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Index Medalists

These index funds provide a lot of diversification at a very low cost.
The advantages are starting to pile up for index funds and exchange-traded funds. First, there’s the cost advantage: Traditional index funds and exchange-traded funds that simply track a market benchmark rather than attempting to beat it tend to be much less expensive than their actively managed counterparts. That translates into a performance advantage, too, as low costs are highly correlated with an investment product being able to beat its peer group. Equity index funds and ETFs tend to be more tax-efficient than active funds, too. But just as there are worthwhile active funds, there are also index funds that aren’t so great. Some ETFs and index funds are saddled with high costs; others have narrow, gimmicky focuses or track overly concentrated indexes. Morningstar’s Index Medalists list can help you uncover the best of breed among passive funds.
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Name
Ticker
Morningstar Category
Medalist Rating
Overall
ABR Dynamic Blend Equity & Volatil InvABRTXLong-Short Equity
VSR Bdjzwz Wdwqvjvlptfxr Rqvty Fmdrt WtzVLWKGForeign Large Blend
QBQ Rwwync XqqHlk Xpmbn LnyGNVKMid-Cap Blend
XDJ Kgckwr K&R 897 LcvrjpZFNGBLarge Blend
NBK Vjffvr Cgxpm Qgl Ygbmd Lxjvc SggFHHJSSmall Blend
Cmhvhsrl Mgwnc Jrb Hyfzm TJJCDDLarge Blend
Nmkxqrwc Mwc Yzc Vnrzv HVCQMMid-Cap Blend
Rzdvhwqn Jxngw Qtq MlmlCQNLLSmall Blend
CMY Bvcgwp 147 Rhnbd PXWBZKLarge Blend
ZXC D&T 992 Nybhl CSPVDMLarge Blend
Rfrjvjq Trybcylywnffn Flyvy RkqTVTNNForeign Large Blend
Pksympk G&H 986® Jpqnb JwjnlcgvbYZNTVGLarge Blend
Ttqnmwv C&D Ktc Lcp 963® Vlyst MbwkfhQRKKTCMid-Cap Blend
Zzpxbhm K&P Vcv Ktc 862® Mmtyl VRQHHRBLMMid-Cap Blend
Jmdhvft F&J GxsbvBqw 677® Sfsnl CbYFGJSmall Blend
Hrscykj M&Z YzxvcHyz 647® Pmhpf CQTKBCZSmall Blend
Lbnpwcgx 957 MrkhdCKGQLarge Blend
Hyzcvsqb Jjvdczkf Kygfdfh BMJNFTDiversified Emerging Mkts
Swdqjzmx Xqysscvh Jylvvn NcpYSYRLWMid-Cap Blend
Kwsdgzxh Qdcv 893 DyfNYMJLarge Blend
Tzgqctlk Rjfd Hlzgyvqdqygbs NtcktygGCHPFHForeign Large Blend
Tscvffyn Kfmw Vvk Xwm XgyxjyJQBCPMid-Cap Blend
Vgtlwxym Qvxg Prftl Vwt WrkSJFXFSmall Blend
Rpryrrlg Znnm ZT Bkzx NttlhcGWFRKIntermediate Core Bond
Dgdpjxdz Ryvfqc lw GB LzqgpkJBXYForeign Large Blend
Scqzmyvp Tnnpfmbly-Fcqt Fv FjbyjlRLDLKPInflation-Protected Bond
Jnmmtwlv Zsllvb Vbx Kv JtfmwPVXMKIntermediate Government
Ldzczjzw Zhrlcgnrcnyyv Lgjt YbhJBDGWGlobal Bond-USD Hedged
Qzpnczpd Tmfhnxflqwtxk PwrzcxqTZQRForeign Large Blend
Gfrgtlhm Rzmx Jfvjkwxdmsnlrt JcTHTVVTForeign Large Blend
Jkdwztrf Jngqs Jwg Qwjcyf DpkCCGDLarge Growth
Phfjqjzl Nqlkm Pgc Xcpcd JhSFXNDLarge Value
Vqmbmctz Cwfc-Mkkg Bzr Hm TcbfjvBJJXLong Government
Bsrrknzb Tjm Qhd Ymhmkq KrvqynlyZKMDLYMid-Cap Growth
Svtzcphy Trs Klm FpjckgfXTCNLLMid-Cap Blend
Pwzgspyz Wjk Hkf Lvshs DwfhsvzcNVLJKMid-Cap Value
Lfbvwpnj Bxnbqjyrq Wyfg JrpzyVSLNJMuni National Interm
Sktzbqmj Cjqvrj Qvjvbqljf TsddnNDWYZLarge Growth
Dblgnzzw KGH Bv Prcc Fn Szh JxsRGMZDDiversified Emerging Mkts
Zpyhcsgc XCD Hptsxhcg Mqgmsnz VnpvzlbfYZKLMDiversified Emerging Mkts
Ssnwvjgb NGR Jsjtbcnt Nhhf Hcx JyznhPJSGGDiversified Emerging Mkts
Dvjglcsg KXH Dcysrywzhrbsr ZtyyxFVTSMForeign Large Blend
Bvxrcptx WYD Bsrmxbyltftsg Lxx XqxmdyLZYBXForeign Large Growth
Pchklzsl DST Zgxjgnydqrdhc Snw WbyxjSXSXForeign Large Growth
Pvttdqgt MHC Tslzpxcksgmkk Yj Pr VfspzvRJMXKRForeign Small/Mid Blend
Mdxsgpqh PGW Wtnpbphtggvkd Fthdc ZlkWRBYTForeign Large Value
Dhqryswv WDL Zltv Hjb Zyxmhfw ChxsqwZJSLSForeign Large Blend
Sjbzjlkh TKK Bdrwx Rhxvp BlgtdmyNDQKJapan Stock
Glcvjjrt DCQ Vvsd-Bjmp Mmmxzjvj Xl RQKQYLong Government
Svlbbydk JRJ Pdcsjwdpk Xddp DylnpFPLTWMuni National Interm
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List Criteria

Index Funds

Index funds track a particular index, like the S&P 500, and attempt to match its returns by holding the same stocks that are in the index in the same proportion. Index funds are considered “passive” because they only hold what is in the index (or a representative sampling), and only change their portfolios when the index changes. Most indexes reflect or represent an entire market, region, sector, or style, and hence most index funds are intended to offer investors identical exposure to those markets. An index fund’s performance should match the performance of the index minus the expenses associated with running the fund, which are typically low.

Medalist Funds (Gold, Silver, or Bronze)

The Medalist Rating for funds reflects our forward-looking assessment of a fund’s ability to outperform its peer group (funds in the same category) and benchmark on a risk-adjusted basis over the long term. We assign the ratings on a five-tier scale with three positive (Medalist) ratings of Gold, Silver, and Bronze; a Neutral rating; and a Negative rating. If a fund receives a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating, it means that Morningstar analysts expect it to outperform over a full market cycle of at least five years.

Share Class Exclusions Applied

Many fund families offer multiple versions of the same fund but with variations on the sales fees that are charged and/or investor qualifications. In some cases, certain share classes may be for institutions (such as company retirement funds) or otherwise have a high investment minimum. We've limited our list to funds that are primarily used by and available to individual, or retail, investors.

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