VFMF uses a multifactor, rules-based approach targeting value, momentum, and quality, but has underperformed its Russell 3000 benchmark. Despite a reasonable mandate and low fees, VFMF's returns and risk-adjusted performance lag behind passive alternatives like IWV. The fund's portfolio skews toward small-caps and value traps, contributing to volatility and underwhelming risk-adjusted returns.
If you've been an investor for any length of time at all, then you've almost certainly been advised to start (and maybe even finish) with index funds like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. This fund is of course simply meant to mirror the performance of the S&P 500.
Factor investing, despite mixed results, remains intriguing. The Vanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF targets value, momentum, and quality to potentially outperform the broader U.S. market. VFMF's rule-based, non-market-cap approach allows dynamic adjustments, offering diversification with a mid-cap tilt and lower valuation metrics compared to the Russell 3000. The fund actively allocates sectors, notably underweighting technology and overweighting financials, which could be advantageous given current market conditions.
VFMF is a Vanguard ETF aiming to beat the market by focusing on stocks with strong price performance, superior fundamentals, and cheap prices. Factors used include value, momentum, and quality, with a focus on screening out high volatility stocks. Sector breakdown, portfolio fundamentals, and key stats of top holdings reveal potential risks and uncertainties, warranting a hold rating due to lack of support of information by Vanguard.