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Upturn AI SWOT - About
Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares (VAW)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
10/10/2025: VAW (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type ETF | Historic Profit -2.46% | Avg. Invested days 39 | Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | ETF Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/10/2025 |
Key Highlights
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 1.27 | 52 Weeks Range 160.75 - 213.05 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 160.75 - 213.05 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares
ETF Overview
Overview
Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares (VAW) seeks to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index, which measures the investment return of stocks of companies operating in the materials sector. It provides exposure to basic materials companies, including chemicals, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, and paper and forest products.
Reputation and Reliability
Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies and is known for its low-cost index funds and ETFs.
Management Expertise
Vanguard has a strong and experienced management team with a long track record of managing index funds effectively.
Investment Objective
Goal
To track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index.
Investment Approach and Strategy
Strategy: The fund employs a passive management strategy designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index.
Composition The ETF primarily holds stocks of companies in the materials sector.
Market Position
Market Share: VAW holds a significant market share within the materials sector ETFs.
Total Net Assets (AUM): 3649700000
Competitors
Key Competitors
- Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB)
- iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM)
- Invesco S&P SmallCap Materials ETF (PSCM)
Competitive Landscape
The materials ETF market is competitive, with XLB holding the largest market share. VAW's low expense ratio and Vanguard's reputation are advantages, while XLB's higher liquidity and brand recognition in the sector are strengths. IYM provides exposure to a broader range of materials companies but has a higher expense ratio.
Financial Performance
Historical Performance: Historical performance can be obtained through financial websites. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Benchmark Comparison: The ETF's performance closely tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index.
Expense Ratio: 0.1
Liquidity
Average Trading Volume
The ETF generally has moderate average trading volume, making it relatively easy to buy and sell shares.
Bid-Ask Spread
The bid-ask spread is typically narrow, reflecting good liquidity.
Market Dynamics
Market Environment Factors
Economic growth, inflation, interest rates, and global trade affect the materials sector and, consequently, the ETF's performance.
Growth Trajectory
The ETF's growth is tied to the performance of the materials sector, which can be cyclical and influenced by infrastructure spending, manufacturing activity, and commodity prices.
Moat and Competitive Advantages
Competitive Edge
VAW's competitive advantage lies in its low expense ratio, which is a hallmark of Vanguard ETFs. This cost advantage allows investors to retain more of their returns. Additionally, Vanguard's reputation for index tracking and its large asset base contribute to its attractiveness. The ETF's diversified holdings within the materials sector also reduce risk compared to single-stock investments. Finally, it passively tracks a well-known benchmark providing stable and predictable returns
Risk Analysis
Volatility
The ETF's volatility is similar to that of the broader materials sector.
Market Risk
The ETF is exposed to market risk, sector-specific risk (materials sector), and commodity price risk.
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
The ideal investor is someone seeking exposure to the materials sector for diversification or thematic investing purposes.
Market Risk
The ETF is suitable for long-term investors and passive index followers seeking broad exposure to the materials sector.
Summary
Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares (VAW) provides low-cost exposure to the materials sector by tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index. The fund is characterized by its low expense ratio and Vanguard's reputation for efficient index tracking. Its performance is closely tied to the materials sector, which can be cyclical. VAW is suitable for investors seeking long-term exposure to the materials sector for diversification or thematic investing. It carries market and sector-specific risks.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Vanguard's official website
- ETF.com
- Morningstar
Disclaimers:
This data is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market data is subject to change.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares
Exchange NYSE ARCA | Headquaters - | ||
IPO Launch date - | CEO - | ||
Sector - | Industry - | Full time employees - | Website |
Full time employees - | Website | ||
The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the index, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the materials sector, as classified under the GICS. The Advisor attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index. The fund is non-diversified.
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