3 Vanguard ETFs to Buy to Protect Your Portfolio from a Potential Stock Market Crash

Core Insights - The article discusses the potential for a stock market crash and suggests that certain Vanguard funds can help mitigate losses during such an event [2] - It highlights the importance of diversifying investments to protect portfolios against market downturns [2] Group 1: Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF - The Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) is recommended as a safer investment option, especially in light of declining long-term Treasury reliability [3] - This ETF currently holds 92 U.S. Treasury bonds with an average duration of 1.9 years and has a low annual expense ratio of 0.03% [5] - The fund offers a 30-day SEC yield of approximately 3.6%, making it a relatively safe choice for investors [5] Group 2: Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF - The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) is noted for its potential to provide downside protection, owning 11,444 bonds with an average duration of 5.7 years [6][7] - Approximately 69% of its holdings are U.S. government bonds, while the remainder consists of corporate bonds rated BBB or higher [7] - The ETF has a 30-day SEC yield of nearly 4.2%, appealing to investors seeking higher income potential [8][9] Group 3: Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF - The Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) focuses on stocks that are expected to be less volatile, making it a suitable option for risk-averse investors [10][11] - The fund includes 186 stocks across 10 sectors, with top holdings in companies like Lam Research and Johnson & Johnson [11] - It has a beta of 0.56, indicating that it is likely to experience less volatility than the broader market during downturns, despite a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.13% [12][13]