Volatility surged, and stock markets slumped during the first quarter of 2022. When the period began, rising prices and the prospect of less accommodative monetary policy were already weighing on market sentiment. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine injected more uncertainty. Energy prices soared, helping to push consumer prices to multidecade highs across much of the world. Central banks raised short-term interest rates, and growth prospects dimmed.
In March, stocks regained some ground but finished the quarter down more than 5%, as measured by the FTSE Global All Cap Index. U.S. stocks performed roughly in line with the global market. Asia-Pacific stocks declined more modestly, and European and emerging-market stocks were among the laggards.
Yields of U.S. Treasuries rose across the maturity spectrum, with more movement at the shorter end of the curve, given the prospect of more Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. The average spread in yields between Treasuries and corporate bonds widened. The broad U.S. investment-grade bond market declined about 6% (as measured by the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index).
U.S. bond market
The broad bond market returned –6.01% for the quarter, as measured by the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. In general, higher-quality bonds with shorter maturities held up the best. Within the corporate sector, bonds of financial institutions (–6.72%) did better than those of industrials (–8.03%) and utilities (–8.80%).
The Fed in March approved a rate increase of 0.25 percentage point, its first increase since December 2018, and signaled more rate hikes to come in 2022. The bellwether 10-year Treasury note yield finished the quarter at 2.34%, up from 1.51% three months earlier.
For the 12 months, the broad U.S. bond market returned –4.08%.
U.S. stock market
- For the quarter, the broad-market Russell 3000 Index returned –5.28%. Large-capitalization stocks held up better than small-caps, and value stocks outpaced growth stocks.
- For the 12 months ended March 31, the Russell 3000 Index returned 11.92%, led by technology, energy, healthcare, and financial stocks.
Money Market
- Money market yields rose during the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund yield stood at 0.18%. The weighted average life of the fund on March 31 was 52 days. The fund maintained its high-quality portfolio and benefited from broad diversification and low fees.
International stock market
- Stocks of developed non-U.S. markets (–5.27%) held up better than their emerging-market counterparts, which returned –5.46% for the quarter. Within developed markets, the Pacific region outpaced Europe.
- For the 12 months, stocks outside the United States returned –0.87%, as measured by the FTSE All-World ex U.S. Index. Energy, basic materials, and financials were the top-performing sectors.
Footnotes
- Expense ratios are assessed by the Vanguard mutual funds/exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and vary based on allocation; Vanguard Charitable does not itself charge investment fees. While they may be invested in mutual funds or ETFs, the investment options are not themselves mutual funds, nor are they publicly traded. They are not available for investment by any individual or organization apart from Vanguard Charitable. As such, prospectuses only exist for the underlying mutual funds, and not for the Vanguard Charitable investment options.
- Account expense ratios utilize the Institutional plus share class of the underlying Vanguard mutual funds where applicable.
- Income benchmark: 80% Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, 14% Spliced Total Stock Market Index, 6% Spliced Total International Stock Market Index. Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index: Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index thereafter. Spliced Total Stock Market Index: Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index through April 22, 2005; MSCI US Broad Market Index through June 2, 2013; and CRSP US Total Market Index thereafter. Spliced Total International Stock Market Index: Total International Composite Index through August 31, 2006; MSCI EAFE + Emerging Markets Index through December 15, 2010; MSCI ACWI ex US IMI Index through June 2, 2013; and FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index thereafter.
- Conservative Growth benchmark: 60% Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, 30% Spliced Total Stock Market Index, and 10% Spliced Total International Stock Index. Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index: Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index thereafter. Spliced Total Stock Market Index: Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index through April 22, 2005; MSCI US Broad Market Index through June 2, 2013; and CRSP US Total Market Index thereafter. Spliced Total International Stock Market Index:Total International Composite Index through August 31, 2006; MSCI EAFE + Emerging Markets Index through December 15, 2010; MSCI ACWI ex US IMI Index through June 2, 2013; and FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index thereafter.
- Moderate Growth benchmark: 60% Wilshire 5000 Index and 40% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; 45% Balanced Composite Index, 45% Wellington Composite Index, and 10% Spliced Total International Stock Index thereafter. Balanced Composite Index: Made up of two unmanaged benchmarks, weighted 60% Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index and 40% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index through May 31, 2005; 60% MSCI US Broad Market Index and 40% Bloomberg Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index through January 14, 2013; and 60% CRSP US Total Market Index and 40% Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index thereafter. Wellington Composite Index: 65% S&P 500 Index and 35% Lehman Long Credit AA or Better Index through February 29, 2000; 65% S&P 500 Index and 35% Bloomberg Barclays Capital Credit A or Better Index thereafter. Spliced Total International Stock Market Index: Total International Composite Index through August 31, 2006; MSCI EAFE + Emerging Markets Index through December 15, 2010; MSCI ACWI ex US IMI Index through June 2, 2013; and FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index thereafter.
- Growth benchmark: 80% Wilshire 5000 Index and 20% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; 55% Spliced Total Stock Market Index, 20% Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, and 25% Spliced Total International Stock Market Index thereafter. Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index: Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index thereafter. Spliced Total Stock Market Index: Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index through April 22, 2005; MSCI US Broad Market Index through June 2, 2013; and CRSP US Total Market Index thereafter. Spliced Total International Stock Market Index: Total International Composite Index through August 31, 2006; MSCI EAFE + Emerging Markets Index through December 15, 2010; MSCI ACWI ex US IMI Index through June 2, 2013; and FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index thereafter.
- Total Bond benchmark: Spliced Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index reflects the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index thereafter.
- Total International Bond benchmark: Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index Hedged: Includes government, government agency, corporate, and securitized non-U.S. investment grade fixed-income investments, all issued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and with maturities of more than one year.
- Total Equity benchmark: 55% S&P 500 Index, 15% S&P Completion Index, and 30% Spliced Total International Stock Market Index. Spliced Total International Stock Market Index: Total International Composite Index through August 31, 2006; MSCI EAFE + Emerging Markets Index through December 15, 2010; MSCI ACWI ex US IMI Index through June 2, 2013; and FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index thereafter.
- Total U.S. Stock benchmark: Total U.S. Stock benchmark: Spliced Total Stock Market Index reflects the performance of the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index through April 22, 2005; MSCI US Broad Market Index through June 2, 2013; and CRSP US Total Market Index thereafter.
- Total International Stock benchmark: Spliced Total International Stock Market Index reflects the performance of the Total International Composite Index through August 31, 2006; MSCI EAFE + Emerging Markets Index through December 15, 2010; MSCI ACWI ex US IMI Index through June 2, 2013; and FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index thereafter.
- Balanced Index benchmark: Balanced Composite Index: Weighted 60% Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index (formerly known as the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index) and 40% Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Bond Index through May 31, 2005; 60% MSCI US Broad Market Index and 40% Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index through December 31, 2009; 60% MSCI US Broad Market Index and 40% Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index through January 14, 2013; and 60% CRSP US Total Market Index and 40% Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index thereafter.
- Wellington benchmark: Wellington Composite Index: 65% S&P 500 Index and 35% Lehman U.S. Long Credit AA or Better Bond Index through February 29, 2000; 65% S&P 500 Index and 35% Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Credit A or Better Bond Index thereafter.
- TIFF MAP: An actively managed, globally diversified portfolio of traditional and alternative investments, MAP features an annualized expense ratio that is greater than that of passive portfolios or active/passive mixed portfolios. Performance is shown net of all fees and expenses. For the year-ended 12/31/2021, the annualized expense ratio was 1.51%. This fee includes 0.18% of performance fees paid to external managers and 0.35% of expenses for securities sold short. The Multi-Asset Pool is generally available to accounts with ongoing balances over $100,000. Refer to our Policies & Guidelines for more information.
- European Stock benchmark: Spliced European Stock Index reflects performance of the MSCI Europe Index through March 26, 2013; FTSE Developed Europe Index through September 30, 2015; and FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index thereafter.
- Pacific Stock benchmark: Spliced Pacific Stock Index reflects performance of the MSCI Pacific Index through March 26, 2013; FTSE Developed Asia Pacific Index through September 30, 2015; and FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index thereafter.
- Emerging Markets benchmark: Spliced Emerging Markets Index reflects performance of the Select Emerging Markets Index through August 23, 2006; the MSCI Emerging Markets Index through January 9, 2013; the FTSE Emerging Transition Index through June 27, 2013; the FTSE Emerging Index through November 1, 2015; the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Transition Index through September 18, 2016; and the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index thereafter.
- Underlying funds for the Values-Driven Investment options are Vanguard exchange-traded funds. However, all Vanguard Charitable investment options are traded once daily and pricing is based on the NAV.
- ESG U.S. Stock benchmark: FTSE U.S. All Cap Choice Index
- ESG International Stock benchmark: FTSE Global All Cap ex U.S. Choice Index
- ESG Global Stock Pool Benchmark: Weighted 70% FTSE U.S. All Cap Choice Index and 30% FTSE Global All Cap ex U.S. Choice Index.
- The potential for risk in Vanguard funds can be categorized in levels from 1 to 5. Learn more in our FAQs.
- Any Portfolio Solutions option can be combined with other Solutions, Portfolio Builders, and Values-Driven Investment options.

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