If you’re evaluating mutual funds for your investment portfolio or retirement account, this list highlights the best index funds to consider now, based on each fund outperforming the S&P 500 over the last one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods. Shaded cells indicate the best-of-the-best funds based on 10-year performance. Of 194 index funds at least 10 years old, 18 of them, or 9%, won awards.
All returns as of Dec. 31, 2020.
View Full Special Report: Best Mutual Funds Awards
View All Award-Winning Funds In Each Category
Best Index Funds
| Mutual fund | Symbol | 1-year total return (%) | 3-year average annual return (%) | 5-year average annual return (%) | 10-year average annual return (%) | Morningstar category | Closed to new inv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark: S&P 500 | 18.40 | 14.18 | 15.22 | 13.88 | |||
| Shelton Nasdaq-100 Index Direct | NASDX | 48.59 | 26.60 | 23.17 | 20.01 | Large Growth | No |
| VALIC Company I NASDAQ-100 Index | VCNIX | 47.94 | 26.80 | 23.55 | 19.96 | Large Growth | No |
| USAA NASDAQ-100 Index | USNQX | 48.30 | 27.04 | 23.68 | 19.94 | Large Growth | No |
| Rydex NASDAQ-100 Inv | RYOCX | 46.78 | 25.80 | 22.58 | 19.09 | Large Growth | No |
| Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index | FNCMX | 44.58 | 24.13 | 21.88 | 18.25 | Large Growth | No |
| ProFunds NASDAQ-100 Inv | OTPIX | 45.00 | 24.84 | 21.68 | 18.09 | Large Growth | No |
| Voya Russell Large Cap Growth Idx Port I | IRLNX | 38.46 | 23.04 | 21.11 | 17.45 | Large Growth | No |
| TIAA-CREF Large-Cap Gr Idx Instl | TILIX | 38.43 | 22.92 | 20.93 | 17.14 | Large Growth | No |
| Vanguard Growth Index Investor | VIGRX | 40.01 | 22.82 | 20.18 | 16.51 | Large Growth | Yes |
| Praxis Growth Index I | MMDEX | 33.19 | 20.82 | 19.20 | 16.39 | Large Growth | No |
| Nationwide NYSE Arca Tech 100 Idx A | NWJCX | 24.29 | 18.69 | 19.59 | 16.04 | Technology | No |
| Vanguard FTSE Social Index I | VFTNX | 22.66 | 16.66 | 16.82 | 15.16 | Large Blend | No |
| Calvert US Large Cap Core Rspnb Idx I | CISIX | 26.11 | 17.13 | 16.60 | 14.78 | Large Blend | No |
| Voya Russell Mid Cap Growth Idx Port I | IRGJX | 34.84 | 19.93 | 18.16 | 14.62 | Mid-Cap Growth | No |
| Voya Russell Large Cap Index Port I | IIRLX | 21.86 | 15.61 | 16.01 | 14.26 | Large Blend | No |
| ProFunds Large Cap Growth Inv | LGPIX | 30.62 | 18.20 | 16.72 | 14.24 | Large Growth | No |
| SEI Large Cap Index A (SIIT) | LCIAX | 20.86 | 14.76 | 15.54 | 13.96 | Large Blend | No |
| USAA 500 Index Member | USSPX | 21.22 | 14.88 | 15.53 | 13.89 | Large Blend | No |
The 2021 Best Mutual Funds logo and accolades are available for licensing through Investor’s Business Daily’s partner, The YGS Group. For more information and ordering, please visit www.IBDlicensing.com or call 800-290-5460.
