Vanguard
Explorer Fund
Fund Profile
October 28, 1997
A member of
The Vanguard Group
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1 OBJECTIVE
Vanguard Explorer Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth. The Fund may
not meet this objective.
2 INVESTMENT STRATEGY
The Fund invests in stocks of small companies (that is, those with an average
market value of less than $1 billion). These companies tend to be unseasoned but
are considered to have favorable prospects for growth. In addition to investing
in common stocks, the Fund may also invest, to a limited degree, in short-term
fixed-income securities, and futures and options contracts.
3 RISKS
The Fund's total return will fluctuate, so an investor could lose money over
short or extended periods. More specifically, investors in the Fund are exposed
to:
- - A HIGH degree of STOCK MARKET RISK (the possibility that stock prices in
general will decline over short or extended periods).
Historical returns for the U.S. stock market (as measured by the Standard &
Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index) show some of this market volatility.
From 1926 to 1996, the S&P 500 Index provided an annualized total return of
10.7%, but provided a negative return--averaging -12.3%--in 20 of these 71
years. Annual returns for the period ranged from a low of -43.3% to a high of
53.9%.
Because it emphasizes the stocks of smaller companies, the Fund is likely to
perform differently than broader market benchmarks like the S&P 500 Index.
4 APPROPRIATENESS
This Fund may be suitable for investors who:
- - Are seeking long-term capital growth.
- - Are willing to assume above-average investment risk.
- - Want an aggressive growth fund as part of a balanced investment
program.
- - Plan to invest for at least five years.
The Fund is not suitable for investors who:
- - Are seeking current income.
- - Cannot tolerate fluctuating share prices.
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5 FEES AND EXPENSES
Vanguard Explorer Fund--like all Vanguard funds--is offered on a pure no-load
basis (that is, the Fund has no 12b-1 fees or charges to buy or sell shares).
The Fund's operating expenses are deducted from its total assets before daily
share prices and income distributions are calculated. The Fund's expense ratio
for fiscal year 1996 was 0.63% of assets.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
- ------------------------------
Investment Advisory Fees.............. 0.35%
Distribution Costs.................... 0.02
Other Expenses........................ 0.26
----
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES.............. 0.63%
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The following example illustrates the expenses that you would incur on a $1,000
investment over various periods, assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return and (2)
redemption at the end of each period.
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ----------------------------------------------------------
$6 $20 $35 $79
This example should not be considered to represent past or future expenses or
performance. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown.
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6 PAST PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE
ANNUAL RETURNS (%) 1987-1996
VANGUARD RUSSELL
EXPLORER FUND 2000 INDEX*
1987 -6.9 -8.8
1988 25.8 24.9
1989 9.4 16.2
1990 -10.8 -19.5
1991 55.9 46.1
1992 13.0 18.4
1993 15.4 18.9
1994 0.5 -1.8
1995 26.6 28.4
1996 14.0 16.5
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997)
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
EXPLORER FUND RUSSELL 2000*
1 Year 22.0% 33.2%
5 Years 18.6% 20.5%
10 Years 12.5% 12.2%
Note: In evaluating past performance, it is important to consider that returns
from stocks were close to their highest levels in history during the past ten
years. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
Performance figures include the reinvestment of all dividends and any capital
gains distributions. All returns are net of expenses. The performance data
quoted represent past performance. The investment return and principal value of
an investment will fluctuate so that investors' shares, when redeemed, may be
worth more or less than their original cost.
*The Russell 2000 Index is a diversified group of some 2,000 securities used to
measure the performance of small-company stocks. An index is unmanaged; you
cannot invest in an index. Frank Russell Company is the owner of trademarks and
copyrights relating to the Russell Indexes.
"Standard & Poor's 500," "S&P 500(R)," "Standard & Poor's(R)," "S&P(R)," and
"500" are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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7 INVESTMENT ADVISER
The Fund employs four advisers; each runs its portion of the Fund independently.
The principals are (1) John J. Granahan, President of Granahan Investment
Management, Inc., which managed 51.1% of the Fund's assets invested in equities
as of September 30, 1997; (2)Kenneth L. Abrams, Vice President of Wellington
Management Company, LLP (31.5% of equities); (3) Edward N. Antoian, Partner of
Chartwell Investment Partners (8.7% of equities); and (4) George U. Sauter,
Managing Director-Vanguard Core Management Group (8.7% of equities). Mr.
Granahan has advised Explorer Fund since 1990. Mr. Abrams has overseen his
firm's portion since 1994. Mr. Antoian and Mr. Sauter began overseeing their
portions of the Fund's assets on August 1, 1997.
8 PURCHASES
You may purchase shares by mail, wire, or exchange from another Vanguard fund.
The minimum initial investment is $3,000 ($1,000 for IRAs and custodial accounts
for minors).
9 REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES
You may redeem or exchange shares by sending a letter to or calling Vanguard.
You may exchange shares through our website at http://www.vanguard.com.* The
Fund's share price is expected to fluctuate and, at redemption, may be higher or
lower than when purchased, resulting in a taxable gain or a loss.
10 DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund expects to pay dividend and capital gains distributions annually. These
can be automatically reinvested or received in cash. All distributions are
taxable to you whether reinvested or received in cash.
11 OTHER SERVICES
- - Vanguard Fund Express(R)--electronic transfers between your bank
account and the Fund.
- - Vanguard Tele-Account(R)--around-the-clock access to Vanguard fund
information, account balances, and some transactions by calling
1-800-662-6273 (ON-BOARD).
- - Investor Information--toll-free access to Vanguard Associates by
calling 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP).
*Before using this service, you must register through our website and obtain a
confidential password.
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[THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]
Post Office Box 2600
Valley Forge, PA 19482
Toll-Free Investor
Information
1-800-662-7447
World Wide Web
http://www.vanguard.com
E-mail
[email protected]
This Fund Profile contains key information about the Fund. If you would like
more information before you invest, please consult the Fund's accompanying
prospectus. For details about the Fund's holdings or recent investment
strategies, please review the Fund's most recent annual or semiannual report.
The prospectus and reports can be obtained at no cost by calling Vanguard.
(C) 1997 Vanguard Marketing
Corporation, Distributor
FP24 o 1097-5.5A
