Is VDAL a good ETF?
VDAL is the Vanguard Diversified All Growth Index ETF from Vanguard. We classify it under AU and Intl. With about $443 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, VDAL has delivered 10.96% a year over 1 year (ranked 115th of 308 ETFs we track).
The management fee of 0.27% is reasonable. That's cheaper than the typical 0.43% for similar ETFs. If cost is your priority, DHHF (0.19%) and IGRO (0.22%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a moderate 2.49% yield.
Portfolio turnover is very low at about 8% a year — the portfolio barely changes from year to year, much like a classic buy-and-hold index fund. Very little of its return is lost to trading or to capital gains being realised early, making it highly tax-efficient.
Strengths
- Low-cost: a 0.27% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
Things to watch
- Cheaper alternatives exist: DHHF and IGRO.
Good to know
- Distributions are 25% franked, a tax bonus for Australian residents.
- Australian focus means franked dividends and no currency risk, but heavy concentration in banks and miners.
What VDAL's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
Australian shares. Home-market familiarity, fully franked dividends and no currency risk for local investors — but very concentrated in banks and miners, which dominate the index.
- Market regime
- Sensitive to commodity prices, Chinese demand and domestic interest rates. Generous income, but narrow sector diversification.
- In a portfolio
- A natural core for Australian investors thanks to franking, but should be paired with global exposure so you aren't over-reliant on a handful of banks and resource giants.
Global and international shares from outside Australia — broadening you into thousands of companies and the sectors (tech, healthcare) the local market lacks.
- Market regime
- Essential diversification away from the bank-and-resources-heavy ASX. Unhedged versions carry currency risk; hedged versions remove it at a small cost.
- In a portfolio
- A core holding for almost every long-term Australian portfolio.
General information only, generated from the fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.