VANGUARD PREFERRED STOCK FUND
N-30D, 2000-06-15
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<PAGE>
VANGUARD(R)
PREFERRED STOCK FUND

[PHOTO]

SEMIANNUAL REPORT
April 30, 2000

[THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]

<PAGE>

HAVE THE PRINCIPLES OF INVESTING CHANGED?

In a world  of  frenetic  change  in  business,  technology,  and the  financial
markets,  it is natural to wonder whether the basic principles of investing have
changed.

     We don't think so.

     The most  successful  investors  over the coming  decade  will be those who
began the new century with a fundamental  understanding  of risk and who had the
discipline to stick with long-term investment programs.

     Certainly,  investors  today  confront a challenging,  even  unprecedented,
environment.  Valuations of market  indexes are at or near historic  highs.  The
strength and duration of the bull market in U.S.  stocks have inflated  people's
expectations  and  diminished  their  recognition  of the market's  considerable
risks. And the incredible  divergence in stock returns--many  technology-related
stocks  gained  100% or more in 1999,  yet prices fell for more than half of all
stocks--has made some investors question the idea of diversification.

     And then there is the  Internet.  Undeniably,  it is a powerful  medium for
communications and transacting business.  For investors,  the Internet is a vast
source  of  information  about  investments,  and  online  trading  has  made it
inexpensive and convenient to trade stocks and invest in mutual funds.

     However,  new tools do not guarantee good  workmanship.  Information is not
the same as wisdom.  Indeed,  much of the information,  opinion,  and rumor that
swirl  about  financial  markets  each day  amounts  to  "noise"  of no  lasting
significance.  And the fact  that  rapid-fire  trading  is easy does not make it
beneficial.   Frequent  trading  is  almost  always  counterpro-ductive  because
costs--even at low commission rates--and taxes detract from the returns that the
markets  provide.  Sadly,  many  investors jump into a "hot" mutual fund just in
time to see it  cool  off.  Meanwhile,  long-term  fund  investors  are  hurt by
speculative  trading  activity  because they bear part of the costs  involved in
accommodating purchases and redemptions.

     Vanguard  believes that  intelligent  investors  should  resist  short-term
thinking and focus instead on a few time-tested principles:

     o Invest for the long term.  Pursuing your  long-term  investment  goals is
more like a marathon than a sprint.

     o Diversify  your  investments  with  holdings in stocks,  bonds,  and cash
investments.

Remember  that,  at any moment,  some part of a diversified  portfolio  will lag
other  parts,  and be  wary  of  taking  on  more  risk  by  "piling  onto"  the
best-performing  part of your holdings.  Today's leader could well be tomorrow's
laggard.

     o Step back from the daily  frenzy of the  markets;  focus on your  overall
asset allocation.

     o Capture as much of the market's  return as possible by  minimizing  costs
and taxes.  Costs and taxes  diminish  long-term  returns while doing nothing to
reduce the risks you incur as an investor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS

REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN        1          FUND PROFILE                    8
THE MARKETS IN PERSPECTIVE      4          PERFORMANCE SUMMARY            10
REPORT FROM THE ADVISER         6          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS           11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All  comparative  mutual fund data  arefrom  Lipper Inc. or  Morningstar,  Inc.,
unless otherwise noted.
"Standard & Poor's(R),"  "S&P(R),"  "S&P  500(R),"  "Standard & Poor's 500," and
"500" are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Frank Russell Company is the owner of trademarks and copyrights  relating to the
Russell Indexes.
"Wilshire 4500" and "Wilshire 5000" are trademarks of Wilshire Associates.


<PAGE>

REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN

[PHOTO]
JOHN J. BRENNAN

Vanguard  Preferred Stock Fund returned a  disappointing  -2.7% during the first
half of its 2000 fiscal year,  as  generally  higher  interest  rates made for a
difficult environment for fixed-income securities.

------------------------------------------------------------
                                         TOTAL RETURNS
                                        SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                         APRIL 30, 2000
------------------------------------------------------------
Vanguard Preferred Stock Fund               -2.7%
------------------------------------------------------------
Average Fixed-Income Fund*                   1.2%
------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch Fixed-Rate
 Preferred Stock Index**                    -3.4%
------------------------------------------------------------
 *Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.
**Merrill Lynch DRD-Eligible Preferred Index through
  February 2000; Merrill Lynch Fixed-Rate Preferred
  Stock Index thereafter.

     The adjacent table  compares your fund's  six-month  total return  (capital
change plus reinvested dividends) with the average return of fixed-income mutual
funds and the Merrill Lynch Fixed-Rate Preferred Stock Index, a broad measure of
the preferred stock market. As you can see, our result lagged the average return
of our peers but outpaced that of our unmanaged benchmark.

     Our return is based on a decrease  in net asset  value from $9.44 per share
on October 31, 1999,  to $8.89 per share on April 30, 2000,  and is adjusted for
the reinvestment of dividends  totaling $0.30 per share paid from net investment
income.  The  fund's  yield as of April 30 was  6.57%,  up from 6.14% six months
earlier.

     As we have pointed out in past  reports,  the market for  preferred  stocks
that are eligible for the federal  intercorporate  dividends-received  deduction
(DRD)--our  fund's bread and butter  since it was  launched in 1975--has  shrunk
significantly  over the past  decades as  companies  have  found  less-expensive
sources of financing.  Consequently,  Vanguard  Preferred  Stock Fund's Board of
Trustees  decided  late last year to change the fund's  investment  objective of
maximizing  dividend  income that qualifies for the DRD--a special tax deduction
available only to corporations, allowing them to exclude from taxable income 70%
of the income received from  DRD-eligible  securities.  Under its new objective,
Vanguard  Preferred  Stock  Fund will seek a high  level of  current  income,  a
significant portion--but not all--of which will be DRD-eligible. Accordingly, we
have changed the  unmanaged  benchmark  that we present as a comparison  for our
fund's  performance from the Merrill Lynch  DRD-Eligible  Preferred Index to the
Merrill Lynch  Fixed-Rate  Preferred Stock Index, a broader measure of preferred
stocks.

     Note:  Individual  investors,  who are  not  eligible  to use  the  special
corporate tax deduction for preferred stock dividends, are not fully compensated
for the fund's additional interest rate and credit risks.

THE PERIOD IN REVIEW

The U.S. economy displayed  remarkable vigor during the six months.  Its staying
power  was  impressive,  too:  April  marked  the 109th  month of  uninterrupted
expansion--more than nine years without a recession.  Preliminary  estimates for
the first  quarter of 2000  indicated  that the  economy  was  growing at a 5.4%
annual rate, a strong follow-up to the previous quarter's astounding 7.3% rate.

                                       1

<PAGE>

     A growing economy creates a good climate for stocks,  and the overall stock
market,  as measured by the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index,  rose 9.7% for the
half-year.  However,  concerns about  inflation and the high  valuations of many
tech stocks led to frequent market swings. The volatility was especially evident
among small-cap and technology  issues.  The small-cap  Russell 2000 Index,  for
example,  saw a 35.2% gain from October 31 through  February  29,  followed by a
-12.2% decline in March and April, resulting in an 18.7% half-year return.

     The  climate  was  not  quite  so  kind  to  bonds.   The  Federal  Reserve
Board--fearing that the economy's rapid expansion would ignite inflation--raised
short-term  interest rates by 25 basis points (0.25  percentage  point) on March
21--the third such  increase  during the half-year and the fifth in nine months.
The yield of 3-month U.S.  Treasury  bills  increased 74 basis points during the
half-year,  to 5.83% as of April 30. But yields of longer-term bonds didn't rise
as far. Indeed,  the U.S.  Treasury's  repurchase of some of its long-term bonds
caused yields on very long-term  Treasury  bonds to fall  slightly.  The 30-year
Treasury  bond's  yield on April 30 was  5.96%--20  basis  points below where it
started  the fiscal  year and 66 basis  points  below the 6.62%  yield on 3-year
Treasury  notes.  The yield for the 10-year  Treasury  note rose 19 basis points
during the period,  to 6.21%,  and the overall bond  market,  as measured by the
Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index, recorded a 1.4% total return.

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

Vanguard  Preferred  Stock  Fund's  return of -2.7% for the  half-year  was well
behind the 1.2% return of the average  fixed-income fund, which invests in bonds
with a wide  range of  maturities  and  quality  ratings.  Though  it is  little
consolation  during a period  when our return  was  negative,  our fund  handily
outpaced  its index  benchmark  during the six months.  An unmanaged  index,  of
course,  does not bear  administrative  and operating  expenses that  real-world
mutual funds must incur, and therefore is a consistently tough competitor.

     Though prices of long-term  U.S.  Treasury bonds rose and yields fell by 20
basis points during the six months, prices on preferreds fell and yields rose by
about 40 basis points to 7.0%. Although the immediate effect of a rise in yields
is a price decline for bonds, the long-term effect can be beneficial because the
resulting higher income stream can be reinvested at the new, higher,  prevailing
yields.  For the six months,  Vanguard  Preferred  Stock Fund's price decline of
-5.8% more than offset its income return of 3.1%.

     Several  important  distinctions  between the preferred  stocks held by our
fund and the securities  held by the average  fixed-income  fund account for the
difference in performance  over the past six months.  Our fund's strict focus on
preferred stocks means that our portfolio  generally has a longer duration and a
slightly lower credit quality than our average peer. The longer  duration of our
preferred  stocks makes their prices more sensitive to changes in interest rates
than  shorter-duration  bonds.  That means that preferred stock prices will rise
more when interest rates fall and decline more when rates rise.

     The relatively lower credit quality of Vanguard  Preferred Stock Fund stems
from the fact that preferred stocks fall behind bonds in  corporations'  capital
structures.  In other  words,  dividends  are  paid on  preferred  stocks  after
interest and principal due on bonds are paid, though before any dividends can be
paid on common  stock.  During the fiscal  half-year,  lower-quality  securities
generally  performed  worse than  those with  higher  credit  quality.  For more
information  on the preferred  stock market,  see the Report From The Adviser on
pages 6-7.
                                       2

<PAGE>

     It's  important to remember  that because  preferred  stocks are  extremely
sensitive to changes in interest rates,  their prices are subject to substantial
short-term  fluctuations.  Over  the  long  run  we  expect  our  returns  to be
competitive  with those of funds with similar  policies and objectives.  We base
this  belief on our  confidence  in the power of low costs.  Our  expense  ratio
(annualized  expenses as a percentage  of average net assets) was 0.38%,  just a
fraction  of the  1.04%  charged  by the  average  fixed-income  fund.  Our  low
operating  costs provide our fund with a significant  head start over  competing
funds.

IN SUMMARY
For  investors  in  fixed-income  securities,  the past six months have not been
rewarding. But although  income-producing bonds and preferred stocks have lagged
their  equity  counterparts  recently,  the  argument  for their  inclusion in a
balanced  portfolio is no less  persuasive.  Fixed-income  investments  add to a
portfolio's  diversification,  and  income  from  interest  and  dividends  is a
valuable and durable  component of total return that,  when compounded over long
periods,  can play an  important  role in helping  investors  build wealth while
adding to a portfolio's diversification.

     Investors who maintain exposure to the major asset classes through balanced
portfolios of well-diversified stock funds, fixed-income funds, and money market
funds have generally found it easier to maintain equilibrium in turbulent times.
We urge you to base your investment plans on your own goals,  time horizon,  and
risk tolerance--and then to stick with those plans over the long haul.


/S/
John J. Brennan
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

May 15, 2000



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS
In the past, the quarterly  income  dividend that Vanguard  Preferred Stock Fund
distributed  to  shareholders  was paid at a "set rate" of $0.14 per share.  Any
income the fund earned in excess of the set rate was distributed in the December
income dividend. Beginning with the dividend of $0.13 per share that was paid in
March 2000, the fund will distribute  income on a "pay as you go" basis,  rather
than  according  to a set rate.  This  policy  change  provides  for a more even
distribution of income throughout the year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       3


<PAGE>

THE MARKETS IN PERSPECTIVE
SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2000


A surging  economy,  rising  corporate  profits,  and  enthusiasm for technology
stocks  carried  broad stock  market  indexes  higher  during the  volatile  but
generally rewarding six months ended April 30, 2000.

     Stocks rose  despite a modest  pickup in  inflation  and a rise in interest
rates,  both of which did some  damage to bond  prices.  Through  the first four
months of the period,  the stock  market was  dominated  by  optimism  about the
long-term outlook for technology,  telecommunications,  and media companies. But
sentiment then shifted and the tech and telecom groups fell sharply, giving back
some of the spectacular gains achieved over the previous year or so.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              TOTAL RETURNS
                                        PERIODS ENDED APRIL 30, 2000
                                       -------------------------------
                                      6 MONTHS    1 YEAR     5 YEARS*
----------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKS
  S&P 500 Index                        7.2%       10.1%       25.3%
  Russell 2000 Index                  18.7        18.4        15.3
  Wilshire 5000 Index                  9.7        12.2        23.9
  MSCI EAFE Index                      6.8        14.2        10.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BONDS
  Lehman Aggregate Bond Index          1.4%        1.3%        6.8%
  Lehman 10 Year Municipal Bond Index  2.4        -0.3         6.1
  Salomon Smith Barney 3-Month
   U.S. Treasury Bill Index            2.7         5.1         5.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER
  Consumer Price Index                 1.8%        3.0%        2.4%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Annualized.

     For both bond and stock investors,  uncertainty  centered mainly on how the
Federal  Reserve  Board would react to the  surprising  performance  of the U.S.
economy,  which grew at a 7.3% pace in the final  three  months of 1999 and at a
still-robust 5.4% during the first quarter of 2000. With U.S.  unemployment at a
three-decade  low of 3.9%, Fed  policymakers  grew  increasingly  concerned that
inflation was bound to worsen. The Fed raised short-term  interest rates by 0.25
percentage  point  three  times  during  the  six-month  period.  These  boosts,
following  identical increases in June and August of 1999, took the Fed's target
for short-term rates to 6.0%. Yet the economy continued to soar--including  even
the housing and  automobile  sectors,  which often are the first to slow down in
response to higher interest rates.

     Inflation  gauges  provided  ambiguous  readings.  The Consumer Price Index
increased 1.8% and 3.0% for the 6- and 12-month periods ended April 30, but much
of the  acceleration in inflation was due to higher energy and food prices.  The
core inflation rate,  which excludes those sectors,  was up a less-ominous  2.2%
over the year.

U.S. STOCK MARKETS

The  technology  sector,  which  accounts  for  about  one-quarter  of the stock
market's  total  value,  dominated  the  market  during the  half-year,  despite
suffering a sharp setback late in the period.  Even after a -34% fall from March
10 through  mid-April,  the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index registered a 30.8%
return for the six months.

         The overall stock market, as measured by the Wilshire 5000 Total Market
Index,  gained  9.7%.  There was a decided  split in  results  from  large-  and
small-capitalization  stocks.

                                       4

<PAGE>

The  large-cap S&P 500 Index  returned  7.2%,  while the rest of the U.S.  stock
market gained 19.2%.

     Top performers during the half-year were companies in computer software and
hardware,    semiconductors,    Internet-related    businesses,   and   wireless
communications. Fully half of the 58 companies in the S&P 500's technology group
gained more than 50%,  and the average  return for tech stocks  exceeded  39%. A
number of  tech-related  companies in the  producer-durables  sector also posted
impressive  gains,  and the sector as a whole  returned 32%. A return of 34% was
achieved  by the  oil-drilling  and  services  companies  in the "other  energy"
category,  which benefited from higher oil and gas prices. The  worst-performing
sector was consumer staples (-18%), a category that includes supermarket,  food,
beverage,  and tobacco stocks.  Next in line were  financial-services  companies
(-7%), hurt by higher short-term  interest rates,  which tend to raise borrowing
costs for banks and can lead to increased loan defaults.

U.S. BOND MARKETS

The Federal  Reserve  Board's three rate increases  succeeded in elevating other
short-term rates. For example, yields of 3-month U.S. Treasury bills rose during
the half-year to 5.83%, an increase of 0.74  percentage  point (74 basis points)
that virtually  matched the Fed's target.  However,  long-term rates didn't move
nearly as far. The 10-year Treasury note rose just 19 basis points, to 6.21%, as
of April 30. And yields actually fell a bit for very long-term Treasury bonds, a
result of shrinking supply.  Because of the federal government's budget surplus,
the U.S.  Treasury  decided to reduce issuance of new bonds and to buy back some
of its existing long-term bonds. As investors reacted,  the yield of the 30-year
Treasury declined 20 basis points--from 6.16% to 5.96%--during the half-year.

     The result of higher short-term rates and relatively stable long-term rates
was an unusual  inversion  in the  Treasury  yield  curve.  Instead of the usual
upward-sloping   curve--which   shows   yields   increasing   in   tandem   with
maturities--there  was a  pronounced  drop-off.  As of April  30,  the  yield of
30-year Treasuries was two-thirds of a percentage point below the 6.62% yield on
3-year Treasury notes.

     A similar pattern emerged outside the Treasury market,  although  long-term
yields  remained  above  yields  for  short-term   corporate,   municipal,   and
mortgage-backed  securities.  The overall bond market, as measured by the Lehman
Aggregate  Bond Index,  provided a 1.4% return,  as an average  price decline of
-2.0% offset most of a 3.4% income return.

INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKETS

Despite  declines in March and April,  stock markets in Europe,  Asia,  and many
emerging  markets  produced  strong  half-year  gains as investors  responded to
improving global economic growth and a rise in corporate  merger-and-acquisition
activity.  However,  many of the gains were  slashed for U.S.  investors  as the
dollar gained  strength  against most other  currencies.  (Conversely,  when the
dollar falls in value, returns from abroad are enhanced for U.S. investors.)

     In U.S.-dollar terms, the overall return from developed foreign markets was
a very solid  6.8%,  as  measured by the Morgan  Stanley  Capital  International
Europe,  Australasia,  Far East Index.  However,  in local currencies,  the EAFE
Index return was 16.4%.

     In Europe,  an average  21.1% gain in  local-currency  terms was reduced to
8.4% for U.S. investors because of the dollar's strength.  Stocks in the Pacific
region,  which is dominated by Japan,  returned 3.6% in dollars,  less than half
the 7.5% gain in local  currencies.  The  Select  Emerging  Markets  Free  Index
returned 12.3% in U.S. dollars, with the biggest gains in Turkey (+148%), Russia
(+123%), and Israel (+50%).
                                       5

<PAGE>

REPORT FROM THE ADVISER

For the 6- and 12-month periods ended April 30, 2000,  Vanguard  Preferred Stock
Fund posted total returns of -2.7% and -7.5%, respectively.  These disappointing
returns were due to a persistent rise in yields and a  corresponding  decline in
prices for preferred stocks.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE PERIOD

The fiscal  year began  November  1, 1999,  with the yield of the  30-year  U.S.
Treasury  bond at 6.16% and the  yield of a  representative  preferred  stock at
6.63%.  Six months  later,  the long  Treasury  bond's yield was 20 basis points
lower, while preferred stock yields were up by 37 basis points.  Thus, the yield
differential  between  riskless  Treasuries  and preferred  stocks widened by 57
basis points. Given that prices of fixed-income investments move in the opposite
direction from yields,  the divergence in yields translated into a divergence in
price performance:  long-term Treasury prices rose a bit, while preferred prices
declined.  Oddly  enough,  the yields  for the two  markets  moved in  different
directions  even  though  the  supply  of both  preferreds  and  Treasuries  was
shrinking.

     A positive factor for preferred securities so far this fiscal year has been
the  absence  of  discussion   concerning  a  reduction  in  the  intercorporate
dividends-received  deduction (DRD)--a  provision that effectively  shields from
federal income tax 70% of the income from qualifying preferred stocks.  Although
proposals to reduce or eliminate  the DRD have been floated in the past, we know
of no such proposal currently.

MARKET UPDATE

There has been little, if any, new issuance of preferred stocks eligible for the
dividends-received  deduction  because cheaper ways of financing exist. Not only
has new issuance dried up, but companies  have a fairly high economic  incentive
to eliminate DRD-eligible preferred stocks from their balance sheets because the
preferred dividends, unlike the interest expense on bonds, cannot be deducted to
reduce  income  subject  to  taxes.  However,  corporate  tenders  and calls for
redemption of older  preferred  issues have ceased as interest rates have risen.
Essentially all of the issues that could be retired have been extinguished.

     The yield premium, or the difference in yields between risk-free Treasuries
and  other   fixed-income   securities,   widened  across  all  sectors  of  the
fixed-income  markets from January  through April 2000.  As the Federal  Reserve
Board  has  sought to  curtail  credit to slow the U.S.  economy's  growth,  the
marginal  borrower has had to pay a relatively  steeper price to obtain  credit.
Preferred stock issuers were no exception, since preferred stock is further down
the capital  structure  (that is,  preferred  dividends  are paid after all debt
obligations are serviced).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY
The adviser believes that the fund can provide a relatively high and sustainable
level  of  income  by  investing  primarily  in  dividend-paying,  high-quality,
preferred stocks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The  markets  don't know how high the  Federal  Reserve  will have to raise
short-term rates to achieve its goals. Given this uncertainty, risk premiums can
widen further  versus U.S.  Treasury  securities.  Today,  the after-tax  spread
between yields on a-rated,  utility-issued  perpetual preferreds and the 30-year
Treasury  yield is 239 basis  points,  up from 192 basis  points six months ago.
Over the past ten years,  the average

                                       6

<PAGE>

preferred/Treasury  yield  spread  has  been 197  basis  points.  Compared  with
municipal bonds, preferreds have provided an average extra after-tax yield of 62
basis points over this period.  The yield spread today is in the same  ballpark,
at 57 basis points. Thus, based on past standards, preferred stocks appear to be
fairly  inexpensive  in relation to  Treasuries  and  reasonably  valued  versus
municipals.

     Given the federal  government's  growing budget  surplus,  its need for new
revenue sources is less urgent, which reduces the chances that the Treasury will
again suggest  reducing the DRD.  However,  potential buyers of preferred stocks
are still generally  demanding that new  DRD-eligible  preferred  issues provide
protection  against a lowering of the DRD. The  prospectus  of a  "DRD-protected
issue"  states  that the issuer  will boost the  dividend if the DRD is lowered,
thus leaving the investor no worse off with respect to after-tax income. We view
this  protection as necessary  insurance  against a possible change in tax laws,
which could severely hurt prices for preferred stocks.  However,  the protection
usually expires 18 months after the security is issued.

INVESTMENT GOALS AND STRATEGY

The fund's  investment goals and strategy are consistent with those put in place
at the fund's inception in 1975. We purchase relatively  high-quality  preferred
stocks with the goal of providing  sustainable and attractive  after-tax income.
We attempt to control  income risk and  variability  by investing in  securities
with  call  protection  that are  issued by highly  creditworthy  companies.  We
attempt  to  ensure  stability  of  income  through  broad  diversification;  46
preferred stock issuers were represented in the fund as of April 30, 2000.

     The risk of a  reduction  in the  fund's  net  asset  value  from  either a
lowering  of the DRD or an  increase  in  long-term  interest  rates  is  always
present.  These  risks  cannot be hedged over the long term.  Preferreds,  which
generally do not have a stated maturity date,  perform very poorly when interest
rates are rising, just as they perform very well when interest rates decline. We
expect rates to rise slightly from today's levels because of a general expansion
in global economic  activity.  However,  we also expect inflation to remain in a
range of 2% to 3%, which should keep interest  rates from rising  substantially.
Nevertheless,  the  constant  warnings  by the Fed about the  historically  high
economic  growth  rate and the  potential  for greater  inflation  will keep the
fixed-income markets unnerved.

     As  of  April  30,   Vanguard   Preferred   Stock   Fund's   credit-quality
breakdown--based  on Moody's Investors Service  ratings--was  cash, 2%; aa-rated
securities,  26%; a, 50%; and baa,  22%.  Electric  utilities  were, by far, the
fund's largest industry exposure--securities from 25 issuers accounted for about
53% of the fund's assets.  High-quality  financial-services  issuers (with about
42% of assets) accounted for the next-largest industry exposure.

Earl E. McEvoy, Senior Vice President
Wellington Management Company, LLP

May 5, 2000

                                       7

<PAGE>

FUND PROFILE
PREFERRED STOCK FUND

This Profile provides a snapshot of the fund's  characteristics  as of April 30,
2000,  compared where  appropriate to an unmanaged  index.  Key elements of this
Profile are defined on page 9.

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          PREFERRED        MERRILL LYNCH
                                              STOCK               INDEX*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Securities                             55                  154
Yield                                          6.6%                 9.1%
Average Coupon                                 6.5%                 8.4%
Average Quality                                  a2                   a3
Turnover Rate                                  8%**                   --
Expense Ratio                               0.38%**                   --
Cash Reserves                                  2.0%                   --
 *Merrill Lynch Fixed-Rate Preferred Stock Index.
**Annualized.


DISTRIBUTION BY CREDIT QUALITY
(% OF PORTFOLIO)
---------------------------------------------------
Treasury/Agency                        0.0%
aaa                                    0.0
aa                                    25.6
a                                     50.5
baa                                   22.6
ba                                     0.0
b                                      0.0
Not Rated                              1.3
---------------------------------------------------
Total                               100.0%


DISTRIBUTION BY COUPON
(% OF PORTFOLIO)
---------------------------------------------------
Under 4%                               2.2%
4%-5%                                  4.2
5%-6%                                 22.9
6%-7%                                 42.5
7%-8%                                 28.2
8%-9%                                  0.0
9%-10%                                 0.0
Over 10%                               0.0
---------------------------------------------------
Total                                100.0%


TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
(% OF TOTAL NET ASSETS)
---------------------------------------------------
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.            10.6%
Alabama Power Co.                            4.7
Citigroup, Inc.                              4.6
Florida Power & Light Co.                    4.4
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.                 4.3
SLM Holding Corp.                            4.1
South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.            3.9
PPL Electric Utilities Corp.                 3.7
PacifiCorp                                   3.2
TXU Electric Co.                             3.2
---------------------------------------------------
Top Ten                                     46.7%


SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION (% OF PREFERRED STOCKS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           APRIL 30, 1999          APRIL 30, 2000
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
                          PREFERRED STOCK         PREFERRED STOCK
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
Auto & Transportation           0.0%                   0.0%
Consumer Discretionary          0.0                    0.0
Consumer Staples                1.5                    0.3
Financial Services             52.1                   41.5
Health Care                     0.0                    0.0
Integrated Oils                 0.0                    0.0
Other Energy                    1.3                    1.2
Materials & Processing          0.5                    2.8
Producer Durables               0.0                    0.0
Technology                      0.4                    0.6
Utilities                      44.2                   53.6
Other                           0.0                    0.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       8

<PAGE>

AVERAGE COUPON. The average interest rate paid on the securities held by a fund.
It is expressed as a percentage of face value.

AVERAGE QUALITY.  An indicator of credit risk, this figure is the average of the
ratings assigned to a fund's securities holdings by credit-rating  agencies. The
agencies make their  judgment after  appraising an issuer's  ability to meet its
obligations.  Quality  is  graded on a scale,  with  "aaa"  indicating  the most
creditworthy issuers.

CASH  RESERVES.  The  percentage  of a  fund's  net  assets  invested  in  "cash
equivalents"--highly liquid, short-term, interest-bearing securities.

DISTRIBUTION  BY COUPON.  A breakdown of the  securities in a fund  according to
coupon rate--the  interest rate that an issuer promises to pay,  expressed as an
annual percentage of face value. Securities with unusually high coupon rates may
be  subject  to call  risk,  the  possibility  that  they will be  redeemed  (or
"called") early by the issuer.

DISTRIBUTION BY CREDIT QUALITY.  This breakdown of a fund's securities by credit
rating can help in gauging the risk that  returns  could be affected by defaults
or other credit problems.

EXPENSE  RATIO.  The  percentage of a fund's  average net assets used to pay its
annual  administrative  and advisory  expenses.  These expenses  directly reduce
returns to investors.

NUMBER OF SECURITIES.  An indicator of  diversification.  The more  securities a
fund holds,  the more  diversified  it is, and the less  susceptible  to a price
decline stemming from the problems of a particular company.

SECTOR DIVERSIFICATION.  The percentage of preferred stocks from issuers in each
of the major industry groups that compose the stock market.

TEN LARGEST  HOLDINGS.  The percentage of net assets that a fund has invested in
its ten largest holdings.  As this percentage rises, a fund's returns are likely
to be more  volatile  because  they are more  dependent on the fortunes of a few
companies.

TURNOVER RATE. An indication of trading  activity during the period.  Funds with
high  turnover  rates  incur  higher  transaction  costs and are more  likely to
distribute capital gains (which are taxable to investors).

YIELD.  A snapshot of a fund's  income from interest and  dividends.  The yield,
expressed  as a  percentage  of the fund's net asset  value,  is based on income
earned over the past 30 days and is  annualized,  or  projected  forward for the
coming year.  The index yield is the rate of return an investor would receive if
the securities were held to their maturity dates.

                                       9

<PAGE>


PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
PREFERRED STOCK FUND

All of the data on this page represent past performance, which cannot be used to
predict  future returns that may be achieved by the fund.  Note,  too, that both
share  price and  return  can  fluctuate  widely.  An  investor's  shares,  when
redeemed, could be worth more or less than their original cost.


TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURNS: OCTOBER 31, 1979-APRIL 30, 2000
---------------------------------------------------------
              PREFERRED STOCK FUND         MERRILL LYNCH
                                               INDEX*
FISCAL   CAPITAL      INCOME     TOTAL         TOTAL
YEAR     RETURN       RETURN    RETURN         RETURN
---------------------------------------------------------
1980       -9.1%       10.3%      1.2%         -3.4%
1981      -10.9        11.4       0.5          -3.7
1982       17.5        18.6      36.1          27.0
1983        1.5        11.9      13.4          16.6
1984       -6.9        12.5       5.6           5.3
1985        9.7        14.2      23.9          23.4
1986       20.7        11.9      32.6          37.9
1987      -17.8         7.2     -10.6          -3.8
1988        0.5        11.9      12.4           8.7
1989        8.6         7.2      15.8          12.3
1990       -4.6         8.9       4.3          -3.1
---------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------
              PREFERRED STOCK FUND         MERRILL LYNCH
                                               INDEX*
FISCAL   CAPITAL      INCOME     TOTAL         TOTAL
YEAR     RETURN       RETURN    RETURN         RETURN
---------------------------------------------------------
1991       10.2%       10.6%     20.8%         28.8%
1992        2.9         8.4      11.3          13.5
1993        7.2         8.4      15.6          10.4
1994      -15.2         6.7      -8.5          -5.0
1995       15.1         8.7      23.8          18.0
1996        0.6         7.4       8.0           7.4
1997        5.2         7.2      12.4           8.8
1998        1.9         6.1       8.0           6.4
1999       -7.8         5.3      -2.5           1.2
2000**     -5.8         3.1      -2.7          -3.4
---------------------------------------------------------

*S&P Preferred Index through March 1989; Merrill Lynch Perpetual Preferred Index
through  January  1997;  Merrill  Lynch  DRD-Eligible  Preferred  Index  through
February 2000; Merrill Lynch Fixed-Rate Preferred Stock Index thereafter.
**Six months ended April 30, 2000.
See  Financial  Highlights  table  on page 15 for  dividend  and  capital  gains
information for the past five years.


AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS: PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 10 YEARS
                      INCEPTION                         ------------------------
                        DATE      1 YEAR    5 YEARS     CAPITAL  INCOME   TOTAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred Stock Fund  12/3/1975   -6.31%     7.40%       1.15%    7.59%   8.74%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEC rules require that we provide this average annual total return  information
through the latest calendar quarter.

                                       10

<PAGE>


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
APRIL 30, 2000 (UNAUDITED)


STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS

This Statement  provides a detailed list of the fund's holdings,  including each
security's market value on the last day of the reporting period.  Securities are
grouped and  subtotaled by asset type  (preferred  stocks,  bonds,  etc.) and by
industry sector. Other assets are added to, and liabilities are subtracted from,
the value of Total Investments to calculate the fund's Net Assets.  Finally, Net
Assets are divided by the outstanding  shares of the fund to arrive at its share
price, or Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share.

     At the end of the Statement of Net Assets, you will find a table displaying
the  composition of the fund's net assets on both a dollar and per-share  basis.
Because all income and any realized gains must be  distributed  to  shareholders
each year, the bulk of net assets consists of Paid in Capital (money invested by
shareholders).  The amounts shown for  Undistributed  Net Investment  Income and
Accumulated  Net  Realized  Gains  usually  approximate  the  sums  the fund had
available to distribute to shareholders as income  dividends or capital gains as
of the statement date. Any Accumulated Net Realized  Losses,  and any cumulative
excess of  distributions  over net income or net realized gains,  will appear as
negative  balances.  Unrealized  Appreciation  (Depreciation)  is the difference
between the market value of the fund's  investments and their cost, and reflects
the gains  (losses)  that would be  realized if the fund were to sell all of its
investments at their statement-date values.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    MARKET
                                                                    VALUE*
PREFERRED STOCK FUND                           SHARES               (000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREFERRED STOCKS (98.0%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER STAPLES (0.3%)
  Stokely-Van Camp Corp. 5.00%                 45,000           $      596
                                                            --------------------
ENERGY (1.2%)
  Apache Corp. 5.68%                           35,000                2,761
                                                            --------------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES (40.6%)
   BANKS--NEW YORK CITY (4.9%)
   The Chase Manhattan Corp.
    4.96%                                     100,000                4,575
   HSBC USA, Inc. 2.8575%                      50,000                2,091
   J. P. Morgan & Co., Inc. 6.625%            100,000                4,975

   BANKS--OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY (7.0%)
(1)ABN-AMRO North America 6.59%                 4,000                3,796
   Comerica, Inc. 6.84%                        50,000                2,530
   FleetBoston Financial Corp.
    6.75%                                     125,000                6,375
   PNC Financial Services Group
    6.05%                                      25,000                1,265
   Wells Fargo & Co. 6.59%                     50,000                2,541

   DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES (4.6%)
   Citigroup, Inc. 6.365%                     225,000               10,800

   FINANCE COMPANIES (5.1%)
   Heller Financial, Inc. 6.687%               25,000                2,325
   SLM Holding Corp. 6.97%                    200,000                9,600

   FINANCIAL--MISCELLANEOUS (14.2%)
   Federal Home Loan Mortgage
    Corp. 5.00%                               300,000               11,850
   Federal Home Loan Mortgage
    Corp. 5.10%                               100,000                4,100
   Federal Home Loan Mortgage
    Corp. 5.79%                               200,000                8,918
   Federal National Mortgage
    Assn. 6.45%                               100,000                5,056
   MBNA Corp. 7.50%                           150,000                3,619

   INSURANCE--PROPERTY-CASUALTY (2.1%)
(1)Hillbrook Insurance Co. 5.90%                   55                4,923

   SECURITIES BROKERS & SERVICES (2.7%)
    Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
     Co. 7.75%                                125,000                6,410
                                                            --------------------
                                                                    95,749
                                                            --------------------
MATERIALS & PROCESSING (2.8%)
 Alcoa, Inc. $3.75                             77,490                4,146
 E.I. du Pont de Nemours &
   Co. 3.50%                                   15,600                  821
 E.I. du Pont de Nemours &
   Co. $4.50                                   22,925                1,550
                                                            --------------------
                                                                     6,517
                                                            --------------------
TECHNOLOGY (0.6%)
 International Business Machines
  Corp. 7.50%                                  57,500                1,459
                                                            --------------------

                                       11

<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    MARKET
                                                                    VALUE*
PREFERRED STOCK FUND                           SHARES               (000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTILITIES--ELECTRICAL (52.5%)
   Alabama Power Co. 5.20%                    550,000               11,000
   Baltimore Gas & Electric
    Co. 6.70%                                  20,000                1,990
   Baltimore Gas & Electric
    Co. 6.99%                                  25,000                2,594
   Baltimore Gas & Electric
    Co. 7.125%                                 52,000                5,421
   Boston Edison Co. 4.78%                      2,000                  131
   Carolina Power & Light Co. 5.44%             4,319                  330
   Duke Energy Corp. 7.85%                     20,544                2,198
   Duquesne Light Co. 3.75%                     4,200                  110
   Duquesne Light Co. 4.15%                     9,160                  259
   Florida Power & Light Co. 6.98%            100,000               10,238
   Idaho Power Co. 7.07%                       25,000                2,330
   Indianapolis Power & Light 5.65%            75,000                6,225
   Monongahela Power Co. 7.73%                 50,000                5,137
   PECO Energy Co. $7.48                       50,000                4,977
   PPL Electric Utilities Corp.
    6.75%                                      85,000                8,797
   PSI Energy Inc. 6.875%                      40,000                3,995
   Pacific Gas & Electric Co. 7.04%           210,000                5,342
   PacifiCorp 7.48%                            75,000                7,575
   Potomac Electric Power Co. $2.28            37,000                1,211
   Potomac Electric Power Co. $2.46            35,000                1,233
   Puget Sound Energy 7.45%                   200,000                5,350
   San Diego Gas & Electric
    Co. $1.70                                 140,000                3,324
   Sierra Pacific Power Co. 7.80%             200,000                4,990
   South Carolina Electric & Gas
    Co. 6.52%                                 100,000                9,150
   TXU Electric Co. $1.875                    112,800                2,820
   TXU Electric Co. $7.98                      45,000                4,674
   Union Electric Co. $4.56                    12,150                  796
   Union Electric Co. $7.64                    25,000                2,624
   Virginia Electric & Power
    Co. $6.98                                  60,000                5,989
   Wisconsin Power & Light
    Co. 6.20%                                  18,500                1,702
   Wisconsin Public Service
    Corp. 6.88                                 10,000                1,013
                                                            --------------------
                                                                   123,525
                                                            --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS
  (Cost $249,336)                                                  230,607
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 FACE               MARKET
                                               AMOUNT               VALUE*
                                               (000)                (000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENT (1.0%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
Collateralized by U.S. Government
  Obligations in a Pooled
  Cash Account
  5.75%, 5/1/2000
  (COST $2,427)                                $2,427           $    2,427
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.0%)
  (COST $251,763)                                                  233,034
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (1.0%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Assets--Note C                                                3,138
Liabilities                                                          (848)
                                                            --------------------
                                                                     2,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS (100%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicable to 26,484,807 outstanding $.001
  par value shares of beneficial interest
  (unlimited authorization)                                       $235,324
================================================================================

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE                                            $8.89
================================================================================
 *See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.
 (1)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities
  Act of 1933.  These  securities  may be sold in  transactions  exempt  from
  registration,  normally to  qualified  institutional  buyers.  At April 30,
  2000, the aggregate value of these securities was $8,719,000,  representing
  3.7% of net assets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 AT APRIL 30, 2000, NET ASSETS CONSISTED OF:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      AMOUNT           PER
                                                       (000)         SHARE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Paid in Capital                                   $260,125         $9.83
 Undistributed Net
  Investment Income                                     760           .03
 Accumulated Net Realized Loss                       (6,832)         (.26)
 Unrealized Depreciation--Note E                    (18,729)         (.71)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 NET ASSETS                                        $235,324         $8.89
================================================================================

                                       12

<PAGE>

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
This Statement  shows dividend and interest income earned by the fund during the
reporting period,  and details the operating expenses charged to the fund. These
expenses  directly  reduce the amount of investment  income  available to pay to
shareholders  as  dividends.  This  Statement  also  shows  any Net Gain  (Loss)
realized  on the  sale of  investments,  and the  increase  or  decrease  in the
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on investments during the period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      PREFERRED STOCK FUND
                                                 SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2000
                                                                  (000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT INCOME
INCOME
   Dividends                                                          $   8,949
   Interest                                                                  95
                                                                       ---------
      Total Income                                                        9,044
                                                                       ---------
EXPENSES
   Investment Advisory Fee--Note B                                          181
   The Vanguard Group--Note C
      Management and Administrative                                         284
      Marketing and Distribution                                             27
   Custodian Fees                                                             9
   Auditing Fees                                                              4
   Shareholders' Reports                                                      9
                                                                       ---------
      Total Expenses                                                        514
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME                                                     8,530
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REALIZED NET LOSS ON INVESTMENT SECURITIES SOLD                          (6,639)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION)
 OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES                                               (10,373)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING
 FROM OPERATIONS                                                      $  (8,482)

                                       13

<PAGE>

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

This Statement shows how the fund's total net assets changed during the two most
recent reporting periods. The Operations section summarizes information detailed
in  the  Statement  of  Operations.   The  amounts  shown  as  Distributions  to
shareholders  from the fund's net  income  and  capital  gains may not match the
amounts shown in the Operations section, because distributions are determined on
a tax  basis  and may be made in a period  different  from the one in which  the
income was earned or the gains were  realized on the financial  statements.  The
Capital Share Transactions section shows the amount shareholders invested in the
fund,  either by purchasing shares or by reinvesting  distributions,  as well as
the amounts redeemed.  The  corresponding  numbers of Shares Issued and Redeemed
are shown at the end of the Statement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  PREFERRED STOCK FUND
                                                                          ----- ---------------------------
                                                                             SIX MONTHS                YEAR
                                                                                  ENDED               ENDED
                                                                          APR. 30, 2000       OCT. 31, 1999
                                                                                  (000)               (000)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                               <C>                 <C>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS
OPERATIONS
   Net Investment Income                                                   $     8,530         $    20,619
   Realized Net Gain (Loss)                                                     (6,639)               (110)
   Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)                            (10,373)            (28,274)
                                                                           --------------------------------
      Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations                      (8,482)             (7,765)
                                                                           --------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
   Net Investment Income                                                        (8,947)            (19,870)
   Realized Capital Gain                                                            --              (4,518)
                                                                           --------------------------------
      Total Distributions                                                       (8,947)            (24,388)
                                                                           --------------------------------
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS1
   Issued                                                                       13,498              86,045
   Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions                                          6,485              18,858
   Redeemed                                                                    (81,782)           (138,952)
                                                                           --------------------------------
      Net Decrease from Capital Share Transactions                             (61,799)            (34,049)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total Decrease                                                              (79,228)            (66,202)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS
   Beginning of Period                                                         314,552             380,754
                                                                           --------------------------------
   End of Period                                                              $235,324            $314,552
===========================================================================================================

1Shares Issued (Redeemed)
   Issued                                                                        1,488               8,516
   Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions                                            716               1,886
   Redeemed                                                                     (9,039)            (13,836)

      Net  Decrease in Shares Outstanding                                       (6,835)             (3,434)
===========================================================================================================
</TABLE>

                                       14

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

This table  summarizes  the  fund's  investment  results  and  distributions  to
shareholders on a per-share  basis. It also presents the fund's Total Return and
shows net  investment  income and expenses as percentages of average net assets.
These data will help you assess:  the  variability  of the fund's net income and
total returns from year to year;  the relative  contributions  of net income and
capital gains to the fund's total return; how much it costs to operate the fund;
and the extent to which the fund tends to distribute  capital  gains.  The table
also  shows the  Portfolio  Turnover  Rate,  a measure of  trading  activity.  A
turnover  rate of 100% means that the  average  security is held in the fund for
one year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       PREFERRED STOCK FUND
                                                                       YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING               SIX MONTHS ENDED    -----------------------------------------------------
THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD                 APRIL 30, 2000        1999        1998       1997     1996      1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>          <C>         <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD            $9.44       $10.36      $10.17     $9.67    $9.61     $8.35
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
   Net Investment Income                          .29         .590         .58       .63      .69       .66
   Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investments                             (.54)       (.825)        .22       .53      .04      1.25

   Total from Investment Operations              (.25)       (.235)        .80      1.16      .73      1.91

DISTRIBUTIONS
   Dividends from Net Investment
      Income                                     (.30)       (.560)       (.61)     (.66)    (.67)     (.65)
   Distributions from Realized
      Capital Gains                               --         (.125)        --        --       --         --

      Total Distributions                        (.30)       (.685)       (.61)     (.66)    (.67)     (.65)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD                  $8.89      $  9.44      $10.36    $10.17    $9.67     $9.61
===============================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN                                    -2.68%       -2.47%      8.00%    12.44%    8.04%     23.79%
===============================================================================================================

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
  Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)           $235         $315        $381      $320     $286      $308
  Ratio of Total Expenses to
    Average Net Assets                          0.38%*       0.36%       0.36%     0.37%    0.39%     0.52%
  Ratio of Net Investment Income to
    Average Net Assets                          6.34%*       5.76%       5.60%     6.41%    7.23%     7.43%
  Portfolio Turnover Rate                          8%*         11%         39%       34%      31%       20%
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

*Annualized.



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Vanguard  Preferred Stock Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940 as a diversified open-end investment company, or mutual fund.

A. The following  significant  accounting policies conform to generally accepted
accounting  principles  for mutual  funds.  The fund  consistently  follows such
policies in preparing its financial statements.

     1. SECURITY  VALUATION:  Equity  securities are valued at the latest quoted
sales  prices  as of the  close  of  trading  on the  New  York  Stock  Exchange
(generally  4:00 p.m.  Eastern time) on the valuation  date; such securities not
traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and
asked  prices.  Prices are taken from the primary  market in which each security
trades.  Bonds are valued using the lastest bid prices or using valuations based
on a matrix system (which  considers  such factors as security  prices,  yields,
maturities,  and ratings),  both as furnished by independent  pricing  services.
Temporary cash investments are valued at cost, which approximates  market value.
Securities for which market  quotations are not readily  available are valued by
methods deemed by the Board of Trustees to represent fair value.

                                       15

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

     2.  FEDERAL  INCOME  TAXES:  The fund  intends to  continue to qualify as a
regulated   investment  company  and  distribute  all  of  its  taxable  income.
Accordingly,  no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial
statements.

     3.  REPURCHASE  AGREEMENTS:  The fund,  along  with  other  members  of The
Vanguard  Group,  transfers  uninvested  cash balances to a Pooled Cash Account,
which  is  invested  in  repurchase   agreements  secured  by  U.S.   government
securities.  Securities pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements are held
by a custodian bank until the agreements  mature.  Each agreement  requires that
the market value of the  collateral be sufficient to cover  payments of interest
and principal; however, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party
to  the  agreement,  retention  of  the  collateral  may  be  subject  to  legal
proceedings.

     4.  DISTRIBUTIONS:  Distributions  to  shareholders  are  recorded  on  the
ex-dividend  date.  Distributions  are  determined on a tax basis and may differ
from net investment  income and realized  capital gains for financial  reporting
purposes.

     5. OTHER:  Dividend  income is recorded on the ex-dividend  date.  Security
transactions  are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs
used to determine  realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment  securities
are those of the specific securities sold.

B. Wellington  Management Company, LLP, provides investment advisory services to
the fund for a fee  calculated  at an  annual  percentage  rate of  average  net
assets. For the six months ended April 30, 2000, the advisory fee represented an
effective annual rate of 0.13% of the fund's average net assets.

C. The Vanguard Group  furnishes at cost corporate  management,  administrative,
marketing,  and distribution  services. The costs of such services are allocated
to the fund  under  methods  approved  by the  Board of  Trustees.  The fund has
committed to provide up to 0.40% of its net assets in capital  contributions  to
Vanguard.  At April 30,  2000,  the fund had  contributed  capital of $46,000 to
Vanguard (included in Other Assets), representing 0.02% of the fund's net assets
and 0.1% of Vanguard's capitalization. The fund's Trustees and officers are also
Directors and officers of Vanguard.

D. During the six months ended April 30, 2000, the fund purchased $10,151,000 of
investment securities and sold $79,614,000 of investment securities,  other than
U.S. government securities and temporary cash investments.

     At October 31, 1999, the fund had available a capital loss  carryforward of
$110,000 to offset future net capital gains through October 31, 2007.

E. At April 30, 2000, net unrealized  depreciation of investment  securities for
financial reporting and federal income tax purposes was $18,729,000,  consisting
of unrealized  gains of  $1,381,000 on securities  that had risen in value since
their  purchase and  $20,110,000  in unrealized  losses on  securities  that had
fallen in value since their purchase.

                                       16

<PAGE>

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THE PEOPLE WHO GOVERN YOUR FUND

The  Trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and
managed in your best interests  since,  as a shareholder,  you are part owner of
the fund.  Your  fund  Trustees  also  serve on the  Board of  Directors  of The
Vanguard  Group,  which is owned by the  funds  and  exists  solely  to  provide
services to them on an at-cost basis.

   Seven of Vanguard's  eight board members are  independent,  meaning that they
have no  affiliation  with  Vanguard or the funds they  oversee,  apart from the
sizable personal investments they have made as private  individuals.  They bring
distinguished  backgrounds  in business,  academia,  and public service to their
task of working with Vanguard officers to establish the policies and oversee the
activities of the funds.

   Among board members'  responsibilities  are selecting investment advisers for
the  funds;  monitoring  fund  operations,  performance,  and  costs;  reviewing
contracts;  nominating  and  selecting  new  Trustees/Directors;   and  electing
Vanguard officers.

         The  list  below  provides  a  brief   description  of  each  Trustee's
professional affiliations. Noted in parentheses is the year in which the Trustee
joined the Vanguard Board.

TRUSTEES

JOHN J. BRENNAN  (1987)  Chairman of the Board,  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and
Director/Trustee  of The  Vanguard  Group,  Inc.,  and  each  of the  investment
companies in The Vanguard Group.

JOANN HEFFERNAN HEISEN  (1998) Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and a
member of the  Executive  Committee of Johnson & Johnson;  Director of Johnson &
JohnsonoMerck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., The Medical Center at Princeton, and
Women's Research and Education Institute.

BRUCE K.  MACLAURY  (1990)  President  Emeritus  of The  Brookings  Institution;
Director of  American  Express  Bank Ltd.,  The St. Paul  Companies,  Inc.,  and
National Steel Corp.

BURTON G. MALKIEL  (1977)  Chemical  Bank  Chairman's  Professor  of  Economics,
Princeton  University;  Director of Prudential  Insurance Co. of America,  Banco
Bilbao Gestinova,  Baker Fentress & Co., The Jeffrey Co., and Select Sector SPDR
Trust.

ALFRED M. RANKIN, JR. (1993) Chairman,  President,  Chief Executive Officer, and
Director of NACCO Industries, Inc.; Director of The BFGoodrich Co.

JOHN C.  SAWHILL  (1991)  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of The Nature
Conservancy;  formerly,  Director  and  Senior  Partner  of  McKinsey  & Co. and
President  of New York  University;  Director of Pacific Gas and  Electric  Co.,
Procter & Gamble Co., NACCO Industries, and Newfield Exploration Co.

JAMES O. WELCH,  JR. (1971) Retired  Chairman of Nabisco Brands,  Inc.;  retired
Vice Chairman and Director of RJR Nabisco;  Director of TECO Energy,  Inc.,  and
Kmart Corp.

J. LAWRENCE  WILSON  (1985)  Retired  Chairman of Rohm & Haas Co.;  Director of
AmeriSource Health Corporation,  Cummins Engine Co., and The Mead Corp.; Trustee
of Vanderbilt University.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTHER FUND OFFICERS

RAYMOND J.  KLAPINSKY    Secretary;  Managing  Director  and  Secretary  of The
Vanguard  Group,  Inc.;  Secretary  of each of the  investment  companies in The
Vanguard Group.

THOMAS J. HIGGINS  Treasurer;  Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Treasurer
of each of the investment companies in The Vanguard Group.


VANGUARD MANAGING DIRECTORS

R. GREGORY BARTON  Legal Department.

ROBERT A. DISTEFANO  Information Technology.

JAMES H. GATELY  Individual Investor Group.

KATHLEEN C. GUBANICH  Human Resources.

IAN A. MACKINNON  Fixed Income Group.

F. WILLIAM MCNABB, III  Institutional Investor Group.

MICHAEL S. MILLER  Planning and Development.

RALPH K. PACKARD  Chief Financial Officer.

GEORGE U. SAUTER  Quantitative Equity Group.


<PAGE>

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[THE VANGUARD GROUP(R) LOGO]
Post Office Box 2600
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482-2600


ABOUT OUR COVER
Our cover art,  depicting HMS Vanguard at sea,
is a reproduction  of Leading the Way, a 1984 work created
and  copyrighted by noted naval artist Tom Freeman,
of Forest Hill, Maryland.

WORLD WIDE WEB
www.vanguard.com

FUND INFORMATION
1-800-662-7447

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT SERVICES
1-800-662-2739

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR SERVICES
1-800-523-1036


This report is intended for the fund's
shareholders.  It may not be distributed
to  prospective  investors  unless it
is preceded or  accompanied by the
current fund prospectus.



Q382-062000

(C)2000 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Vanguard Marketing
Corporation, Distributor.





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