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 +6.85% over the past year and +3.69% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Dec. 26, 1979, VWELX is up +2,739.04% in real purchasing-power return, or +7.41%/yr, and is currently −0.86% below its real total-return high on Aug. 6, 2026.

Data ending Tue Oct. 6, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Tue 2026-10-06 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
VWELX × 		+2,739.04%
+7.41%/yr 		+8.00%/yr
R2=0.975
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares Mutual Fund

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Tue 2026-10-06 Start
Value 		End
Value
VWELX × 		$10,000.00
1979-12-26 		$283,903.58
2026-10-06

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-10-06

  YTD YoY
VWELX × 		+3.69% +6.85%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
VWELX × 		−0.86%
on 2026-10-06
from 2026-08-06 peak 		−37.24%
on 2009-03-09
from 2007-10-09 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Tue 2026-10-06 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
VWELX × 		+6.85% +18.98%
+9.08%/yr 		+44.19%
+12.97%/yr 		+22.09%
+4.07%/yr 		+86.66%
+6.44%/yr

Annual Returns

Year VWELX
2026 (YTD) +3.69%
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%