Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Beta 1.22: the stock has moved about 22% more than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 18, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnswerVanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) trades at $138.45. Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) offers investors broad exposure to the U.S. small-cap equity market. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 18, 2026Analyst Coverage for VSMAX: VSMAX does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) Financial Services Profile
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) provides broad, low-cost exposure to the U.S. small-cap equity market by tracking an index of small-sized companies. It is designed for investors seeking to diversify their portfolios with a small-cap allocation, while acknowledging the inherent volatility of this market segment.
What Is the Investment Thesis for VSMAX?
VSMAX presents an investment opportunity for those seeking broad exposure to the U.S. small-cap equity market. Its low expense ratio and passive management style offer cost-effective diversification. A key value driver is the potential for long-term capital appreciation as small-cap stocks historically outperform large-cap stocks over extended periods. Upcoming catalysts include potential economic recovery and infrastructure spending, which could disproportionately benefit smaller companies. However, investors may want to evaluate the fund's higher volatility compared to large-cap funds and the potential for underperformance during economic downturns. The fund's beta of 1.22 indicates higher sensitivity to market movements.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
VSMAX Key Highlights
VSMAX provides exposure to the small-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market.
- The fund operates with a low expense ratio, making it a cost-effective investment option.
- VSMAX's passive management style aims to replicate the performance of its benchmark index.
- The fund offers diversification across a broad range of small-cap stocks.
- VSMAX is suitable for investors seeking long-term capital appreciation through small-cap exposure.
Who Are VSMAX's Competitors?
VSMAX is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VCSAX Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares | $107.75 | +0.37% | $8.71B | — |
| VEMPX Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares | $440.53 | +0.97% | $97.4B | — |
| VEMRX Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares | $125.38 | +0.67% | $166B | — |
| VEXAX Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | $178.52 | +0.97% | $97.4B | — |
| VGSNX Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Institutional Shares | $19.63 | +0.46% | $64.6B | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1059.63 | -0.44% | $164B | 49 5-pillar |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $111.74 | -0.45% | $135B | 67 5-pillar |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.59 | -0.23% | $74.8B | 55 5-pillar |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are VSMAX's Key Strengths?
Low expense ratio
- Broad diversification across small-cap stocks
- Passive management style
- Strong brand reputation of Vanguard
What Are VSMAX's Weaknesses?
Higher volatility compared to large-cap funds
- Potential for underperformance during economic downturns
- Limited potential for outperformance due to passive management
- Dependent on the performance of the small-cap market
What Are the Key Risks for VSMAX?
Higher volatility compared to large-cap funds.
- Underperformance during economic downturns.
- Competition from other low-cost index funds.
- Changes in investor sentiment towards passive investing.
What Threats Does VSMAX Face?
- Competition from other low-cost index funds
- Economic downturns negatively impacting small-cap stocks
- Changes in investor sentiment towards passive investing
- Regulatory changes affecting the asset management industry
What Are VSMAX's Competitive Advantages?
- Low Expense Ratio: VSMAX's low expense ratio provides a cost advantage over actively managed funds and higher-cost index funds.
- Brand Reputation: Vanguard's strong brand reputation and established position in the asset management industry enhance investor confidence.
- Scale: Vanguard's large scale allows VSMAX to operate efficiently and maintain low costs.
- Passive Management: The fund's passive management style reduces the need for active stock selection and lowers operating expenses.
What Does VSMAX Do?
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) is a passively managed fund designed to mirror the performance of the small-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. As part of the Vanguard Group, known for its low-cost investment philosophy, VSMAX offers investors an efficient way to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of small-cap stocks. The fund operates by tracking a benchmark index composed of small-sized companies across various sectors, providing a broad representation of the small-cap market. VSMAX's investment strategy focuses on replicating the index's holdings, minimizing tracking error and maintaining a low expense ratio. This approach aims to deliver returns that closely align with the overall performance of the small-cap market, making it a suitable option for investors seeking diversified exposure to this asset class. The fund's structure and management style are geared towards long-term investment objectives, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and broad market representation within the small-cap space. VSMAX is available to investors seeking to diversify their portfolios with a small-cap allocation, offering a simple and low-cost solution for accessing this market segment.
What Products and Services Does VSMAX Offer?
- Provides investors with exposure to the small-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market.
- Tracks a benchmark index composed of small-sized companies across various sectors.
- Offers a low-cost investment option for accessing the small-cap market.
- Replicates the index's holdings to minimize tracking error.
- Maintains a low expense ratio to enhance cost-effectiveness.
- Provides diversification across a broad range of small-cap stocks.
- Offers a passively managed investment strategy.
How Does VSMAX Make Money?
- Tracks a benchmark index of small-cap stocks.
- Generates revenue through a small percentage-based expense ratio charged on assets under management (AUM).
- Maintains a diversified portfolio of small-cap stocks to replicate the index's performance.
What Industry Does VSMAX Operate In?
VSMAX operates within the asset management industry, specifically focusing on index funds. The industry is characterized by increasing demand for passive investment strategies and low-cost investment options. VSMAX competes with other small-cap index funds and ETFs, as well as actively managed small-cap funds. The growth of the asset management industry is driven by factors such as rising disposable incomes, increasing awareness of investment opportunities, and the growing popularity of retirement savings plans. VSMAX benefits from the trend towards passive investing and its established position within the Vanguard Group.
Who Are VSMAX's Key Customers?
- Individual investors seeking exposure to small-cap stocks.
- Financial advisors looking for low-cost investment options for their clients.
- Retirement plan participants seeking diversified investment options.
- Institutional investors seeking to allocate a portion of their assets to small-cap equities.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is a fund, not an operating company
MoonshotScore History
Recorded daily since 2026-08-23 · 41 snapshots
| 2026-08-23 | 47 |
| 2026-08-31 | 47 |
| 2026-09-08 | 47 |
| 2026-09-16 | 47 |
| 2026-09-24 | 47 |
| 2026-10-04 | 47 |
What changed?
The score has stayed at 47.
Over the same 30 days the stock moved -3.7%.
VSMAX Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Low expense ratio
- Broad diversification across small-cap stocks
- Passive management style
- Strong brand reputation of Vanguard
Bear Case
- Higher volatility compared to large-cap funds
- Potential for underperformance during economic downturns
- Limited potential for outperformance due to passive management
- Dependent on the performance of the small-cap market
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
VSMAX Latest News
No recent news available for VSMAX.
VSMAX Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for VSMAX.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for VSMAX.
VSMAX MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for VSMAX; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
What Investors Ask About Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) — Financials
What do analysts say about VSMAX stock?
VSMAX is generally viewed as a cost-effective way to gain exposure to the U.S. small-cap equity market. Analysts note its low expense ratio and passive management style as key advantages.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- AI analysis pending for VSMAX
- Financial data is based on available information and may be subject to change.