Vanguard’s suite of U.S. stock index funds are benchmarked to CRSP indexes. In addition, Vanguard offers sets of U.S. exchange-traded funds benchmarked to Russell and S&P indexes.
In 2018 the CRSP index funds had lower turnover rates in most style categories when compared to the Russell and S&P funds. This continues a trend seen in 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , and 2017 data. Low turnover rates can lead to lower fund transaction costs and can also help reduce the realization of taxable capital gains.
The fiscal years for the Russell and S&P index funds end in August, while the CRSP index funds’ fiscal year ends in December. The funds include the CRSP large cap, mid cap, and small cap index funds, along with the corresponding growth and value funds. The Russell funds comprise the Russell 1000 and Russell 1000 growth and value funds, as well as the Russell 2000 and Russell 2000 growth and value funds. Vanguard does not provide Russell mid-cap funds. The S&P funds are indexed to the S&P 500, S&P 400, and S&P 600 indexes, as well as to the growth and value indexes for each capitalization band.
As can be seen in the following table, CRSP based index funds consistently ranked among the lowest turnover funds. The low turnover rates are especially notable in the growth and value style indexes. The factor most likely behind these lower turnover rates is the technique of “packeting” which is an exclusive methodological feature of the CRSP index suite. Packeting is a procedure which is applied to stock migration across both capitalization and style dimensions. Once a stock migrates out of transition band, a packet of 50% of the security is shifted. If the security stays beyond the outer threshold in the following period, the remaining 50% is moved.
2018 Turnover rates
| Asset class | CRSP | Russell | S&P |
| Large Cap | 4.00% | 9.00% | 4.00% |
| Large Growth | 11.00% | 15.00% | 18.00% |
| Large Value | 8.00% | 16.00% | 20.00% |
| Mid Cap | 16.00% | – | 12.00% |
| Mid Growth | 25.00% | – | 43.00% |
| Mid Value | 17.00% | – | 36.00% |
| Small Cap | 15.00% | 19.00% | 13.00% |
| Small Growth | 22.00% | 38.00% | 37.00% |
| Small Value | 18.00% | 30.00% | 34.00% |
Average turnover
The five year average turnover for each fund category is tabulated below:
Average turnover rates (2014 -2018)
| Asset class | CRSP | Russell | S&P |
| Large Cap | 3.80% | 8.00% | 3.40% |
| Large Growth | 9.60% | 17.80% | 20.20% |
| Large Value | 7.60% | 17.40% | 21.20% |
| Mid Cap | 14.20% | – | 12.40% |
| Mid Growth | 21.80% | – | 41.20% |
| Mid Value | 17.60% | – | 36.00% |
| Small Cap | 13.00% | 19.28% | 15.04% |
| Small Growth | 23.30% | 34.10% | 48.00% |
| Small Value | 16.60% | 32.75% | 39.40% |
Data compiled on Vanguard US stock index fund turnover google spreadsheet.
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