period and of the effect it had on the portfolio’s positioning. These reports were prepared on January 13, 2023.
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers:
Andrew Lacey, Deputy Chairman
Our U.S. Equity Select strategy is based on the relationship between valuation and financial productivity. We seek to identify and empirically review two sources of alpha, which we focus on exclusively:
| • | Compounders: Our analysis indicates these companies can sustain very high levels of financial productivity for longer than the market expects, and their share price does not reflect this sustainability. We typically invest 60% to 80% of our capital in Compounders. |
| • | Improvers: We believe companies can improve returns, but investors often are too optimistic about the probability of success. Our research indicates that companies that improve their returns on capital materially outperform the broad market. We typically invest 20% to 40% of our capital in Improvers. |
Over the past year, equity markets have been difficult, with both the broad benchmark (Standard & Poor’s 500 Index)
and the value-based benchmark (Russell 1000 Value Index) declining significantly. During this time, our strategy outperformed the broad benchmark and lagged the value-based benchmark. Results over the past year were largely driven by the Compounder component of the portfolio, as the highest-quality companies in the market continued to expand their competitive advantages. Several of the Compounders in the portfolio across various sectors had positive returns—which was notable, given that the S&P 500 Index decreased –18.1%.
Over the past 12 months, we moderately reduced capital in our strategy’s consumer discretionary, health care, and industrial holdings as some stocks moved toward their base-case scenarios. Conversely, we added capital to both Compounders and Improvers in communications services, financials, and information technology. The portfolio’s weight in Compounders remained in the middle of the target range of 60% to 80% of our strategy’s capital throughout the year. We believe this remains appropriate in light of the continued economic uncertainty.
Looking forward, we view the macroeconomic outlook as more constructive but not without risk. We believe the key questions for 2023 are:
| • | Will inflation continue to subside from its late-2022 levels? |
| • | When and at what level will the U.S. Federal Reserve pause its rate-hike cycle? |
| • | For how long will the Fed keep rates high? |
| • | If the U.S. economy enters a recession, how deep will that recession be? |
| • | What do the answers to these questions mean to corporate earnings and discount rates on future cash flows? |
As the global economy is adjusting to monetary policy normalization amid an uneven recovery from the pandemic and ongoing geopolitical strife, we expect to
see continued volatility in 2023 as markets weigh these factors. As active stock pickers, we believe there will be opportunities to add capital to high-quality companies whose long-term potential is underappreciated. We continue to focus on company fundamentals and on making sure our strategy invests in companies that are prepared for a range of economic scenarios.
Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers:
George H. Davis, Jr.,
Executive Chairman
Scott McBride, CFA,
Chief Executive Officer
In 2022, the economy and capital markets experienced milestones that had not been observed for quite some time. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined –18.1%. Since the Great Depression, only three years have been worse: 1974 (oil crisis), 2002 (tech bubble burst), and 2008 (financial crisis). Value stocks declined but held up much better than growth stocks. The Russell 1000 Value Index returned –7.5% compared to the Russell 1000 Growth Index’s –29.1%. The difference of more than 21 percentage points represented value’s largest advantage since 2000. Despite the outperformance, the price/earnings gap between growth and value remains almost a full standard deviation wider than average. Considering the still-wide valuation gap and value’s significant outperformance in periods of elevated or rising inflation and interest rates, we are optimistic that value’s outperformance can persist.
Inflation peaked midyear at 9.1%, the highest reading in more than 40 years. To combat rising prices, the Federal Open Market Committee increased the federal funds rate by more than 400 basis points over the course of 2022, from 0.25% to 4.5% (upper bounds). This was the largest rate hike in any calendar year since 1973, and the current 4.5% level is the highest in more than 15 years. Other interest rates followed suit: 10-year Treasury yields
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
The Equity Income Portfolio returned –0.66% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, lagging the –0.32% return of its benchmark, the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index.
The portfolio is managed by two independent advisors, a strategy that enhances diversification by providing exposure to distinct yet complementary investment approaches. It is not uncommon for different advisors to have different views about individual securities or the broader investment environment.
The advisors, the amount and percentage of the portfolio’s assets each manages, and brief descriptions of their investment strategies are presented in the accompanying table. Each advisor has also provided a discussion of the investment environment that existed during the 12 months and its effect on the portfolio’s positioning. These comments were prepared on January 13, 2023.
Wellington Management Company llp
Portfolio Manager:
Matthew C. Hand, CFA,
Senior Managing Director
Investment environment
U.S. equities fell during the 12-month period ended December 31, 2022, amid rampant inflation, surging borrowing costs, uncertainty about corporate earnings, and an increased probability of recession.
Stocks opened the year lower as they registered their first quarterly loss since March 2020. Fears about the economic implications of Russia’s large-scale military attack on Ukraine and the prospect of aggressive monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve drove the S&P 500 Index into correction territory in February. President Joe Biden signed into law a massive $1.5 trillion spending bill, which included substantial increases in domestic and national security programs and $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Equities continued to fall during a volatile second quarter. Growth stocks significantly underperformed their value counterparts as surging Treasury yields and disappointing earnings results from some of the largest technology companies drove the Nasdaq Composite Index to its largest quarterly loss since September 2001. The housing market was pressured by soaring mortgage rates, slowing demand, and elevated home prices.
In the third quarter, stocks continued their slide as risk sentiment deteriorated on fears that aggressive interest rate hikes and tighter financial conditions would constrain economic growth and drive the U.S. to recession.
Equities rallied in the fourth quarter. Greater optimism that the Fed would begin to scale back its aggressive pace of interest rate hikes, along with outsized short covering and hedging, helped to fuel a sharp rebound in October and November. But risk sentiment waned again in December amid recession fears, macroeconomic headwinds, and downside earnings risks. The Fed raised interest rates by 50 basis points (bps), snapping a streak of four consecutive hikes of 75 bps. (A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)
Our successes and shortfalls
Throughout 2022, sector allocation, a result of our bottom-up stock selection process, drove relative performance in our portion of the portfolio. Our underweight positions in consumer discretionary and communication services and an overweight to health care contributed to results. Overweight positions in real estate and an underweight position in energy lagged.
Security selection was strong in financials, utilities, and consumer discretionary, while selection in energy and health care detracted.
Top contributors included U.S.-based exploration and production companies Pioneer Natural Resources and
ConocoPhillips. Not owning benchmark constituent Intel, a U.S.-based semiconductor chip manufacturer, also boosted relative performance.
Top detractors included not owning U.S.-based oil and gas companies ExxonMobil and Chevron, as well as our position in home improvement retailer Lowe’s.
At the end of the period, we were most overweighted in health care, real estate, and information technology and most underweighted in financials, consumer staples, and communication services.
As we enter 2023, we continue to focus on finding high-quality businesses with strong balance sheets and sustainable dividends. We are confident in the sustainability of dividends and long-term value of holdings in the portfolio. As always, we appreciate your continued confidence in our team.
Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group
Portfolio Manager:
Sharon Hill, Ph.D.,
Head of the Alpha Equity Global and Income Investment team
Investment environment
Despite some relief in midsummer and late fall, the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, were a volatile, challenging period for financial markets. Overall, economic conditions deteriorated as inflation soared to multidecade highs, driven by government spending during the pandemic as well as higher energy and food prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That prompted aggressive tightening by many central banks to bring inflation back in check, which increased fears of recession.
For the 12 months ended December 31, U.S. stocks returned –19.21%, as measured by the Russell 3000 Index. Stocks outside the U.S. returned –15.49%, as measured by the FTSE All-World ex US Index.
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
Notes to Financial Statements
The Equity Index Portfolio, a portfolio of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company. The portfolio’s shares are only available for purchase by separate accounts of insurance companies as investments for variable annuity plans, variable life insurance contracts, or other variable benefit insurance contracts.
Significant market disruptions, such as those caused by pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), natural or environmental disasters, war (e.g., Russia's invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, or other events, can adversely affect local and global markets and normal market operations. Any such disruptions could have an adverse impact on the value of the portfolio's investments and portfolio performance.
A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. investment companies. The portfolio consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.
1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring before the portfolio's pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the valuation designee to represent fair value and subject to oversight by the board of trustees. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund's net asset value.
2. Futures Contracts: The portfolio uses index futures contracts to a limited extent, with the objectives of maintaining full exposure to the stock market, maintaining liquidity, and minimizing transaction costs. The portfolio may purchase futures contracts to immediately invest incoming cash in the market, or sell futures in response to cash outflows, thereby simulating a fully invested position in the underlying index while maintaining a cash balance for liquidity. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between changes in market values of stocks held by the portfolio and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Counterparty risk involving futures is mitigated because a regulated clearinghouse is the counterparty instead of the clearing broker. To further mitigate counterparty risk, the portfolio trades futures contracts on an exchange, monitors the financial strength of its clearing brokers and clearinghouse, and has entered into clearing agreements with its clearing brokers. The clearinghouse imposes initial margin requirements to secure the portfolio’s performance and requires daily settlement of variation margin representing changes in the market value of each contract. Any securities pledged as initial margin for open contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments.
Futures contracts are valued at their quoted daily settlement prices. The notional amounts of the contracts are not recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset (liability) and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) until the contracts are closed, when they are recorded as realized gains (losses) on futures contracts.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio’s average investments in long and short futures contracts represented 1% and 0% of net assets, respectively, based on the average of the notional amounts at each quarter-end during the period.
3. Federal Income Taxes: The portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute virtually all of its taxable income. The portfolio’s tax returns are open to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return. Management has analyzed the portfolio’s tax positions taken for all open federal and state income tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the portfolio’s financial statements.
4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined on a tax basis at the fiscal year-end and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes.
5. Securities Lending: To earn additional income, the portfolio lends its securities to qualified institutional borrowers. Security loans are subject to termination by the portfolio at any time, and are required to be secured at all times by collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. Daily market fluctuations could cause the value of loaned securities to be more or less than the value of the collateral received. When this occurs, the collateral is adjusted and settled before the opening of the market on the next business day. The portfolio further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into securities lending transactions only with a diverse group of
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
Notes to Financial Statements
The Growth Portfolio, a portfolio of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company. The portfolio's shares are only available for purchase by separate accounts of insurance companies as investments for variable annuity plans, variable life insurance contracts, or other variable benefit insurance contracts.
Significant market disruptions, such as those caused by pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), natural or environmental disasters, war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, or other events, can adversely affect local and global markets and normal market operations. Any such disruptions could have an adverse impact on the value of the portfolio’s investments and portfolio performance.
| A. | The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. investment companies. The portfolio consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements. |
1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring before the portfolio’s pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the valuation designee to represent fair value and subject to oversight by the board of trustees. These procedures include obtaining quotations from an independent pricing service, monitoring news to identify significant market- or security-specific events, and evaluating changes in the values of foreign market proxies (for example, ADRs, futures contracts, or exchange-traded funds), between the time the foreign markets close and the portfolio’s pricing time. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a portfolio to calculate its net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund's net asset value. Temporary cash investments are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services.
2. Repurchase Agreements: The portfolio enters into repurchase agreements with institutional counterparties. Securities pledged as collateral to the portfolio under repurchase agreements are held by a custodian bank until the agreements mature, and in the absence of a default, such collateral cannot be repledged, resold, or rehypothecated. Each agreement requires that the market value of the collateral be sufficient to cover payments of interest and principal. The portfolio further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into repurchase agreements only with a diverse group of prequalified counterparties, monitoring their financial strength, and entering into master repurchase agreements with its counterparties. The master repurchase agreements provide that, in the event of a counterparty's default (including bankruptcy), the portfolio may terminate any repurchase agreements with that counterparty, determine the net amount owed, and sell or retain the collateral up to the net amount owed to the portfolio. Such action may be subject to legal proceedings, which may delay or limit the disposition of collateral.
3. Federal Income Taxes: The portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute virtually all of its taxable income. The portfolio’s tax returns are open to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return. Management has analyzed the portfolio’s tax positions taken for all open federal and state income tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the portfolio’s financial statements.
4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined on a tax basis at the fiscal year-end and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes.
5. Securities Lending: To earn additional income, the portfolio lends its securities to qualified institutional borrowers. Security loans are subject to termination by the portfolio at any time, and are required to be secured at all times by collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. Daily market fluctuations could cause the value of loaned securities to be more or less than the value of the collateral received. When this occurs, the collateral is adjusted and settled before the opening of the market on the next business day. The portfolio further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into securities lending transactions only with a diverse group of prequalified counterparties, monitoring their financial strength, and entering into master securities lending agreements with its counterparties. The master securities lending agreements provide that, in the event of a counterparty’s default (including bankruptcy), the portfolio may terminate any loans with that borrower, determine the net amount owed, and sell or retain the collateral up to the net
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio returned –9.23%, net of fees and expenses, compared with the benchmark return of –10.32%. Please note that Vanguard Fixed Income Group was added in August as an investment advisor to the portfolio, with Michael Chang as the manager for that portion of the portfolio. He will provide an advisor’s report for Vanguard’s part of the portfolio starting with next year’s annual report.
The investment environment
Fixed income markets experienced steep negative total returns during the year as government bond yields moved sharply higher in response to tightening global monetary policies to combat persistent inflation. High-yield spreads widened amid increasing concerns that tighter financial conditions could tip the global economy into recession.
During the course of the year, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased from 1.51% to 3.87%. This led to lower bond prices (bond yields and prices generally move in opposite directions). The average dollar price of the high-yield market decreased to $86 from $104 during the period. The spread of the high-yield market widened to 469 basis points over Treasuries as of December 31, 2022, compared with 283 basis points at the end of 2021. (A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)
There was some dispersion in performance by credit quality over the year as the high-yield market generally punished lower-quality credits. The lowest-rated CCC bonds trailed, returning –16.29%, according to Bloomberg High Yield Index data, whereas B-rated bonds led with a –10.26% return. BB-rated bonds returned –10.80%.
Although we predict continued macroeconomic headwinds in 2023 and expect defaults to migrate toward long-term averages, we think a repeat of 2022’s negative-total-return year is unlikely given the valuation starting point. Further, with high-yield credit spreads and “all-in”
yields north of 4% and 8%, respectively, we believe market technicals could turn positive as investors seek to capture spreads and yields that are significantly higher than a year ago.
We are closely watching inflation and labor market data points as drivers of Federal Reserve policy as well as key factors in the depth and timing of a potential recession. Security selection should take on increased importance in 2023 because we anticipate greater dispersion across high-yield issuers, sectors, and credit qualities. We continue to prefer companies that can maintain their cash flows in a more challenging market and economic environment through strong competitive positioning, less-cyclical end-market exposures, and a focus on balance sheet improvement.
The Fed’s contractionary monetary policy over the past 12 months, designed to curb persistent inflation, has brought the U.S. yield curve to its flattest since the 1980s—historically, a reliable indicator of an approaching recession. While the pace of inflation has decelerated recently, it is still unclear where inflation will settle and whether the Fed will feel compelled to keep raising interest rates. On the plus side, credit growth, excess savings, labor gains, and housing wealth all boosted consumers’ health in 2022. Nevertheless, we do not believe the true cumulative effects of tighter policy on consumers will take hold until mid-2023.
Despite rising input costs, high-yield issuers’ fundamentals held up relatively well in 2022. Many issuers have bolstered their balance sheets since the onset of COVID-19, providing some insulation from rising costs. However, we anticipate continued pressure on many issuers’ profit margins, as higher costs might not be passed on so easily to a flagging consumer sector in 2023. All-in borrowing costs are significantly above where they were a year ago, further cutting into corporate free-cash-flow generation. Overall, we expect high-yield corporate fundamentals to weaken over the next six to 12 months, as the effects of tighter
monetary policy work their way through the economy.
While the market may be prone to volatility over the course of 2023, we believe high-yield spreads could tighten in the absence of negative news, especially given the lack of new high-yield supply and a potential pause in hawkish Fed actions in the first half of 2023. However, we believe spreads may widen in the second half of 2023 as corporate fundamentals continue to weaken amid the slowing macroeconomic environment. If this were to occur, we believe it may present attractive buying opportunities for high-yield investors.
As we enter 2023, we believe a modestly defensive risk posture, with a strong emphasis on security selection, is appropriate. Given the macroeconomic headwinds, weakening high-yield issuer fundamentals, and median-level valuations in the sector, we do not believe investors are likely to be adequately compensated for taking on excess credit risk. However, in the event of further market volatility, we are maintaining the flexibility to pivot and tactically increase risk at potentially more attractive valuations as the year progresses.
The portfolio’s shortfalls
Positioning in the government-related and energy sectors detracted from relative returns. Credit selection in the energy and consumer cyclical services sectors also hurt relative results.
The portfolio’s successes
Positioning in the packaging and construction machinery sectors benefited relative performance. Credit selection in the wireless and pharmaceuticals sectors also contributed favorably to relative returns.
The portfolio’s positioning
The portfolio remains consistent in its investment objective and strategy and maintains meaningful exposure to relatively higher-quality names in the high-yield market. We believe these
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
The International Portfolio returned –30.12% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2022. That was lower than the –16.00% return of its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA.
The portfolio is overseen by two independent advisors, a strategy that enhances its diversification by providing exposure to distinct yet complementary investment approaches. It is not uncommon for different advisors to have different views about individual securities or the broader investment environment.
The advisors, the amount and percentage of the portfolio’s assets each manages, and brief descriptions of their investment strategies are presented in the accompanying table. Each advisor has also prepared a discussion of the investment environment that existed during the period and of the effect it had on the portfolio’s positioning. These reports were prepared on January 6, 2023.
Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd.
Portfolio Managers:
Thomas Coutts, Partner
Lawrence Burns, Partner
The year 2022 proved to be an exceptionally difficult period for investors in growth equities. Society’s return toward normality after an unprecedented shutdown revealed supply chain disruptions that were more widespread and longer-lasting than expected. Russia’s shocking invasion of Ukraine seriously exacerbated inflation through its impact on the energy sector. It also raised fears about geopolitical instability across the Taiwan Strait.
Concerns about geopolitical risk combined with the rise in interest rates reduced the valuations that investors were willing to pay for profits expected to be made years in the future. Many companies that had performed strongly during the pandemic returned to their share-price levels of several years ago, despite making considerable progress in the interim.
Our investment approach remains unchanged—to identify a small number of exceptional growth companies that can take advantage of long-lasting trends, often powered by technological advances. We back entrepreneurial companies that disrupt large target markets. We focus on their prospects over the next five to 10 years, with a particular emphasis on the financial return should the investment case reach its full potential. Many of our holdings that fit this description fared poorly in share-price terms in 2022. Businesses such as music-streaming leader Spotify, Latin American e-commerce leader MercadoLibre, and Dutch payment technology company Adyen fell sharply despite little deterioration in their long-term prospects.
Beneficiaries of the pandemic such as clothing e-commerce specialist Zalando, meal-kit company HelloFresh, and takeout delivery business Delivery Hero also sold off heavily as concerns increased about consumer spending and the changing balance between online and in-person activity. Our holding in Tesla also declined sharply because of concerns about future demand and the distraction of CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in Twitter.
An extensive period of company meetings and analysis has reinforced our confidence in the position of the portfolio. The management teams of our holdings report that the growth drivers propelling their businesses remain generally intact. We are encouraging them to continue investing for the long term, while being mindful of the difficult economic conditions many are likely to face in the near future. We are also encouraged by our analysis of the financial resilience of our holdings. They have the profitability, cash flow, and balance sheet strength to navigate a cyclical downturn. Indeed, this should be a good period for our well-financed, long-term-oriented companies to strengthen their market positions.
We have initiated or increased our positions in attractive growth stocks that
have been particularly weak. We added South Korean e-commerce leader Coupang, Southeast Asian gaming and e-commerce company Sea, and money-transfer business Wise. In software, we invested in logistics specialist WiseTech and enterprise search provider Elastic. We are excited about the opportunities created by the energy transition and took new positions in cable manufacturer Prysmian and battery maker Ganfeng Lithium. We also added warehouse automation company AutoStore, semiconductor designer NVIDIA, and self-driving technology company Mobileye to the portfolio.
We funded these new holdings with reductions of slower-growth companies that have held up better, including Kering, Ping An, and L’Oreal. We reduced holdings of two large Chinese internet companies, Alibaba and Tencent. We sold out of the auto manufacturer Stellantis. We exited our position in Afterpay following its takeover by Block. We also sold TAL Education, MorphoSys, SoftBank, and CureVac after their investment cases deteriorated significantly.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.
Portfolio Managers:
Simon Webber, CFA
James R. Gautrey, CFA
International equities ended 2022 sharply lower, as the market contended with slowing economic growth, inflationary pressures, and tightening monetary policy. This was made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which exerted significant pressure on energy prices and supply, particularly in Europe. Geopolitical tensions between China and the West also remained high as Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power raised concerns about increased government interference in the private sector and China’s ambitions toward “reunification” with Taiwan. The euro, yen, and sterling pound fell to near multidecade lows against the U.S. dollar.
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
Notes to Financial Statements
The Mid-Cap Index Portfolio, a portfolio of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company. The portfolio’s shares are only available for purchase by separate accounts of insurance companies as investments for variable annuity plans, variable life insurance contracts, or other variable benefit insurance contracts.
Significant market disruptions, such as those caused by pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), natural or environmental disasters, war (e.g., Russia's invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, or other events, can adversely affect local and global markets and normal market operations. Any such disruptions could have an adverse impact on the value of the portfolio's investments and portfolio performance.
A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. investment companies. The portfolio consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.
1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring before the portfolio's pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the valuation designee to represent fair value and subject to oversight by the board of trustees. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund's net asset value.
2.��Futures Contracts: The portfolio uses index futures contracts to a limited extent, with the objectives of maintaining full exposure to the stock market, maintaining liquidity, and minimizing transaction costs. The portfolio may purchase futures contracts to immediately invest incoming cash in the market, or sell futures in response to cash outflows, thereby simulating a fully invested position in the underlying index while maintaining a cash balance for liquidity. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between changes in market values of stocks held by the portfolio and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Counterparty risk involving futures is mitigated because a regulated clearinghouse is the counterparty instead of the clearing broker. To further mitigate counterparty risk, the portfolio trades futures contracts on an exchange, monitors the financial strength of its clearing brokers and clearinghouse, and has entered into clearing agreements with its clearing brokers. The clearinghouse imposes initial margin requirements to secure the portfolio’s performance and requires daily settlement of variation margin representing changes in the market value of each contract. Any securities pledged as initial margin for open contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments.
Futures contracts are valued at their quoted daily settlement prices. The notional amounts of the contracts are not recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset (liability) and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) until the contracts are closed, when they are recorded as realized gains (losses) on futures contracts.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio’s average investments in long and short futures contracts represented less than 1% and 0% of net assets, respectively, based on the average of the notional amounts at each quarter-end during the period.
3. Federal Income Taxes: The portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute virtually all of its taxable income. The portfolio’s tax returns are open to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return. Management has analyzed the portfolio’s tax positions taken for all open federal and state income tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the portfolio’s financial statements.
4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined on a tax basis at the fiscal year-end and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes.
5. Securities Lending: To earn additional income, the portfolio lends its securities to qualified institutional borrowers. Security loans are subject to termination by the portfolio at any time, and are required to be secured at all times by collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. Daily market fluctuations could cause the value of loaned securities to be more or less than the value of the collateral received. When this occurs, the collateral is adjusted and settled before the opening of the market on the next business day. The portfolio further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into securities lending transactions only with a diverse group of
Moderate Allocation Portfolio
agreed-upon spread plus the higher of the federal funds effective rate, the overnight bank funding rate, or the Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate inclusive of an additional agreed-upon spread. However, borrowings under the uncommitted credit facility may bear interest based upon an alternate rate agreed to by the portfolio and Vanguard.
In accordance with an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the SEC, the portfolio may participate in a joint lending and borrowing program that allows registered open-end Vanguard funds to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes (the “Interfund Lending Program”), subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Order, and to the extent permitted by the portfolio’s investment objective and investment policies. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend overnight but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one business day’s notice. The interest rate to be charged is governed by the conditions of the Order and internal procedures adopted by the board of trustees. The board of trustees is responsible for overseeing the Interfund Lending Program.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio did not utilize the credit facilities or the Interfund Lending Program.
6. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.
B. In accordance with the terms of a Funds’ Service Agreement (the “FSA”) between Vanguard and the portfolio, Vanguard furnishes to the portfolio investment advisory, corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services at Vanguard’s cost of operations (as defined by the FSA). These costs of operations are allocated to the portfolio based on methods and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. The FSA provides that expenses otherwise allocable to Vanguard funds-of-funds may be reduced or eliminated to the extent of savings realized by the underlying Vanguard funds by virtue of being part of a fund-of-funds. Accordingly, all expenses for services provided by Vanguard to the portfolio and all other expenses incurred by the portfolio during the period ended December 31, 2022, were borne by the underlying Vanguard funds in which the portfolio invests. The portfolio’s trustees and officers are also trustees and officers, respectively, of the underlying Vanguard funds, as well as directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.
C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the portfolio’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels for financial statement purposes. The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3—Significant unobservable inputs (including the portfolio’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments). Any investments valued with significant unobservable inputs are noted on the Schedule of Investments.
At December 31, 2022, 100% of the market value of the portfolio's investments was determined based on Level 1 inputs.
D. Permanent differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of net assets, if any, are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
Temporary differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of total distributable earnings (loss) arise when certain items of income, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. The differences are primarily related to the deferral of losses from wash sales. As of period end, the tax-basis components of total distributable earnings (loss) are detailed in the table as follows:
| | Amount
($000) |
| Undistributed Ordinary Income | 11,505 |
| Undistributed Long-Term Gains | 18,736 |
| Capital Loss Carryforwards | — |
| Qualified Late-Year Losses | — |
| Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | (26,818) |
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
Real Estate Index Portfolio
Notes to Financial Statements
The Real Estate Index Portfolio, a portfolio of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company. The portfolio’s shares are only available for purchase by separate accounts of insurance companies as investments for variable annuity plans, variable life insurance contracts, or other variable benefit insurance contracts.
Significant market disruptions, such as those caused by pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), natural or environmental disasters, war (e.g., Russia's invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, or other events, can adversely affect local and global markets and normal market operations. Any such disruptions could have an adverse impact on the value of the portfolio's investments and portfolio performance.
A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. investment companies. The portfolio consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.
1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring before the portfolio's pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the valuation designee to represent fair value and subject to oversight by the board of trustees. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund's net asset value.
2. Futures Contracts: The portfolio uses index futures contracts to a limited extent, with the objectives of maintaining full exposure to the stock market, maintaining liquidity, and minimizing transaction costs. The portfolio may purchase futures contracts to immediately invest incoming cash in the market, or sell futures in response to cash outflows, thereby simulating a fully invested position in the underlying index while maintaining a cash balance for liquidity. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between changes in market values of stocks held by the portfolio and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Counterparty risk involving futures is mitigated because a regulated clearinghouse is the counterparty instead of the clearing broker. To further mitigate counterparty risk, the portfolio trades futures contracts on an exchange, monitors the financial strength of its clearing brokers and clearinghouse, and has entered into clearing agreements with its clearing brokers. The clearinghouse imposes initial margin requirements to secure the portfolio’s performance and requires daily settlement of variation margin representing changes in the market value of each contract. Any securities pledged as initial margin for open contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments.
Futures contracts are valued at their quoted daily settlement prices. The notional amounts of the contracts are not recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset (liability) and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) until the contracts are closed, when they are recorded as realized gains (losses) on futures contracts.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio’s average investments in long and short futures contracts represented less than 1% and 0% of net assets, respectively, based on the average of the notional amounts at each quarter-end during the period.
3. Federal Income Taxes: The portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute virtually all of its taxable income. The portfolio’s tax returns are open to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return. Management has analyzed the portfolio’s tax positions taken for all open federal and state income tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the portfolio’s financial statements.
4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined on a tax basis at the fiscal year-end and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes.
5. Securities Lending: To earn additional income, the portfolio lends its securities to qualified institutional borrowers. Security loans are subject to termination by the portfolio at any time, and are required to be secured at all times by collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. Daily market fluctuations could cause the value of loaned securities to be more or less than the value of the collateral received. When this occurs, the collateral is adjusted and settled before the opening of the market on the next business day. The portfolio further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into securities lending transactions only with a diverse group of
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, the Short-Term Investment-Grade Portfolio returned –5.72%. The portfolio lagged its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Credit Bond Index, which returned –5.56%.
With interest rates rising sharply, the portfolio’s 30-day SEC yield stood at 4.78% as of December 31, up from 1.33% a year earlier. The 30-day SEC yield is a proxy for a portfolio’s potential annualized rate of income.
Inflation and interest rates take center stage
The period was defined by a historic rise in interest rates, which caused ripple effects across every sector of the financial markets and brought with it renewed volatility.
Concerns that had been weighing on market sentiment in late 2021 carried into 2022. Supply-chain bottlenecks persisted, labor remained in short supply in some sectors of the economy as unemployment rates continued to fall, and year-on-year inflation readings—which had been accelerating—climbed to multidecade highs across much of the world.
In late February, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine injected more uncertainty into the markets. Oil headed north of $100 per barrel and staple food prices soared. While energy prices eventually began to cool amid slowing economic growth and the U.S. government’s release of some of its strategic oil reserves to boost supply, price increases broadened to other categories of goods and services, heightening concerns that inflation might remain stubbornly high.
Central banks showed resolve in tackling rising prices
Major central banks reacted by winding down their bond-purchasing programs and beginning to raise short-term interest rates. The Federal Reserve was especially aggressive, raising the federal funds rate target from near zero in March to a range of 4.25%–4.50% by the end of 2022.
Late in the year, inflation readings did show signs of easing, and in response, the Fed began slowing the pace of its rate hikes.
Yields of U.S. Treasuries rose and corporate spreads widened
Monetary policy tightening contributed to a steep rise in Treasury yields across the maturity spectrum, especially at the front end of the curve, and a sharp drop in prices. The 2-year U.S. Treasury yield jumped 3.69 percentage points to end the period at 4.43%, while the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed 2.36 percentage points to 3.87%.
With the chances of a recession in 2023 rising, the average spread in yields between investment-grade corporate bonds and Treasuries widened, from 92 basis points at the beginning of 2022 to 130 basis points at the end, according to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index.
The portfolio finished a step behind its benchmark index
Because pf our expectation that monetary policy tightening by the Fed would lead to an economic slowdown and wider credit spreads, we reduced credit risk in the portfolio over the course of the year. That included lightening our allocation to corporate securities rated BBB, the lowest rung on the investment-grade credit quality ladder, and trimming our holdings in high-yield and emerging-market debt. We also increased our allocation to U.S. Treasuries and very high-quality consumer asset-backed securities.
The portfolio nevertheless carried more credit risk than its benchmark, which was the primary driver of its relative underperformance as spreads widened. On the other hand, security selection within U.S. investment-grade corporates and emerging markets, as well as a small out-of-benchmark allocation to high-yield corporates, were positives for performance.
Better prospects for bonds in 2023
The recent significant negative annual returns have understandably been distressing for bond investors.
With the repricing that has occurred, however, the outlook is substantially better than it was a year ago. That is likely to attract flows back into this asset class, especially as fundamentals are very strong from a credit standpoint.
Although the bond market may continue to see volatility as the Fed likely makes more rate hikes, today’s higher yields mean bonds can offer more of a cushion against further price declines.
Energy supply-and-demand concerns, diminishing capital flows, declining trade volumes, and falling output per person will likely lead to a global recession in the coming year. While we had upgraded the portfolio’s credit quality based on that outlook, we are open to opportunistically increasing our credit exposure given the widening in spreads that has taken place. At the same time, we also favor some sectors that tend to be more defensive in downturns.
Whatever the markets may bring, our experienced team of portfolio managers, traders, and credit analysts will continue to seek attractive investment opportunities that will add to the portfolio’s performance.
Portfolio Managers:
Daniel Shaykevich, Principal
Arvind Narayanan, CFA, Principal
Samuel C. Martinez, CFA
Vanguard Fixed Income Group
January 17, 2023
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
The Small Company Growth Portfolio returned –25.35% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2022. It held up better than the –26.21% return of its benchmark, the Russell 2500 Growth Index.
The portfolio is managed by two independent advisors, a strategy that enhances diversification by providing exposure to distinct yet complementary investment approaches. It is not uncommon for different advisors to have different views about individual securities or the broader investment environment.
The advisors, the amount and percentage of the portfolio’s assets each manages, and brief descriptions of their investment strategies are presented in the accompanying table. Each advisor has also prepared a discussion of the investment environment that existed during the 12 months and its effect on the portfolio’s positioning. These comments were prepared on January 13, 2023.
Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group
Portfolio Manager:
Cesar Orosco, CFA,
Head of Alpha Equity Investments
The investment environment
Despite some relief in midsummer and late fall, the 12 months ended December 31, 2022, were a volatile, challenging period for financial markets. Overall, the economic backdrop deteriorated as inflation soared to multidecade highs, driven by government spending during the pandemic as well as higher energy and food prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That prompted aggressive tightening by many central banks to bring inflation back in check, which increased fears of recession.
For the 12 months ended December 31, U.S. stocks returned –19.21%, as measured by the Russell 3000 Index. Stocks outside the U.S. returned –15.49%, as measured by the FTSE All-World ex US Index.
The broad U.S. bond market returned –13.07% for the 12-month period, as measured by the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Non-U.S. bonds, as measured by the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index (USD Hedged), fell –12.72% for the year.
Investment objective and strategy
Although our portion of the portfolio’s overall performance was affected by the macroeconomic factors we’ve described, our approach to investing focuses on specific stock fundamentals that we believe are more likely to produce outperformance over the long run. These include high quality, management decisions, consistent earnings growth, strong market sentiment, and reasonable valuation. We also evaluate companies based on a defensive signal that assesses heavily shorted stocks, as this can signal concerns over future company prospects.
Using these six themes, we generate an expected return, seeking to capitalize on investor biases. We then monitor our portfolio based on those rankings and adjust when appropriate to maximize expected return while minimizing exposure to risks that our research indicates do not improve returns (such as industry selection and other risks relative to our benchmark).
Our successes and shortfalls
Over the 12 months, outperformance was driven by our defensive, value, management decisions, and quality models, with the growth model being the sole detractor. Returns outpaced the benchmark in eight of 11 industry sectors, with information technology (IT), consumer discretionary, and industrials producing the strongest results. Consumer staples, utilities, and energy were the only sectors that detracted from relative performance. Among subsectors, software in IT, auto components and specialty retail in consumer discretionary, and machinery in industrials produced some of the strongest results.
At the individual stock level, overweights to Steel Dynamics in materials, Ovintiv in energy, and Fair Issac in IT as well as underweights to Trex in industrials and AppLovin in IT produced the best results. Overweights to IT companies Atlassian, Domo, and 8x8 as well as underweights to Booz Allen Hamilton in industrials and LPL Financial Holdings in financials detracted the most.
We continue to believe that a portfolio focused on fundamentals will benefit investors over the long term, although we recognize that the market can reward or punish us in the near term. We believe our portfolio offers a strong mix of stocks with attractive valuations and value characteristics.
ArrowMark Partners
Portfolio Managers:
Chad Meade, Partner
Brian Schaub, CFA, Partner
Investment environment
Investor sentiment soured considerably during the 12-month period ended December 31, 2022, amid sustained generational highs in inflation and a boldly hawkish turn by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Ongoing supply chain challenges, rising interest rates, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and solid wage growth all propelled prices higher, which sparked recession concerns. Many stocks absorbed significant double-digit losses as interest rates jumped and the U.S. Treasury yield curve flattened. By the end of the year, small- and mid-cap growth indexes had suffered their worst year of performance since 2008.
During the period, the Fed fully transformed its strategy from the accommodative approach implemented in response to COVID-19 to an aggressive tightening campaign focused on taming
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
The People Who Govern Your Fund
The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them.
A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals. The independent board members have distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service. Each of the trustees and executive officers oversees 206 Vanguard funds.
Information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund appears below. That information, as well as the Vanguard fund count, is as of the date on the cover of this fund report. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482. More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained, without charge, by contacting Vanguard at 800-662-7447, or online at vanguard.com.
Interested Trustee1
Mortimer J. Buckley
Born in 1969. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard; president and director (2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief investment officer (2013–2017), managing director (2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of Vanguard. Member of the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute and the board of governors of FINRA. Trustee and vice chair of The Shipley School.
Independent Trustees
Tara Bunch
Born in 1962. Trustee since November 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: head of global operations at Airbnb (2020–present). Vice president of AppleCare (2012–2020). Member of the board of directors of Out & Equal (2002–2006), the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering (2020–present), and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business (2018–present).
Emerson U. Fullwood
Born in 1948. Trustee since January 2008. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: executive chief staff and marketing officer for North America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation (document management products and services). Former president of the Worldwide Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Member of the board of directors of the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Monroe Community College Foundation, the United Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Trustee of the University of Rochester.
F. Joseph Loughrey
Born in 1949. Trustee since October 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services). Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Chairman of the board of Saint Anselm College.
Mark Loughridge
Born in 1953. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM’s Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.
Scott C. Malpass
Born in 1962. Trustee since March 2012. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: adjunct professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame (2020–present). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor (retired June 2020) of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors), the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, and the board of directors of Paxos Trust Company (finance).
Deanna Mulligan
Born in 1963. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer of Purposeful (advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives; 2021–present). Board chair (2020), chief executive officer (2011–2020), and president (2010–2019) of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Chief operating officer (2010–2011) and executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life and Disability of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Member of the board of the Economic Club of New York. Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business leadership), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
André F. Perold
Born in 1952. Trustee since December 2004. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired 2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board (2018–present) of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm). Member of the investment committee of Partners Health Care System.
Sarah Bloom Raskin
Born in 1961. Trustee since January 2018. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland. Colin W. Brown Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law (2021–present), professor (2020–present), Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center (2020–present), and Rubenstein Fellow (2017–2020) at Duke University. Trustee (2017–present) of Amherst College and member of Amherst College Investment Committee (2019–present). Member of the Regenerative Crisis Response Committee (2020–present).
David A. Thomas
Born in 1956. Trustee since July 2021. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president of Morehouse College (2018–present). Professor of business administration, emeritus at Harvard University (2017–2018). Dean (2011–2016) and professor of management (2016–2017) at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Director of DTE Energy Company (2013–present). Trustee of Common Fund (2019–present).
Peter F. Volanakis
Born in 1955. Trustee since July 2009. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: president and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of Corning Incorporated (communications equipment) and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Member of the BMW Group Mobility Council.
1 Mr. Buckley is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the Vanguard funds.
Total International Stock Market Index Portfolio
6. Credit Facilities and Interfund Lending Program: The portfolio and certain other funds managed by The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard") participate in a $4.4 billion committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement and an uncommitted credit facility provided by Vanguard. Both facilities may be renewed annually. Each fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facilities. Borrowings may be utilized for temporary or emergency purposes and are subject to the portfolio’s regulatory and contractual borrowing restrictions. With respect to the committed credit facility, the participating funds are charged administrative fees and an annual commitment fee of 0.10% of the undrawn committed amount of the facility, which are allocated to the funds based on a method approved by the portfolio’s board of trustees and borne by the funds in which the portfolio invests (see Note B). Any borrowings under either facility bear interest at an agreed-upon spread plus the higher of the federal funds effective rate, the overnight bank funding rate, or the Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate inclusive of an additional agreed-upon spread. However, borrowings under the uncommitted credit facility may bear interest based upon an alternate rate agreed to by the portfolio and Vanguard.
In accordance with an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the SEC, the portfolio may participate in a joint lending and borrowing program that allows registered open-end Vanguard funds to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes (the “Interfund Lending Program”), subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Order, and to the extent permitted by the portfolio’s investment objective and investment policies. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend overnight but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one business day’s notice. The interest rate to be charged is governed by the conditions of the Order and internal procedures adopted by the board of trustees. The board of trustees is responsible for overseeing the Interfund Lending Program.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio did not utilize the credit facilities or the Interfund Lending Program.
7. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.
Interest income includes income distributions received from Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and is accrued daily.
B. In accordance with the terms of a Funds’ Service Agreement (the “FSA”) between Vanguard and the portfolio, Vanguard furnishes to the portfolio investment advisory, corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services at Vanguard’s cost of operations (as defined by the FSA). These costs of operations are allocated to the portfolio based on methods and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. The FSA provides that expenses otherwise allocable to Vanguard funds-of-funds may be reduced or eliminated to the extent of savings realized by the underlying Vanguard funds by virtue of being part of a fund-of-funds. Accordingly, all expenses for services provided by Vanguard to the portfolio and all other expenses incurred by the portfolio during the period ended December 31, 2022, were borne by the underlying Vanguard funds in which the portfolio invests. The portfolio’s trustees and officers are also trustees and officers, respectively, of the underlying Vanguard funds, as well as directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.
C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the portfolio’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels for financial statement purposes. The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3—Significant unobservable inputs (including the portfolio’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments). Any investments valued with significant unobservable inputs are noted on the Schedule of Investments.
At December 31, 2022, 100% of the market value of the portfolio's investments was determined based on Level 1 inputs.
D. Permanent differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of net assets are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. As of period end, permanent differences primarily attributable to the accounting for applicable foreign currency transactions were reclassified between the individual components of total distributable earnings (loss).
Total Stock Market Index Portfolio
which the portfolio invests (see Note B). Any borrowings under either facility bear interest at an agreed-upon spread plus the higher of the federal funds effective rate, the overnight bank funding rate, or the Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate inclusive of an additional agreed-upon spread. However, borrowings under the uncommitted credit facility may bear interest based upon an alternate rate agreed to by the portfolio and Vanguard.
In accordance with an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the SEC, the portfolio may participate in a joint lending and borrowing program that allows registered open-end Vanguard funds to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes (the “Interfund Lending Program”), subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Order, and to the extent permitted by the portfolio’s investment objective and investment policies. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend overnight but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one business day’s notice. The interest rate to be charged is governed by the conditions of the Order and internal procedures adopted by the board of trustees. The board of trustees is responsible for overseeing the Interfund Lending Program.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio did not utilize the credit facilities or the Interfund Lending Program.
6. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.
B. In accordance with the terms of a Funds’ Service Agreement (the “FSA”) between Vanguard and the portfolio, Vanguard furnishes to the portfolio investment advisory, corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services at Vanguard’s cost of operations (as defined by the FSA). These costs of operations are allocated to the portfolio based on methods and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. The FSA provides that expenses otherwise allocable to Vanguard funds-of-funds may be reduced or eliminated to the extent of savings realized by the underlying Vanguard funds by virtue of being part of a fund-of-funds. Accordingly, all expenses for services provided by Vanguard to the portfolio and all other expenses incurred by the portfolio during the period ended December 31, 2022, were borne by the underlying Vanguard funds in which the portfolio invests. The portfolio’s trustees and officers are also trustees and officers, respectively, of the underlying Vanguard funds, as well as directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.
C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the portfolio’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels for financial statement purposes. The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3—Significant unobservable inputs (including the portfolio’s own assumptions used to determine the fair value of investments). Any investments valued with significant unobservable inputs are noted on the Schedule of Investments.
At December 31, 2022, 100% of the market value of the portfolio's investments was determined based on Level 1 inputs.
D. Permanent differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of net assets, if any, are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
Temporary differences between book-basis and tax-basis components of total distributable earnings (loss) arise when certain items of income, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. The
Notes to Financial Statements
The Equity Index Portfolio, a portfolio of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company. The portfolio’s shares are only available for purchase by separate accounts of insurance companies as investments for variable annuity plans, variable life insurance contracts, or other variable benefit insurance contracts.
Significant market disruptions, such as those caused by pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), natural or environmental disasters, war (e.g., Russia's invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, or other events, can adversely affect local and global markets and normal market operations. Any such disruptions could have an adverse impact on the value of the portfolio's investments and portfolio performance.
A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. investment companies. The portfolio consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.
1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring before the portfolio's pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the valuation designee to represent fair value and subject to oversight by the board of trustees. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund's net asset value.
2. Futures Contracts: The portfolio uses index futures contracts to a limited extent, with the objectives of maintaining full exposure to the stock market, maintaining liquidity, and minimizing transaction costs. The portfolio may purchase futures contracts to immediately invest incoming cash in the market, or sell futures in response to cash outflows, thereby simulating a fully invested position in the underlying index while maintaining a cash balance for liquidity. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between changes in market values of stocks held by the portfolio and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Counterparty risk involving futures is mitigated because a regulated clearinghouse is the counterparty instead of the clearing broker. To further mitigate counterparty risk, the portfolio trades futures contracts on an exchange, monitors the financial strength of its clearing brokers and clearinghouse, and has entered into clearing agreements with its clearing brokers. The clearinghouse imposes initial margin requirements to secure the portfolio’s performance and requires daily settlement of variation margin representing changes in the market value of each contract. Any securities pledged as initial margin for open contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments.
Futures contracts are valued at their quoted daily settlement prices. The notional amounts of the contracts are not recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset (liability) and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) until the contracts are closed, when they are recorded as realized gains (losses) on futures contracts.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the portfolio’s average investments in long and short futures contracts represented 1% and 0% of net assets, respectively, based on the average of the notional amounts at each quarter-end during the period.
3. Federal Income Taxes: The portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute virtually all of its taxable income. The portfolio’s tax returns are open to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return. Management has analyzed the portfolio’s tax positions taken for all open federal and state income tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the portfolio’s financial statements.
4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions are determined on a tax basis at the fiscal year-end and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes.
5. Securities Lending: To earn additional income, the portfolio lends its securities to qualified institutional borrowers. Security loans are subject to termination by the portfolio at any time, and are required to be secured at all times by collateral in an amount at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. Daily market fluctuations could cause the value of loaned securities to be more or less than the value of the collateral received. When this occurs, the collateral is adjusted and settled before the opening of the market on the next business day. The portfolio further mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into securities lending transactions only with a diverse group of
Item 2: Code of Ethics.
The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics was amended during the reporting period covered by this report to make certain technical, non-material changes.
Item 3: Audit Committee Financial Expert.
All members of the Audit Committee have been determined by the Registrant’s Board of Trustees to be Audit Committee Financial Experts and to be independent: F. Joseph Loughrey, Mark Loughridge, Sarah Bloom Raskin, and Peter F. Volanakis.
Item 4: Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) Audit Fees.
Audit Fees of the Registrant.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $514,000
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021: $507,000
Aggregate Audit Fees of Registered Investment Companies in the Vanguard Group.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $10,494,508
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021: $11,244,694
Includes fees billed in connection with audits of the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Vanguard Marketing Corporation.
(b) Audit-Related Fees.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $2,757,764
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021: $2,955,181
Includes fees billed in connection with assurance and related services provided to the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Vanguard Marketing Corporation.
(c) Tax Fees.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $5,202,689
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021: $2,047,574
Includes fees billed in connection with tax compliance, planning, and advice services provided to the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Vanguard Marketing Corporation.
(d) All Other Fees.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $298,000
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021: $280,000
Includes fees billed for services related to tax reported information provided to the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Vanguard Marketing Corporation.
(e) (1) Pre-Approval Policies. The policy of the Registrant’s Audit Committee is to consider, and, if appropriate, approve before the principal accountant is engaged for such services, all specific audit and non-audit services provided to: the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and entities controlled by The Vanguard Group, Inc. that provide ongoing services to the Registrant. In making a determination, the Audit Committee considers whether the services are consistent with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
In the event of a contingency situation in which the principal accountant is needed to provide services in between scheduled Audit Committee meetings, the Chairman of the Audit Committee would be called on to consider and, if appropriate, pre-approve audit or permitted non-audit services in an amount sufficient to complete services through the next Audit Committee meeting, and to determine if such services would be consistent with maintaining the accountant’s independence. At the next scheduled Audit Committee meeting, services and fees would be presented to the Audit Committee for formal consideration, and, if appropriate, approval by the entire Audit Committee. The Audit Committee would again consider whether such services and fees are consistent with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
The Registrant’s Audit Committee is informed at least annually of all audit and non-audit services provided by the principal accountant to the Vanguard complex, whether such services are provided to: the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., or other entities controlled by The Vanguard Group, Inc. that provide ongoing services to the Registrant.
(2) No percentage of the principal accountant’s fees or services were approved pursuant to the waiver provision of paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) For the most recent fiscal year, over 50% of the hours worked under the principal accountant’s engagement were not performed by persons other than full-time, permanent employees of the principal accountant.
(g) Aggregate Non-Audit Fees.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $5,500,689
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021: $2,327,574
Includes fees billed for non-audit services provided to the Registrant, other registered investment companies in the Vanguard complex, The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Vanguard Marketing Corporation.
(h) For the most recent fiscal year, the Audit Committee has determined that the provision of all non-audit services was consistent with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
Item 5: Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
The Registrant is a listed issuer as defined in rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). The Registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Registrant’s audit committee members are: F. Joseph Loughrey, Mark Loughridge, Sarah Bloom Raskin, and Peter F. Volanakis.
Item 6: Investments.
Not applicable. The complete schedule of investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7: Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8: Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9: Purchase of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11: Controls and Procedures.
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Principal Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on their evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
(b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no significant changes in the Registrant’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
Item 12: Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 13: Exhibits.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | VANGUARD VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS | |
| | |
| BY: | /s/ MORTIMER J. BUCKLEY* | |
| | | |
| | MORTIMER J. BUCKLEY | |
| | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | |
Date: February 17, 2023
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | VANGUARD VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS | |
| | |
| BY: | /s/ MORTIMER J. BUCKLEY* | |
| | | |
| | MORTIMER J. BUCKLEY | |
| | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | |
Date: February 17, 2023
| | VANGUARD VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS | |
| | |
| BY: | /s/ CHRISTINE BUCHANAN* | |
| | | |
| | CHRISTINE BUCHANAN | |
| | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | |
Date: February 17, 2023
| * By: | /s/ Anne E. Robinson | |
Anne E. Robinson, pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on October 11, 2022 (see File Number 333-11763), Incorporated by Reference.
