News release
VALLEY FORGE, PA (December 4, 2025)—Vanguard today announced the launch of Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Index ETF (BNDP), a new fixed income offering designed to deliver broad, diversified exposure to the U.S. taxable bond market. The ETF is managed by the Vanguard Fixed Income Group, a global leader in bond indexing.
“Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Index ETF brings investors a low-cost, comprehensive solution that spans the full spectrum of U.S. taxable fixed income—including high-yield and emerging market debt,” said Josh Barrickman, co-head of Fixed Income Indexing, Americas. “BNDP is built to serve as a core portfolio holding for those seeking enhanced yield potential while maintaining the rigor and discipline Vanguard is known for.”
The new ETF seeks to track the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Float Adjusted Index, a market-value weighted benchmark that includes U.S. government, investment-grade corporate, securitized, high-yield corporate, and emerging market debt. With an estimated expense ratio of just 0.05%,1 BNDP is the lowest-cost ETF in its category, offering a compelling alternative to peers.2
BNDP is well-suited for cost-conscious investors—both individual and institutional—who want diversified fixed income exposure with a tilt toward higher yield opportunities.
The Vanguard Fixed Income Group, which oversees more than $2.7 trillion in global assets, has been at the forefront of bond indexing since launching the world’s first bond index fund in 1986.3 The team’s deep expertise, supported by advanced technology and disciplined investment processes, enables tight tracking across Vanguard’s suite of fixed income products.
Josh Barrickman, a seasoned investment professional with over 20 years of experience in fixed income strategy and portfolio management, will lead day-to-day oversight of BNDP.
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1 The expense ratio information shown reflects estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
2 Morningstar as of September 30, 2025
3 Assets under management figures as of September 30, 2025
About Vanguard
Founded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world's leading investment management companies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to tens of millions of individual investors around the globe—directly, through workplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under a unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success. For more information, visit vanguard.com.
For more information about Vanguard funds and Vanguard ETFs, visit vanguard.com to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.
Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable with the issuing Fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. Instead, investors must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares in the secondary market and hold those shares in a brokerage account. In doing so, the investor may incur brokerage commissions and may pay more than net asset value when buying and receive less than net asset value when selling.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.
Bond funds are subject to the risk that an issuer will fail to make payments on time, and that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates or negative perceptions of an issuer's ability to make payments.
“Bloomberg®” and Bloomberg U.S. Universal Float Adjusted Index are service marks of BloombergFinance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the index (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Vanguard. Bloomberg is not affiliated with Vanguard, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend BNDP. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to BNDP.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.