The Balanced Portfolio returned 14.33% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023, underperforming the 19.36% return of its blended benchmark (a mix of 65% large-capitalization stocks and 35% high-quality corporate bonds). The stock portion of the portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, while the bond portion outperformed its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Credit A or Better Bond Index.
The investment environment
Stock markets in the United States and abroad posted positive results for the year. The S&P 500 Index returned 26.29%, the MSCI World Index returned 24.42%, and the MSCI EAFE Index returned 18.24%.
In the first quarter, economic growth, consumer spending, and labor markets were surprisingly resilient against a backdrop of seismic changes in the global economy, including sweeping sanctions against Russia, a reshaping of global energy flows, and a banking crisis that rekindled fears of a global recession. Major central banks continued to raise interest rates, but financial stresses and persistent inflation muddied the outlook for central bank policy.
In the second quarter, declining energy prices helped reduce headline inflation in most countries, which eased household and business strain. However, persistently high core consumer prices kept pressure on central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer. Unlike the previous two quarters, global equities fell in the third quarter as market sentiment was dented by concerns about the health of China’s economy, increasing energy prices, and rising government bond yields. Global equities bounced back in the fourth quarter. The Federal Reserve surprised markets by signaling lower interest rates in 2024, which sparked a stock rally that rippled across the globe and increased speculation for sharp reductions in policy rates across developed markets in 2024.
Global fixed income sectors generated positive total returns despite elevated interest rate volatility over most of the
year. Within the U.S., higher-yielding sectors generally performed best, benefiting from their coupon advantage and spread tightening. Global sovereign yields ended mixed. Yields rose earlier in the period amid multiple rate hikes from the Fed and major central banks across Europe, while Asian banks were more dovish. Yields plunged by the end of the period in response to accommodative central bank policy expectations amid weaker economic data, including moderating inflation.
Despite concerns about tighter lending standards following banking sector turmoil earlier in the period, as spreads narrowed, credit sectors produced positive excess returns over duration-equivalent government bonds, particularly high-yield and emerging markets debt. Most securitized sectors’ performance rebounded by the end of the period when sentiment improved and markets absorbed the FDIC asset sales of mortgage-backed securities (MBS). U.S. investment-grade corporate spreads compressed by 31 basis points, and U.S. high-yield corporate spreads tightened by 146 basis points, according to Bloomberg index data. (A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)
Our shortfalls
In the stock portfolio, security selection detracted from relative performance, specifically weak selection within information technology (IT), consumer discretionary, and industrials. Sector allocation also detracted; an underweight to IT and overweights to health care and energy detracted most. Top individual detractors included Charles Schwab, Pfizer, and Exelon. Not holding Nvidia and Tesla also detracted.
On the fixed income side, the primary detractor was an underweight to credit spread duration. Our modest out-of-benchmark exposure to securitized sectors also detracted.
Our successes
In the stock portfolio, strong security selection in communication services,
energy, and real estate contributed to relative performance. An overweight to consumer discretionary and underweights to real estate and materials also contributed. Strong individual contributors were positions in Meta Platforms and Microsoft. Underweight positions in Exxon Mobil and Johnson & Johnson, and contributed, as did not holding Johnson & Johnson.
The fixed income portfolio outperformed its benchmark. This was primarily driven by selection in investment-grade credit (particularly in industrials) and an underweight to and selection in noncorporate credit. Selection in asset-backed securities also contributed.
Portfolio positioning
The range of outcomes remains wide for the global economy and markets. We closely monitor the macroeconomic environment and continue to 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 stock prices that trade at moderate valuations.
During the year, we initiated new positions in Uber, Pernod Ricard, Merck, and 13 other businesses. Uber, a transportation network with ride-sharing and food delivery, is beginning to realize the benefits of scale and stabilizing competitive dynamics. Ultimately, this is a platform with a well-defined competitive advantage and a compelling economic model. We purchased Uber at a midteen multiple on future-free cash flow, a price that we do not believe fully reflects these attractive fundamental attributes. Pernod Ricard, a global leader in the wine and spirits industry, has shifted from a focus on reaccelerating topline growth to prioritizing improving profitability and cost efficiencies. Since taking over in 2015, CEO Alex Ricard has delivered a return on incremental invested capital of 25%, a significant improvement. Lastly, we believe that Merck, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, should have
stable cash flow and earnings over the long term that are driven by its cancer medication Keytruda. Management has indicated a willingness to return capital to shareholders and maintain a stable balance sheet.
Our largest sector overweights are in energy, health care, and utilities. Our largest sector underweights are in IT, real estate, and consumer staples.
In the fixed income portfolio, we maintain a modestly procyclical stance. Markets enjoyed a substantial boost in the latter part of 2023 amid receding inflation and dovish pivots from global central banks. That said, valuations for risk assets and lower yields have priced in much of this good news, and we remain cognizant of the balance of risks around the real economy, monetary policy, and geopolitics. The rapid tightening campaign is finally starting to show signs of slowing economic growth but has had a less pronounced impact on inflation than expected. Central banks remain in an uneasy position: Employment is resilient, inflation is still above target, and the path to achieving 2% target inflation is unclear. On balance, we are beginning to see early signs of weakening growth as consumer demand ebbs alongside the depletion of excess savings that would support a softer landing.
Current interest rate levels provide a cushion for fixed income performance even if inflation remains above target, though the inversion of the yield curve is a challenge for longer-duration assets. We believe that security selection can aid relative performance as growth continues to slow, thus driving increased dispersion across sectors and within investment-grade credit.
The portfolio maintains liquidity buffers in the form of an overweight to Treasuries, agency MBS, and cash equivalents in case the economic cycle or the equity portfolio take an unfavorable turn. Although major central banks have dramatically tightened and markets price in substantial cuts in 2024, we expect monetary policy to remain tight even as the cycle weakens.
We grew more positive on agency MBS as spreads widened through the summer of 2023. Agency MBS are an attractive addition to the corporate-focused portfolio given their superior liquidity profile, attractive valuation, and lack of credit risk. Although valuations have tightened, we remain positive on the sector, given the low supply and the expectation that demand will be higher when banks eventually reengage with the asset class.
Investment-grade credit fundamentals remain strong, but they have peaked and now show some deterioration both in leverage and interest coverage.
While financial conditions meaningfully tightened in 2022 and 2023, the lagged impacts are still emerging. Corporate fundamentals have been more resilient than expected following the Silicon Valley Bank failure, given the success of the Fed’s Bank Term Funding Program, and consumers’ substantial excess savings. The investment-grade cohort maintains high-quality balance sheets and has been relatively insulated from rising rates because of long-term debt maturity profiles. We have seen a substantial change in issuance activity from corporates because of higher rates; many issuers shy away from issuing longer-duration debt. This supply response, at a time where all-in yields are attractive to many long-duration buyers, has driven a substantial flattening in credit curves.
Our concerns about the economic cycle, coupled with relatively tight credit valuations, have pushed us to reduce our exposure to cyclical issuers with less resilient cash-flow-generation profiles and highly levered balance sheets. Although headline index spreads have tightened to around the 25th percentile, there is substantial variability underlying this cohort; the greatest value is in the intermediate-duration part of the market and within the financial sector.
Despite higher all-in yields, we are most cautious on the long-duration segment, considering weakening fundamentals and tight spreads that offer little cushion against widening. From a sector
perspective, we maintain an overweight in utilities and some parts of insurance where valuations are attractive. In noncorporate credit, we are positive on taxable municipals: We think the sector still provides diversification and comprises high-quality issuers that have benefited from fiscal support.
We are 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 11, 2024
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Balanced Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangement with Wellington Management Company llp (Wellington Management). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangement was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders.
The board based its decision upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisor and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangement. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decision.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term; it also took into account the organizational depth and stability of the advisor. The board considered that Wellington Management, founded in 1928, is among the nation’s oldest and most respected institutional investment managers. The portfolio managers leverage tenured teams of equity and fixed income research analysts who conduct detailed fundamental analysis of their respective industries and companies. In managing the equity portion of the portfolio, the advisor employs a bottom-up, fundamental research approach focusing on high-quality companies with above-average yields, strong balance sheets, sustainable competitive advantages, and attractive valuations. In managing the fixed income portion of the portfolio, the advisor focuses on investment-grade corporate bonds. The firm has advised the portfolio since its inception in 1991.
The board concluded that the advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.
Investment performance
The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the portfolio, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangement should continue.
Cost
The board concluded that the portfolio’s expense ratio was below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the portfolio’s advisory fee rate was also below the peer-group average.
The board did not consider the profitability of Wellington Management in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because Wellington Management is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
The benefit of economies of scale
The board concluded that the portfolio’s shareholders benefit from economies of scale because of breakpoints in the portfolio’s advisory fee schedule. The breakpoints reduce the effective rate of the fee as the portfolio’s assets increase.
The board will consider whether to renew the advisory arrangement again after a one-year period.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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, 2023, the Capital Growth Portfolio returned 27.98%, exceeding the 26.29% return of its benchmark, the unmanaged S&P 500 Index. Relative to the S&P 500, favorable stock selection more than offset unfavorable sector allocation.
Investment environment
2023 featured a resurgent equity market. The S&P 500’s robust rebound fully retraced the –18% return from the prior year. Large-capitalization growth stocks, as measured by the Russell 1000 Growth Index, were particularly strong, bouncing 43% after a –29% return in 2022. Market optimism in a soft economic landing, coupled with particular enthusiasm for the promise of artificial intelligence (AI), pushed equities higher—and this despite some notable headwinds in the economic landscape.
The Federal Reserve continued its aggressive tightening campaign, executing 11 rate hikes totaling 525 basis points (5.25 percentage points) in just over a year. The relentless rise in rates sparked a regional banking crisis in March, starting with Silicon Valley Bank’s overnight collapse. While that contagion was contained, rising yields applied increasing pressure to a variety of rate-sensitive industries.
Nonetheless, a still-tight labor market supported the underlying economy’s continued resilience. The unemployment rate remained below 4% and job growth sustained at a solid pace. Consumers thus continued to spend reliably, and this consistent strength in personal consumption expenditures translated to steady real GDP growth. Meanwhile, inflation moderated to roughly 3%; core CPI remained above target but trended lower. These data largely reinforced the market’s conviction in a soft landing.
Information technology (+61%), communication services (+56%), and consumer discretionary (+43%) were the standout sectors in a comeback year for Big Tech. Indeed, the newly minted
“Magnificent Seven” of NVIDIA (+239%), Meta (+194%), Tesla (+101%), Amazon (+81%), Alphabet (+59%), Microsoft (+58%), and Apple (+49%) fueled the market return and now comprise nearly 30% of the S&P 500’s total market value, an unprecedented concentration. Elsewhere, defensive sectors including utilities (–7%), consumer staples (+1%), and health care (+2%) underperformed, while the energy sector (–1%) also lagged as oil prices slid by more than 10%.
Outlook for U.S. equities
Given the market’s strength, the S&P 500 Index’s valuation (19.6x forward P/E, or a market price of $19.60 for every $1 of earnings expected in the coming 12 months) has again swelled well above historical norms; the 20-year average is 15.6x. And this lofty valuation incorporates consensus estimates of 11% earnings growth in 2024, an acceleration that presumes a cooperative macroeconomic environment. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield finished the period at 3.8%, similar to year-ago levels, after peaking near 5% in October. While the Federal Reserve expects to cut interest rates three times in 2024, financial conditions are unlikely to become especially accommodative, suggesting limited justification for today’s elevated forward multiple. These metrics warrant a more cautious outlook.
Portfolio update
We maintained large overweight positions in health care and industrials stocks; these sectors comprised 44% of average portfolio assets compared to their 22% combined weighting in the S&P 500. The portfolio was roughly equal weight to its benchmark in consumer discretionary and information technology. We maintained underweight positions in all other sectors, including consumer staples, communication services, energy, financials, materials, real estate, and utilities.
Sector allocation was unfavorable. Our significant health care overweight position proved detrimental, as did an underweight position in communication services and a
modest cash position. Underweight positions in consumer staples, utilities, energy, and financials provided a partial offset.
Favorable stock selection was concentrated in the health care sector, most notably the portfolio’s largest position, Eli Lilly (+61%), whose blockbuster diabetes drug, tirzepatide, was additionally approved for chronic weight management. Industrials was another bright spot, as FedEx (+49%) rebounded following a difficult multiyear stretch, offsetting weakness in Southwest Airlines (–12%). Elsewhere, limited exposure to several Magnificent Seven constituents weighed on selection results despite strength from key portfolio holdings. Within information technology, Intel (+95%), Adobe (+77%), Micron (+72%), and KLA (+56%) were unable to offset NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Apple. Similarly, within consumer discretionary, Royal Caribbean (+162%) and Tesla (+102%) were overshadowed by Amazon. And within communication services, the portfolio’s underweight position in Meta created a sizable headwind.
Advisor perspectives
Market leadership of late has again been heavily concentrated in Big Tech, a stark contrast to last year’s sell-off, when large-capitalization growth stocks underperformed. A substantial breakthrough in generative AI explained some of Big Tech’s comeback, but so has a belief that a more auspicious interest rate dynamic is just around the corner.
We tend not to obsess about interest rates per se. Our preference for other stocks—the portfolio is meaningfully underweight the Magnificent Seven in aggregate—reflects bottom-up, fundamental investment theses untethered to a particular rate environment. The portfolio’s largest holding, Eli Lilly, is a prime example.
Not long ago, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1s, were a relatively obscure drug class primarily
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Capital Growth Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangement with PRIMECAP Management Company (PRIMECAP). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangement was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders.
The board based its decision upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisor and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangement. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decision.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term, and took into account the organizational depth and stability of the advisor. The board considered that PRIMECAP, founded in 1983, is recognized for its long-term approach to equity investing. Five experienced portfolio managers are responsible for separate subportfolios, and each portfolio manager employs a fundamental, research-driven approach in seeking to identify companies with long-term growth potential that the market has yet to appreciate. The multi-counselor approach that the advisor employs is designed to emphasize individual decision-making and enable the portfolio managers to invest only in their highest-conviction ideas. PRIMECAP’s fundamental research focuses on developing opinions independent from Wall Street’s consensus and maintaining a long-term horizon. The firm has managed the portfolio since its inception in 2002.
The board concluded that the advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.
Investment performance
The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the portfolio, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangement should continue.
Cost
The board concluded that the portfolio’s expense ratio was below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the portfolio’s advisory fee rate was also below the peer-group average.
The board did not consider the profitability of PRIMECAP in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because PRIMECAP is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
The benefit of economies of scale
The board concluded that the portfolio realizes economies of scale that are built into the negotiated advisory fee rate without any need for asset-level breakpoints. The advisory fee rate is very low relative to the average rate paid by funds in the portfolio’s peer group.
The board will consider whether to renew the advisory arrangement again after a one-year period.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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 Diversified Value Portfolio returned 20.13% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. It outperformed the 11.46% 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 11, 2024.
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers:
Andrew Lacey, Deputy Chairman
Henry Ross Seiden, Managing Director
Our U.S. equity selection strategy is based on the relationship between valuation and financial productivity. We have identified and historically validated 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, our strategy outperformed the value-based benchmark (the Russell 1000 Value Index) and lagged the broad benchmark (the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index). The underperformance versus the S&P 500 Index is due to the benchmark’s concentration and its aversion to rewarding the average high-quality company.
Regarding concentration, a small group of technology-focused companies rallied because of exuberance about artificial intelligence. During 2023, the “Magnificent Seven” stocks accounted for 62% of the S&P 500 Index’s return and ended the period at a combined weight of 28% (the highest level in history for any seven stocks). The unique nature of this period is also illustrated by comparing the 26.29% return of the S&P 500 Index (which is capitalization-weighted) with the 13.87% return of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index. We believe our holdings in Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon are attractive, but a lack of exposure to Apple, Tesla, NVIDIA, and Meta (which we sold in the fourth quarter) cost our strategy more than 450 basis points—the bulk of underperformance.
Regarding the market’s aversion to high quality, we note that the Compounder universe struggled over the last year, with only 36% of Compounders outperforming and the average company lagging by 580 basis points. Further analysis shows significant dispersion among Compounders in 2023, depending on their growth profiles: Those with the strongest growth significantly outperformed peers with more stable growth. Our strategy has been modestly underweighted in the high-growth group because of extended valuations, and significantly overweighted in the stable-growth group, a notable headwind.
Over the past 12 months, we moderately added capital to Compounders in the
consumer staples, health care, and industrial sectors, as well as to Improvers in the energy and financial sectors. We moderately reduced capital to Compounders in the consumer discretionary and communication services sectors. The portfolio’s weight in Compounders has remained in line with last year’s, and in the middle of the target range of 60% to 80% of the portfolio’s capital. We believe this remains appropriate in light of continued economic uncertainty.
We expect to see continued volatility as the Federal Reserve aims to balance the goals of maintaining financial stability and controlling inflation. As active stock pickers, we seek to take advantage of this volatility to add capital to high-quality companies trading at attractive valuations that may be out of favor, and to companies that are positioned to improve their returns. We believe now is a particularly interesting time because the valuation of these high-quality, stable-growth businesses is as attractive as it has been outside the tech bubble. In our view, a strategy such as ours, focused on financial productivity and valuation, will benefit from a broader and more normalized market environment.
Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers:
George H. Davis, Jr.,
Executive Chairman
Scott McBride, CFA,
Chief Executive Officer
The S&P 500 Index returned 26.29% in 2023, fully recovering from its decline in the prior calendar year. The index’s two-year return is a modest 3.42%, or 1.70% annualized. Most attribute 2022’s sell-off to rampant inflation and the accompanying increase in interest rates. The Federal Reserve raised its key rate 11 consecutive times in 2022 and 2023 to combat inflation before pausing at its
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangements
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Diversified Value Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangement with Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC (Hotchkis and Wiley), and Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangements was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders.
The board based its decisions upon an evaluation of each advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisors and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangements. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decisions.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board considered the quality of the investment management services to be provided by Hotchkis and Wiley and Lazard and took into account the organizational depth and stability of each advisor. The board considered the following:
Hotchkis and Wiley. Founded in 1980, Hotchkis and Wiley is a value-oriented firm that manages various large-, mid-, and small-cap portfolios. Hotchkis and Wiley invests in companies where it believes that the present value of future cash flows exceeds the market price. The firm believes that the market frequently undervalues companies because of the extrapolation of current trends, while capital flows normally cause a company’s returns and profitability to normalize over the long term. Hotchkis and Wiley seeks to identify these companies with a disciplined, bottom-up research process. The portfolio managers leverage the support of a broad analyst team, which is organized into sector teams in an effort to better understand the impact that industry dynamics and macroeconomic risk factors might have on individual companies. Hotchkis and Wiley has managed a portion of the portfolio since December 2019.
Lazard. Lazard, a subsidiary of the investment bank Lazard Ltd., provides investment management services for clients around the world in a variety of investment mandates, including international equities, domestic equities, and fixed income securities.
The investment team at Lazard employs a relative value, bottom-up stock selection process to identify stocks with sustainable financial productivity and attractive valuations. Utilizing scenario analysis, the team seeks to understand the durability and future direction of financial productivity and valuation. Lazard has managed a portion of the portfolio since December 2019.
The board concluded that each advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted approval of the advisory arrangements.
Investment performance
The board considered the performance of each advisor, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangements should continue.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 8.10% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023, beating the 6.59% 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 12, 2024.
Wellington Management Company llp
Portfolio Manager:
Matthew C. Hand, CFA,
Senior Managing Director
Investment environment
U.S. equities rose in 2023 amid easing inflation, optimism for lower interest rates, strong performances in select mega-cap technology companies, and steady GDP growth.
During the first quarter, U.S. equities advanced despite the sudden collapse of two U.S. regional banks, which prompted swift policy actions by federal regulators. Shares of large technology companies surged, helping growth stocks to significantly outperform their value counterparts. The Federal Reserve slowed its pace of policy tightening, raising interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) in February and March, to a range between 4.75%–5%. (A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)
U.S. equities continued to rise in the second quarter, largely driven by a potent rally in a narrow group of mega-cap
technology companies that benefited from investor optimism about generative artificial intelligence.
But U.S. equities fell in the third quarter, pressured by rising Treasury yields amid views that the Fed would keep interest rates elevated for a prolonged period. Markets dialed back the probability of recession given cooling inflation, a solid job market, and resilient consumer spending. Economic data released during the third quarter indicated healthy momentum in the U.S. economy after GDP in the second quarter grew at a surprisingly strong rate of 2.1% annualized.
In the fourth quarter, U.S. equities registered their largest quarterly return in three years. A rapid descent in inflation prompted the Fed to pivot from its “higher for longer” policy stance in December, sending Treasury yields lower and driving stocks higher. The Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections implied that policymakers anticipate 75 bps of interest rate cuts in 2024.
Our successes and shortfalls
In 2023, security selection was the driver of relative outperformance within our portion of the portfolio. Strong selection in real estate, energy, and materials was partially offset by weaker selection in information technology, consumer staples, and financials. Sector allocation, a result of our bottom-up stock selection process, detracted from relative performance. Our overweight positions in real estate and health care and an underweight in financials detracted from relative results. This was partially offset by contributions from an underweight position to consumer staples.
Top contributors included U.S.-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, U.S.-based homebuilding company Lennar, and not owning benchmark constituent Chevron, a U.S.-based oil and gas company.
Top detractors from relative performance included U.S.-based pharmaceutical
company Pfizer, not owning U.S.-based semiconductor company Intel, a benchmark constituent, and our underweight to U.S.-based semiconductor company Broadcom.
At the end of the period, we were most overweight the health care, real estate, and materials sectors. Conversely, we expressed the largest underweight positions in consumer discretionary, communication services, and information technology.
Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group
Portfolio Manager:
Sharon Hill, Ph.D.,
Head of the Alpha Equity Global and Income Investment team
Investment environment
Despite recession fears, a regional banking crisis earlier in the year, and war breaking out in the Middle East and continuing in Ukraine, U.S. stocks returned 25.96% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023, as measured by the Russell 3000 Index, with large technology stocks leading the way. Stocks outside the U.S. returned 15.82% as measured by the FTSE All-World ex US Index.
Investors shook off concerns as inflation fell, central banks slowed and eventually halted interest rate hikes, consumer spending remained strong, and the unemployment rate hit its lowest level in decades. Rising bond yields sparked a period of stock market volatility in the fall, but stocks rebounded toward the end of the year when yields fell.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 5.60% 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), returned 8.75% for the year.
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Equity Income Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangement with Wellington Management Company llp (Wellington Management). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangement was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders. The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), through its Quantitative Equity Group is also an advisor to the portfolio.
The board based its decision upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisors and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangement. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decisions.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term, and took into account the organizational depth and stability of the advisor. The board considered that Wellington Management, founded in 1928, is among the nation’s oldest and most respected institutional investment managers. Utilizing fundamental research, Wellington Management seeks to build a portfolio with an above-market yield, superior growth rate, and very attractive valuation. While every company purchased for the portfolio will pay a dividend, the goal is to build a portfolio with an above-market yield in aggregate, allowing for individual companies with below-market yields. Normalized earnings, normalized price-to-earnings ratios, and improving returns on capital are key to the research process. The firm has advised a portion of the portfolio since 2003.
The board concluded that the advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.
Investment performance
The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the advisor, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangement should continue.
Cost
The board concluded that the portfolio’s expense ratio was below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the portfolio’s advisory fee rate was also below the peer-group average.
The board did not consider the profitability of Wellington Management in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because Wellington Management is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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.
collateral mitigates counterparty risk, in the event of a default, the portfolio may experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned. The portfolio invests cash collateral received in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, and records a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the return of the collateral, during the period the securities are on loan. Collateral investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are subject to market appreciation or depreciation. Securities lending income represents fees charged to borrowers plus income earned on invested cash collateral, less expenses associated with the loan. During the term of the loan, the portfolio is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities.
6. Credit Facilities and Interfund Lending Program: The portfolio and certain other funds managed by The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard") participate in a $4.3 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 included in Management and Administrative expenses on the portfolio’s Statement of Operations. 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, 2023, the portfolio did not utilize the credit facilities or the Interfund Lending Program.
7. Other: Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income includes income distributions received from Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and is accrued daily. 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 and are generally settled twice a month.
Upon the request of Vanguard, the portfolio may invest up to 0.40% of its net assets as capital in Vanguard. At December 31, 2023, the portfolio had contributed to Vanguard capital in the amount of $291,000, representing less than 0.01% of the portfolio’s net assets and 0.12% of Vanguard’s capital received pursuant to the FSA. The portfolio’s trustees and officers are also directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.
C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the portfolio’s investments and derivatives. 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 and derivatives valued with significant unobservable inputs are noted on the Schedule of Investments.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 Growth Portfolio returned 40.13% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. It lagged the 42.68% return of its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
Investment strategy
The portfolio seeks to outperform growth indexes and, over the longer term, the broader market. We employ proprietary fundamental research and a rigorous valuation discipline to invest in large-capitalization companies with attractive growth characteristics. Our investment approach is based on identifying companies that possess a clear competitive advantage that will enable them to sustain above-average growth.
Review of the period
U.S. equities, as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, returned +26.29% for the period. Growth stocks outperformed value, while large-capitalization companies outpaced small- and mid-caps, as measured by the Russell indexes.
For the 12 months, the portfolio underperformed the benchmark, driven by negative stock selection in the health care, communication services, and consumer staples sectors. By contrast, the approach delivered positive stock selection within industrials. Sector allocation, a result of our bottom-up selection process, had mixed effects, with an overweight to financials detracting notably and an underweight to consumer staples contributing most.
Notable detractors included an overweight position in ZoomInfo Technologies, an underweight position in Tesla, and an out-of-benchmark position in Schlumberger. Shares of U.S.-based ZoomInfo, an information technology company selling software and data that enable salespeople to be more effective and productive, declined over the 12 months as macroeconomic pressures slowed down certain customers’ spending and hiring. The stock price reflects the market’s negative view on ZoomInfo’s long-term prospects; we remain positive
about those prospects and maintain an overweight position in the company. Tesla’s share price rose in the period even as its earnings expectations for 2023 and 2024 declined materially. We believe this price reflects significant optimism about the future of the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, particularly as it relates to exposure to artificial intelligence. Although we expect adoption of EVs will continue to increase over the long term, Tesla will face increasing competitive pressures that we believe are not properly reflected in its share price. We continue to hold an underweight position in the company. The share price of Schlumberger, an oilfield services company, declined. We eliminated our out-of-benchmark exposure on the back of softening oil prices and a more fully appreciated valuation which led the team to fund other opportunities.
Top contributors to relative performance included an overweight to Uber Technologies, not owning AbbVie, and an overweight to MongoDB. Uber, a technology application that matches transportation with people, food, and other products, has benefited from its recent cost optimization and its strong competitive position. As overhead reduction continued and operational strength increased, company fundamentals strengthened. A lack of exposure to large-cap pharmaceutical company AbbVie helped relative performance. Declining sales for AbbVie’s biggest blockbuster drug, Humira, are reigniting investor worries about revenue erosion as more affordable alternatives come to market. Shares of MongoDB, a cloud database company, rose after the firm reported results that exceeded expectations. MongoDB’s potential to benefit from AI tailwinds also contributed to its strong performance.
From a positioning perspective, the portfolio increased its active exposure to financials and real estate and reduced exposure and moved to underweight allocations in information technology health care. It also eliminated its exposure to energy and consumer staples. At the end of the period, the portfolio was most
overweight financials, real estate, and communication services relative to the benchmark; it was most underweight consumer staples, consumer discretionary, and information technology.
The Growth Portfolio consists of high-quality, growing companies protected by sustainable barriers to entry and benefiting from long-term secular trends. We continue to believe that powerful structural changes in our economy are moving hundreds of billions of dollars into new business areas such as electronic payments, e-commerce, digital media, life sciences, and cloud computing. By identifying competitively advantaged companies at the forefront of these trends and applying our rigorous valuation discipline, we believe this portfolio should outperform over the long term. We are excited about the holdings in the portfolio and believe they are well-positioned to outperform across a variety of market environments going forward.
Portfolio Manager:
Andrew J. Shilling, CFA,
Senior Managing Director
Wellington Management Company llp
January 12, 2024
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Growth Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangement with Wellington Management Company llp (Wellington Management). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangement was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders.
The board based its decisions upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisor and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangement. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decision.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term, and took into account the organizational depth and stability of the advisor. The board considered that Wellington Management, founded in 1928, is among the nation’s oldest and most respected institutional investment managers. The firm employs a traditional, bottom-up fundamental research approach to identify companies with sustainable competitive advantages that can drive a higher rate or longer duration of growth than the market expects, while trading at reasonable valuations. Wellington Management has advised the portfolio since 2010.
The board concluded that the advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.
Investment performance
The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the portfolio, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangement should continue.
Cost
The board concluded that the portfolio’s expense ratio was below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the portfolio’s advisory fee rate was also below the peer-group average.
The board did not consider the profitability of Wellington Management in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because the firm is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
The benefit of economies of scale
The board concluded that the portfolio realizes economies of scale that are built into the advisory fee rate negotiated with Wellington Management without any need for asset-level breakpoints. The advisory fee rate is very low relative to the average rate paid by funds in the portfolio’s peer group.
The board will consider whether to renew the advisory arrangement again after a one-year period.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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, 2023, the portfolio returned 11.66%, net of fees and expenses, compared with the benchmark return of 12.14%.
The portfolio’s 30-day SEC yield stood at 6.30% as of December 31, down 0.51 percentage point for the year. The 30-day SEC yield is a proxy for a portfolio’s potential annualized rate of income.
Your portfolio is managed by two independent advisors, a strategy that enhances its diversification by providing exposure to distinct yet complementary investment approaches. It’s not uncommon for different advisors to have different views about individual securities or the broader investment environment.
The accompanying table lists the advisors, the amount and percentage of portfolio assets each manages, and brief descriptions of their investment strategies. The advisors have provided the following assessment of the investment environment during the past 12 months and the notable successes and shortfalls in their portfolios. These comments were prepared on January 17, 2024.
Wellington Management Company llp
Portfolio Manager:
Elizabeth H. Shortsleeve, Senior Managing Director
Fixed income markets generated positive total returns during the year; higher-yielding sectors generally
performed best, benefiting from their coupon advantage and spread-tightening. Moderating inflation and a pivot to more accommodative central bank policies fueled a strong rally to close out the year, which benefited high-yield bonds.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield ended December 2023 essentially unchanged at 3.88% despite elevated interest rate volatility over much of the period. The average dollar price of the high-yield market increased to $93 from $86 during the period, according to Bloomberg U.S. High Yield Index data. The spread of the high-yield market compared with Treasuries compressed to 323 basis points by year-end from a 469-basis-point spread at the end of 2022. (A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)
There was some dispersion in performance by credit quality over the year as market participants generally rewarded lower-quality credits. Lowest-rated CCC bonds performed best, returning 19.84%, according to Bloomberg U.S. High Yield Index data, while B- and BB-rated bonds returned 13.78% and 11.60%, respectively.
We advocate for a slightly defensive risk profile for high-yield investors and see the potential for better opportunities to add exposure at more attractive valuations in 2024. The Federal Reserve seems to be winning the fight against inflation, though it remains unclear whether the progress is attributable to tight monetary policy or to easing of supply shocks and depletion of
consumer savings. Corporate fundamentals are only marginally deteriorating from a very strong starting point and the quality composition of the high-yield market remains historically strong. As a result, we do not expect a full-blown default cycle near term. However, we believe that current valuations underscore the need for more defensive risk positioning, particularly in the U.S. market.
Recent economic data have increased our confidence that a global disinflationary trend is taking hold. We are starting to observe softer manufacturing data, weaker consumer spending, and depletion of excess consumer savings in the lower-income cohorts. Normally at this stage of the economic cycle, relatively weaker consumer strength would translate into slowing investment spending; however, government fiscal spending programs may be distorting the true picture. Mild global recession remains a distinct possibility, but, on balance, we see a soft landing as more likely.
While the impact of higher borrowing costs so far has had a limited impact on corporate earnings and credit profiles, we expect that to change in the coming quarters as the economy slows. Default rates have already increased to 4.5%, which is close to historical averages. We envision that this number could move modestly higher but do not see a full-scale default cycle (meaning higher than the 8% to 10% range) on the horizon given the higher-quality composition of the high-yield market relative to past cycles. Despite concerns about the impact of rate increases, we do not believe higher interest expense alone will trigger a wave of defaults. The starting point of strong earnings and interest coverage provides ample cushion for deterioration, in our view. Still, we prefer to stick to more stable credit profiles with economic resilience and downside protection, and we select higher-risk issuers where we have high conviction in near-term catalysts.
Yields of U.S. Treasury Securities
| | |
| Maturity | December 31,
2022 | December 31,
2023 |
| 2 years | 4.43% | 4.25% |
| 5 years | 4.00 | 3.85 |
| 10 years | 3.87 | 3.88 |
| 30 years | 3.96 | 4.03 |
| Source: Vanguard. |
As market consensus now appears to embrace the soft-landing scenario, interest in high-yield fixed income among market participants has started to increase, but inflows represent a change from a very defensive stance overall. Although demand for high yield generally remains solid, we would not be surprised to see some crowding out due to relatively attractive yields offered across investment-grade corporate and government bond sectors. The quality of recent new issuance remains generally healthy, and we are not yet seeing widespread, aggressively structured deals or use of proceeds that increases leverage.
Among the tail risks we are monitoring, geopolitics and inflation dominate, though inflation should gradually dissipate as a concern, barring exogenous shocks. If the Fed engineers a soft landing, this should limit the magnitude of spread-widening compared with past downturns, but slower growth and elevated rates still pose risks to the high-yield market. At this stage, with valuations well below median and with elevated macro uncertainty, we believe the modest underrisked position is sensible. We believe there will be better opportunities for nimble, discerning active investors to increase exposure at wider spreads in the year ahead.
The portfolio’s shortfalls
Positioning in the pharmaceuticals and packaging sectors detracted from relative returns. Credit selection in the financial institutions and energy sectors also hurt relative results.
The portfolio’s successes
Positioning in the government-related and wirelines sectors benefited relative performance. Credit selection in the wirelines and leisure 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 companies have more stable credit profiles and greater predictability of cash flows than those at the lower end of the quality spectrum. We prefer higher-quality credits in an effort to minimize defaults and to provide stable income. We also continue to deemphasize noncash-paying securities, preferred stocks, and equity-linked securities, such as convertibles, because of their potential for volatility.
Vanguard Fixed Income Group
Portfolio Manager:
Michael Chang, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager
Investment environment
For much of the period, concerns about inflation and whether policymakers’ efforts to rein it in might spur a global recession were top of mind for many investors.
Early on, energy prices continued to cool amid an outlook for slower economic growth, but price increases then began to broaden to other categories, notably the services sector, which felt the effects of tight labor markets.
With the prospect of inflation remaining stubbornly high, central banks including the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of England continued raising interest rates, but through less aggressive hikes than at some policy meetings in 2022.
Although progress was slow in developed markets, signs of inflation moderating and a growing belief that the Fed may have come to the end of its rate-hiking cycle contributed to a strong rally in stocks and bonds toward year-end.
Bond yields were volatile in 2023. The bellwether 10-year U.S. Treasury yield surged at times when the markets were anticipating rates to stay higher for longer, breaking above 4% in early March and climbing to around 5% in the fall. Its March decline—and another toward year-end— stemmed from stress in the
banking sector and the Fed pivot from a tight monetary policy stance to signaling rate cuts in 2024. The 10-year yield nevertheless finished the year about where it started, at just under 3.9%. Yields for shorter-term Treasuries, however, ended the year mixed.
The broad U.S. investment-grade bond market returned 5.60% for the year, according to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. With the odds of a global recession falling and resilience in the jobs market and consumer spending, the average yield of corporate bonds over Treasuries narrowed during the period, leading them to return even more than the broad index.
Management of the portfolio
The primary driver of the portfolio’s performance was security selection, most notably increased exposure to consumer-facing leisure sectors and less exposure to the secularly challenged telecommunications and cable sectors. Our portfolio’s posture is to have a higher-quality tilt than the benchmark to cushion against risk of default. In 2023, being underweight to the credit sector was a detractor because returns were highest at the lower end of the credit spectrum for the period.
Limited high-yield issuance also helped provide technical support to the market. We expect supply to pick up in 2024 as more issuers look to refinance near-term debt maturities.
Outlook
Although some market participants are counting on a Goldilocks scenario in which inflation moderates without a slowdown in the economy, we see that as unlikely for several reasons. Even without further interest rate increases, the tightening in monetary policy that has already occurred will continue working its way through the financial system. There’s a risk that wage gains could help inflation remain sticky and above target, and consumers have been spending down the savings they accumulated during the pandemic.
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds High Yield Bond Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangement with Wellington Management Company llp (Wellington Management). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangement was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders. The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), through its Fixed Income Group, is also advisor to the portfolio.
The board based its decision upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisors and made monthly presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about each fund’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangements. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decisions.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term and took into account the organizational depth and stability of the advisor. The board considered that Wellington Management, founded in 1928, is among the nation’s oldest and most respected institutional investment managers. The portfolio managers are supported by a dedicated team of high-yield and bank loan analysts who conduct in-depth credit research on the universe of high-yield issuers, seeking to identify issuers with stable or improving business prospects and attractive yields. Wellington Management focuses on higher-quality bonds, as they believe that these issues offer a more attractive risk/return trade-off than lower-rated bonds within the high-yield universe over the long term. Wellington Management seeks to maintain credit quality and diversification guidelines in order to minimize the risk of potential defaults. Wellington Management has advised a portion of the portfolio since its inception in 1996. The board concluded that the advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.
Investment performance
The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the portfolio, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark and peer group.
Cost
The board concluded that the portfolio’s expense ratio was below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the portfolio’s advisory fee rate was also below its peer-group average.
The board did not consider the profitability of Wellington Management in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because Wellington Management is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
The benefit of economies of scale
The board concluded that the portfolio realizes economies of scale that are built into the fee rate negotiated with Wellington Management without any need for asset-level breakpoints. The advisory fee rate is very low relative to the average rate paid by funds in the portfolio’s peer group.
The board will consider whether to renew the advisory arrangement again after a one-year period.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 14.65% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. That was lower than the 15.62% 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, 2024.
Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd.
Portfolio Managers:
Thomas Coutts, Partner
Lawrence Burns, Partner
International stock markets have performed well despite the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and acute geopolitical tension between China and the United States. Supply chain disruption is easing and inflation in many countries has fallen back toward a tolerable level without a painful recession. The expected peaking of interest rates is a particular relief for our portfolio of high-growth companies. They suffered a period of sustained pressure on their valuations as discount rates rose and have performed poorly as a result.
We have stuck to a consistent investment philosophy through the ups and downs of recent years. We look for companies that have big opportunities and use strong culture and leadership to convert their potential into profitable growth. We know that superior earnings growth drives
long-term returns. These returns are typically skewed toward a small number of companies. We therefore run a concentrated portfolio with low turnover, typically around 10%.
We are paying close attention to the resilience of our holdings in this period of tighter financial conditions. We are encouraged that their balance sheets are far stronger than the market average. Our companies have been adapting to changing circumstances, often putting increased emphasis on current profitability over future expansion. This has been most obvious among our consumer internet businesses, such as Spotify, Ocado, and Zalando. In discussions with their management teams, we have encouraged them to keep a long-term focus and invest for future growth.
The emergence of China has been a dominant factor in international investing over the last 20 years. We have sought to capitalize on it primarily by investing in the country’s vibrant technology sector.
We are concerned about the harsh and unpredictable change in the Chinese government’s attitude toward its leading tech companies since 2020. Increased competition between China and the United States, particularly through restrictions on access to technology, is a further worry. To moderate this risk, we reduced our exposure to Chinese holdings by a third in the last year, through reductions in Tencent and complete sales of Ping An Insurance and Alibaba. We retain stakes in a handful of China’s most attractive growth companies, such as AIA, Pinduoduo, and WuXi Biologics, and we are maintaining an active research presence in China.
It now seems normal to expect shocks that make investing in growth equities uncomfortable. But in an age of transformation, it matters more than ever that investors are exposed to the companies shaping the future. We are particularly optimistic about the potential for substantial growth and profit from three deeply established trends: the wide
deployment of computing power and artificial intelligence (AI), the transition of energy sources from fossil fuels to renewables, and the genetic revolution in health care.
Our portfolio has long had considerable exposure to the “picks and shovels” of AI through the semiconductor titans ASML and Taiwan Semiconductor. This year we invested in two additional semiconductor companies, Soitec and VAT Group. In health care we maintain large positions in Moderna and Genmab and have increased our holding in Argenx. Our enthusiasm for the opportunities in energy transition is reflected in holdings such as Tesla, Vestas, and Umicore. To this group we have added new investments in Prysmian and SolarEdge. We funded these additions primarily by reducing large holdings such as ASML and MercadoLibre after they performed strongly.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.
Portfolio Managers:
James R. Gautrey, CFA
Simon Webber, CFA
International equities achieved solid gains in 2023, helped by receding recession worries in developed markets as resilient consumer spending supported growth. Major central banks continued to raise interest rates throughout most of the year, seeking to curb inflationary pressures. Cyclical stocks in technology, industrials, financials, and consumer discretionary led the markets higher while defensive stocks in consumer staples and health care generally lagged. Technology stocks were also bolstered by the market’s enthusiasm for advances in generative AI.
Japanese stocks reached 33-year highs amid a renewed focus on profitability and productivity, driven by corporate improvement and governance reforms. European stocks also fared well, as warmer weather and structural changes helped alleviate the energy crisis brought on by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangements
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds International Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangements with Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd. (Baillie Gifford) and Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. (Schroder Inc.), as well as the sub-advisory agreement with Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd. (Schroder Ltd.). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangements was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders.
The board based its decisions upon an evaluation of each advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisors and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangements. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decisions.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term, and took into account the organizational depth and stability of each advisor. The board considered the following:
Baillie Gifford. Baillie Gifford—a unit of Baillie Gifford & Co., founded in 1908—is among the largest independently owned investment management firms in the United Kingdom. Baillie Gifford uses fundamental research to make long-term investments in companies that have above-average growth potential resulting from sustainable competitive advantages, special cultures and management, or competitive strength in underestimated technology shifts. Baillie Gifford believes that equities’ asymmetrical return pattern means that alpha is generated by focusing on the upside and the potential to earn exponential returns rather than being overly concerned with avoiding losing investments. The advisor takes a bottom-up, stock-driven approach to sector and country allocation. Baillie Gifford has advised a portion of the portfolio since 2003.
Schroder. Schroders plc, the parent company of Schroder Inc. and Schroder Ltd. (collectively, Schroder), has been in existence for more than 200 years and has investment management experience dating back to 1926. Schroder uses fundamental research to identify quality growth stocks with sustainable competitive advantages selling at attractive valuations. Bottom-up research is conducted within the context of key structural trends shaping the global economy or a given industry that will drive a company’s future growth prospects. The Schroder portfolio’s holdings are classified as either “core” or “opportunistic.” Core holdings generally constitute two-thirds of the Schroder portfolio and tend to be longer-term holdings because of competitive advantages that can support above-average growth rates for an extended period. Opportunistic holdings tend to be shorter-term and more cyclical in nature. Schroder Inc. has advised a portion of the portfolio since its inception in 1994, and its affiliate Schroder Ltd. has sub-advised a portion of the portfolio since 2003.
The board concluded that each advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangements.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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, 2023, the Short-Term Investment-Grade Portfolio returned 6.16%. The portfolio outpaced its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Credit Index, which returned 5.94%.
The portfolio’s 30-day SEC yield stood at 4.91% as of December 31, up from 4.78% a year earlier. The 30-day SEC yield is a proxy for a portfolio’s potential annualized rate of income.
Inflation eased lower in 2023
For much of the period, concerns about inflation and whether policymakers’ efforts to rein it in might spur a global recession were top of mind for many investors.
Early on, energy prices continued to cool amid an outlook for slower economic growth, but price increases then began to broaden to other categories, notably the services sector, which felt the effects of tight labor markets.
Central banks slowed and then stopped raising rates
The prospect of inflation remaining stubbornly high led central banks, including the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of England, to continue raising interest rates, but through less aggressive hikes than some of those that stemmed from policy meetings in 2022.
Although progress was slow in developed markets, signs of inflation moderating and a growing belief that the Fed may have come to the end of its rate-hiking cycle contributed to a strong rally in both stocks and bonds toward year-end.
Bond yields were volatile but returns were solid in 2023
The bellwether 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield surged at times when the markets were anticipating rates to stay higher for longer, breaking above 4% in early March and climbing to around 5% in the fall. Its March decline—and another toward year-end—stemmed from stress in the banking sector and the Fed’s pivot from a tight monetary policy stance to signaling rate cuts in 2024. That yield nevertheless
finished the year almost where it started at just under 3.9%. Yields for short-term Treasuries, however, generally ended the year lower.
The broad U.S. investment-grade bond market returned 5.60% for the year, according to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. With the odds of a global recession falling and resilience in both the job market and consumer spending, the average yield of corporate bonds over Treasuries narrowed during the period, leading them to return even more than that.
The portfolio finished ahead of its benchmark index
The primary driver of outperformance was security selection. Turmoil in the banking sector in March included the shuttering of some regional banks. That led to spreads widening and the market cheapening up, which gave us the opportunity to add more bank debt to the portfolio, especially that of regional banks we believed had very sound fundamentals. Exposure to noncyclical issuers, including pharma and consumer product companies that would likely perform well through a recession, and an out-of-benchmark allocation to asset-backed securities also added value.
We added credit exposure midyear when we believed the Fed was probably at or near the end of its rate-hiking cycle. That move paid off as credit spreads then tightened through the end of 2023.
Outlook for 2024
Although some market participants are counting on a Goldilocks scenario in which inflation moderates without a slowdown in the economy, we see that as unlikely for several reasons. Even without further interest rate increases, the tightening in monetary policy that has already occurred will continue working its way through the financial system. There’s a risk that wage gains could contribute to inflation remaining sticky and above target, and consumers have been spending down the savings they accumulated during the pandemic.
We, therefore, continue to expect a mild recession in the U.S. in late 2024, which will eventually bring inflation closer to the Fed’s 2% target. And while the Fed may start cutting interest rates later this year, they are likely to remain for some time well above the low levels we have become accustomed to since the 2008 global financial crisis.
If the shallow recession we are expecting materializes, it will likely bring greater dispersion between issuers in the credit sector and more opportunities for us to add value through bottom-up security selection.
Whatever the markets may bring, our experienced global team of portfolio managers, traders, and credit analysts will continue to seek out attractive opportunities to produce competitive returns for our investors.
Portfolio Managers:
Daniel Shaykevich, Principal
Arvind Narayanan, CFA, Principal
Vanguard Fixed Income Group
January 17, 2024
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 19.65% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. It outperformed the 18.93% 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 12, 2024.
Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group
Portfolio Manager:
Cesar Orosco, CFA,
Head of Alpha Equity Investments
The investment environment
Despite recession fears, a regional banking crisis earlier in 2023, and war breaking out in the Middle East and continuing in Ukraine, U.S. stocks returned 25.96% for the 12 months ended December 31, as measured by the Russell 3000 Index, with large technology stocks leading the way. Stocks outside the U.S. returned 15.82%, as measured by the FTSE All-World ex US Index.
Investors shook off concerns as inflation fell, central banks slowed and eventually halted interest rate hikes, consumer spending remained strong, and the unemployment rate hit its lowest level in decades. Rising bond yields sparked a period of stock market volatility in the fall, but stocks rebounded toward year-end when yields fell.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 5.60% for the 12 months, 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), rose 8.75%.
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).
After extensive research, we enhanced our stock-selection model in February 2023 with an artificial-intelligence-driven component applied to each of our six themes. This AI approach relies on a proprietary deep-neural net architecture developed in-house to preserve the fundamentals-driven approach we espouse, while making our selection process sensitive to changing economic and market conditions.
The AI forecasts are blended with our traditional scores to generate an ensemble of daily stock rankings. We then follow our standard approach of monitoring the portfolio based on those rankings and adjust when appropriate. In addition, to properly assess the decisions of the model, we developed a suite of AI interpretability tools that allow us to
understand the drivers of the stock scores.
Our successes and shortfalls
Over the 12 months, all six of our submodels added to performance. Returns outpaced the benchmark in eight of 11 industry sectors, with energy, information technology, and industrials producing the strongest results. Financials, real estate, and health care were the only sectors that detracted from relative performance.
Our positions in energy benefited from strong selection in oil, gas, and consumable fuels companies. Strong selection in electric equipment instrument companies within IT also helped. These successes were somewhat held back by selection in pharmaceuticals in the health care sector.
At the individual stock level, overweight allocations to IT companies Elastic NV, Jabil, and Axcelis Technologies, as well as to e.l.f. Beauty in consumer staples and Modine Manufacturing in consumer discretionary, produced the best results. Overweight allocations to IT companies CommScope Holding and Maxeon Solar Technologies and health care companies Sangamo Therapeutics and Nevro, as well as an underweight to APA in energy, 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
Amid indications that the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate-hike campaign was effectively cooling inflation without upending the U.S. economy, investors bid stocks higher over the 12 months ended December 31. Both consumer and producer price inflation decelerated considerably during the period—to the point where central bank policymakers unanimously agreed to stand pat in June on their key lending rate. While the pause in June was followed by one more 25-basis-point rate hike in July, that pause capped a run of 10 straight rate hikes dating back to March 2022. (A basis point is one hundredth of a percentage point.)
Investment objective
Our investment process prioritizes the management of risk over the opportunity for return, and our goal is to build an enduring portfolio that can perform in a variety of market conditions. We look to build a portfolio that can mitigate capital losses on the downside and provide 100% upside participation during market recoveries.
Portfolio results
ACV Auctions contributed to the portfolio’s performance for the period. The company operates a digital wholesale auction marketplace to facilitate business-to-business used-car sales between sellers and dealers. It has disrupted the traditional physical used-car auction marketplace by attracting to its online platform thousands of dealers who
are drawn to ACV by its lower auction fees and large buyer base.
Matson, in industrials, also contributed to performance. Matson is a U.S.-based ocean and logistics company with a leading position in Pacific shipping that provides a vital lifeline to Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, as well as premium and expedited service from China to the United States. Matson's unique terminal assets give it a significant speed advantage over competitors, which has been especially valuable amid supply-chain disruptions.
HealthEquity, a provider of health savings accounts, was another strong contributor. Employers’ increasing adoption of high-deductible health insurance plans has boosted demand for HSAs, which provide consumers with an effective means of saving and paying for health-related expenses. Our investment thesis for HealthEquity is based on our belief that, as the market-leading U.S. provider of HSAs, the company will continue to benefit from rising demand trends.
Clean Harbors, a leading North American hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal management company, also contributed to performance. Particularly impressive are the industrial company’s hazardous-waste incinerators, which are nearly impossible to replicate. We also like its oil re-refinery business, which is gaining recognition as a sustainable source of motor oil.
Select holdings in the health care and information technology sectors weighed on returns for the period as QuidelOrtho and Consensus Cloud Solutions both struggled. QuidelOrtho is a global leader in the diagnostics industry. The merger of
Quidel and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics has resulted in a top-10 player in the in-vitro diagnostics industry, combining Quidel’s strong point-of-care platform with Ortho’s blood chemistry and transfusion platform. We believe the new company will be much more consistent in its ability to deliver steady top-line growth at attractive margins to fuel free-cash-flow growth.
Consensus Cloud Solutions offers cloud-based business services to small and midsize businesses; it was spun out of longtime holding J2 Global (now Ziff Davis) in the fourth quarter of 2022. Despite subpar performance over the past 12 months, Consensus has historically enjoyed a high percentage of recurring revenues, low churn, and high margins. We like its ability to perform well even during market downturns, the visibility of its 100% subscription-based model offers, and its recent emphasis on the health care business, which tends to have lower churn and higher average revenue per user.
Another IT holding that held back results was 8x8, a cloud communications provider that offers businesses a unified voice, contact center, video, and chat platform. The company in late 2020 hired a new CEO who has since refocused on market areas where 8x8 has competitive advantages and the potential to earn higher margins. In conjunction with this change in strategy, the company exited low-growth and low-margin product lines, which has led to what we believe is a temporary slowdown in revenue growth.
As always, we will continue to look for companies that can perform in a variety of market conditions and mitigate capital losses.
Trustees Approve Advisory Arrangement
The board of trustees of Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Small Company Growth Portfolio has renewed the portfolio’s investment advisory arrangements with ArrowMark Colorado Holdings, LLC (ArrowMark Partners). The board determined that renewing the portfolio’s advisory arrangements was in the best interests of the portfolio and its shareholders. The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), through its Quantitative Equity Group, is also an advisor to the fund.
The board based its decision upon an evaluation of the advisor’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. This evaluation included information provided to the board by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, which is responsible for fund and advisor oversight and product management. The Portfolio Review Department met regularly with the advisors and made presentations to the board during the fiscal year that directed the board’s focus to relevant information and topics.
The board, or an investment committee made up of board members, also received information throughout the year during advisor presentations. For each advisor presentation, the board was provided with letters and reports that included information about, among other things, the advisory firm and the advisor’s assessment of the investment environment, portfolio performance, and portfolio characteristics.
In addition, the board received periodic reports throughout the year, which included information about the portfolio’s performance relative to its peers and benchmark, as applicable, and updates, as needed, on the Portfolio Review Department’s ongoing assessment of the advisor.
Prior to their meeting, the trustees were provided with a memo and materials that summarized the information they received over the course of the year. They also considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangements. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decisions.
Nature, extent, and quality of services
The board reviewed the quality of the portfolio’s investment management services over both the short and long term, and took into account the organizational depth and stability of each advisor. The board considered that ArrowMark Partners, founded in 2007, offers a wide range of investment strategies—including equity, fixed income, and structured products—to institutional, high-net-worth, and individual investors. ArrowMark Partners has managed a portion of the portfolio since 2016.
The board concluded that the advisor’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory arrangement.
Investment performance
The board considered the performance of the portfolio, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance compared with a relevant benchmark index and peer group. The board concluded that the performance was such that the advisory arrangement should continue.
Cost
The board concluded that the portfolio’s expense ratio was below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group and that the portfolio’s advisory fee rate was also below the peer-group average.
The board did not consider the profitability of ArrowMark Partners in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because the firm is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
The benefit of economies of scale
The board concluded that the portfolio realizes economies of scale that are built into the negotiated advisory fee rate with ArrowMark Partners without any need for asset-level breakpoints. The advisory fee rate is very low relative to the average rate paid by funds in the portfolio’s peer group.
The board will consider whether to renew the advisory arrangement again after a one-year period.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm).
Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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.
collateral mitigates counterparty risk, in the event of a default, the portfolio may experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned. The portfolio invests cash collateral received in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, and records a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the return of the collateral, during the period the securities are on loan. Collateral investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are subject to market appreciation or depreciation. Securities lending income represents fees charged to borrowers plus income earned on invested cash collateral, less expenses associated with the loan. During the term of the loan, the portfolio is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities.
6. Credit Facilities and Interfund Lending Program: The portfolio and certain other funds managed by The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard") participate in a $4.3 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 included in Management and Administrative expenses on the portfolio’s Statement of Operations. 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, 2023, the portfolio did not utilize the credit facilities or the Interfund Lending Program.
7. Other: Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income includes income distributions received from Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and is accrued daily. 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 and are generally settled twice a month.
Upon the request of Vanguard, the portfolio may invest up to 0.40% of its net assets as capital in Vanguard. At December 31, 2023, the portfolio had contributed to Vanguard capital in the amount of $291,000, representing less than 0.01% of the portfolio’s net assets and 0.12% of Vanguard’s capital received pursuant to the FSA. The portfolio’s trustees and officers are also directors and employees, respectively, of Vanguard.
C. Various inputs may be used to determine the value of the portfolio’s investments and derivatives. 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 and derivatives valued with significant unobservable inputs are noted on the Schedule of Investments.
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 208 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.
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, the advisory board of the University of California, Berkeley School of Engineering, and the advisory board of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
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). 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: co-founder and managing partner (2022–present) of Grafton Street Partners (investment advisory firm). Chief investment officer (retired 2020) and vice president (retired 2020) of the University of Notre Dame. Chair of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors). Member of the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee, 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. Director of DuPont. 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 partner of HighVista Strategies (private investment firm). Member of the board of RIT Capital Partners (investment firm).
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, Duke Law School (2021–present); Rubenstein Fellow, Duke University (2017–2020); Distinguished Fellow of the Global Financial Markets Center, Duke Law School (2020–2022); and Senior Fellow, Duke Center on Risk (2020–present). Partner of Kaya Partners (climate policy advisory services). Member of the board of directors of Arcadia (energy solution technology).
Grant Reid
Born in 1959. Trustee since July 2023. Principal occupation(s) during the past five years and other experience: chief executive officer and president (2014–2022) and member of the board of directors (2015–2022) of Mars, Incorporated (multinational manufacturer). Member of the board of directors of Marriott International, Inc. Chair of Agribusiness Task Force, Sustainable Markets Initiative.
David 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. Trustee of Common Fund.
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
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.
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, 2023: $547,000
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $514,000
Aggregate Audit Fees of Registered Investment Companies in the Vanguard Group.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023: $9,326,156
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $10,494,508
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, 2023: $3,295,934
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $2,757,764
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, 2023: $1,678,928
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $5,202,689
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, 2023: $25,000
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $298,000
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, 2023: $1,703,928
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022: $5,500,689
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 during the period covered by this report, 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 23, 2024
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 23, 2024
| | Vanguard VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS | |
| | |
| BY: | /s/ CHRISTINE BUCHANAN* | |
| | CHRISTINE BUCHANAN | |
| | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | |
Date: February 23, 2024
Anne E. Robinson, pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on July 21, 2023 (see File Number 33-53683) and to a Power of Attorney filed on March 29, 2023 (see File Number 2-11444), Incorporated by Reference.
