Fund Evaluator:
Vanguard International Growth Inv (VWIGX)
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Best Performing in Foreign Large Growth Over the Last Year
| 31.7% | Saturna International Z (SIFZX) |
| 31.3% | Saturna International (SSIFX) |
| 29.5% | WCM Focused International Equity Inv (WLIVX) |
| 23.7% | American Fds EUPAC F-3 (FEUPX) |
| 23.5% | William Blair International Ldrs N (WILNX) |
Fund Details
Vanguard International Growth Inv Overview
Vanguard International Growth Inv (VWIGX) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Growth fund. Vanguard launched the fund in 1981.
The investment seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund manager employs an active management approach, investing mainly in stocks of companies located outside the United States. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in growth stocks.
About Vanguard International Growth Inv (VWIGX)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 9.27 years: Thomas Coutts (2016), Simon Webber (2009), Lawrence Burns (2020), James Gautrey (2020). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Vanguard International Growth Inv has 160 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 29.7% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Vanguard International Growth Inv is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Vanguard International Growth Inv has 88.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 9.1%. There is 88.5% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Vanguard International Growth Inv has 2.4% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $5 billion in total assets, which is above the $1 billion average for the Foreign Large Growth category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
VWIGX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Vanguard International Growth Inv expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Foreign Large Growth category. Vanguard International Growth Inv has an expense ratio of 0.38%, which is 63% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Vanguard International Growth Inv has a portfolio turnover rate of 23%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 51% for the Foreign Large Growth category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, Vanguard International Growth Inv returned 0.8%, which earned it a grade of D, as the Foreign Large Growth category had an average return of 1.5%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
Vanguard International Growth Inv has a trailing yield of 1.00%, which is above the 0.95% category average. The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Vanguard International Growth Inv Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 5.8%, 3.7 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 9.5% over the past year (grade of D), 12.0% over the past three years (grade of C) and 0.5% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 11.4% per year over the past 10 years (grade of A).
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VWIGX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| VWIGX Return (NAV) | 0.8% | 11.5% | 9.5% | 12.0% | 0.5% | 11.4% |
| VWIGX Grade | D | D | D | C | F | A |
| +/- Category | -0.8% | -2.7% | -3.5% | -0.5% | -3.4% | 2.6% |
| Foreign Large Growth Avg | 1.5% | 14.2% | 13.0% | 12.4% | 3.9% | 8.9% |
| VWIGX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% |
VWIGX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| VWIGX Return (NAV) | 5.8% | 20.1% | 9.4% | 14.7% | -30.9% | -0.8% | 59.6% | 31.3% | -12.7% | 43.0% | 1.7% |
| VWIGX Grade | D | C | A | D | F | F | A | B | B | A | A |
| +/- Category | -3.7% | 0.2% | 4.1% | -2.1% | -5.7% | -8.9% | 34.1% | 2.2% | 0.9% | 11.0% | 3.4% |
| Foreign Large Growth Avg | 9.5% | 19.9% | 5.3% | 16.7% | -25.2% | 8.1% | 25.4% | 29.2% | -13.6% | 32.0% | -1.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 16.1% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.33 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.07 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | D (75% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.01 |
| R-Squared: | 76% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $44400 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $5,626 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inv |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 23% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 16.5 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 9.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Webber Simon (2009), Coutts Thomas (2016), Burns Lawrence (2020), Gautrey James (2020) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 3/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 160 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 29.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 88.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 9.1% |
| Foreign Stock: | 88.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 2.4% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Vanguard |
| Phone Number: | 800-662-7447 |
| Website: | www.vanguard.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | September 30, 1981 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $50,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.38% ( Rating : Below Avg ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.03% |
| Share Class: | Vanguard International Growth Inv |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 1 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
