Vanguard to Update Names of U.S. Equity Index Funds Tracking Morningstar Indexes

Vanguard announced it will change the names of several U.S. equity index funds that track the former CRSP Market Indexes, adding "Morningstar" to the fund names after Morningstar rebranded those benchmarks. The changes take effect on July 29, 2026, and will not alter the funds' investment objectives or management.

For example, the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund will become the Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market Index Fund. A full list of affected funds is available on Vanguard's website.

Vanguard's equity index funds began tracking the then-CRSP indexes in 2013. The benchmarks incorporate academic research and industry best practices, including rules-based construction, float-adjusted market capitalization, regular rebalancing, investability constraints, and thoughtful transition mechanisms for securities moving between styles or size segments.

"Index funds are designed to give investors broad, low-cost exposure to the markets, and that starts with the quality of the benchmarks they track," said Rodney Comegys, CIO of Vanguard Capital Management and Head of Global Equity. He noted that the Morningstar Indexes' rules-based approach aligns with Vanguard's long-standing views on index construction.

Amelia Furr, President of Morningstar Indexes, said the focus is on building benchmarks that investors and asset managers can rely on over time. She cited the rules-based approach, emphasis on investability, and thoughtful rebalancing practices as principles that align closely with Vanguard's index investing philosophy.

The name changes are purely cosmetic and reflect Morningstar's ownership of the indexes. Vanguard stressed that the funds will continue to offer low-cost, broadly diversified exposure to U.S. equity markets.