All charts and data below are CPI-U inflation-adjusted and with dividends reinvested. (Why?)

Total Real Returns

VWELX: Total Real Return Chart (Dividends Reinvested, Inflation Adjusted)

VWELX real return snapshot: after CPI-U inflation, VWELX returned +5.91% over the past year and +2.39% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Dec. 26, 1979, VWELX is up +2,703.45% in real purchasing-power return, or +7.38%/yr, and is currently −2.10% below its real total-return high on Aug. 6, 2026.

Data ending Fri Oct. 16, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Fri 2026-10-16 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
VWELX × 		+2,703.45%
+7.38%/yr 		+8.00%/yr
R2=0.975
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares Mutual Fund

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Fri 2026-10-16 Start
Value 		End
Value
VWELX × 		$10,000.00
1979-12-26 		$280,344.88
2026-10-16

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-10-16

  YTD YoY
VWELX × 		+2.39% +5.91%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
VWELX × 		−2.10%
on 2026-10-16
from 2026-08-06 peak 		−37.24%
on 2009-03-09
from 2007-10-09 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Fri 2026-10-16 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
VWELX × 		+5.91% +16.38%
+7.88%/yr 		+40.27%
+11.94%/yr 		+19.05%
+3.55%/yr 		+85.77%
+6.39%/yr

Annual Returns

Year VWELX
2026 (YTD) +2.39%
2025 +13.51%
2024 +11.52%
2023 +10.59%
2022 −19.56%
2021 +11.17%
2020 +9.08%
2019 +19.78%
2018 −5.24%
2017 +12.35%
2016 +8.77%
2015 −0.18%
2014 +9.01%
2013 +17.92%
2012 +10.64%
2011 +0.87%
2010 +9.30%
2009 +19.00%
2008 −22.37%
2007 +4.07%
2006 +12.14%
2005 +3.28%
2004 +7.67%
2003 +18.52%
2002 −9.07%
2001 +2.59%
2000 +7.25%
1999 +29.55%
1998 +11.42%
1997 +21.17%
1996 +12.38%
1995 +29.63%
1994 −3.06%
1993 +10.63%
1992 +8.56%
1991 +18.44%
1990 −8.41%
1989 +20.38%
1988 +15.36%
1987 −1.06%
1986 +14.49%
1985 +21.25%
1984 −1.27%
1983 +7.02%
1982 +14.46%
1981 −13.33%
1980 +0.95%
1979 +0.04%