The 100 Most Popular Mutual Funds for 401(k) Retirement Savings
These funds have the most assets under management in 401(k) workplace retirement plans
There's no denying the importance and popularity of 401(k)s for retirement savers. Americans have $5.7 trillion invested in these tax-deferred workplace savings accounts, according to the Investment Company Institute, and there are more than 55 million active 401(k) participants. BrightScope, a financial-information company that rates retirement-savings plans, compiled this list for Kiplinger of the 100 most popular mutual funds in 401(k) plans based on funds' 401(k) assets under management.
Here is the list of the top 100 mutual funds for your 401(k) retirement savings. All figures are as of Sept. 13, 2019.
| Rank | Fund Name | Symbol | Annualized Total Return 1-yr | Annualized Total Return 3-yr | Annualized Total Return 5-yr | Annualized Total Return 10-yr | Expense Ratio | Fund Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanguard Institutional Index I | VINIX | 5.67% | 14.49% | 10.89% | 13.49% | 0.04% | Large Blend |
| 2 | American Funds Europacific Growth A | AEPGX | 4.30 | 8.11 | 4.38 | 6.00 | 0.83 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 3 | Fidelity 500 Index | FXAIX | 5.68 | 14.51 | 10.91 | N/A | 0.02 | Large Blend |
| 4 | Fidelity Contrafund | FCNTX | 1.28 | 16.49 | 11.87 | 14.08 | 0.82 | Large Growth |
| 5 | Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Adm | VBTLX | 8.77 | 2.68 | 3.14 | 3.60 | 0.05 | Intermediate Core Bond |
| 6 | Vanguard 500 Index Admiral | VFIAX | 5.66 | 14.48 | 10.88 | 13.48 | 0.04 | Large Blend |
| 7 | Vanguard PRIMECAP Inv † | VPMCX | 0.79 | 16.15 | 12.02 | 14.57 | 0.38 | Large Growth |
| 8 | Vanguard Mid CapIndex Admiral | VIMAX | 3.74 | 11.93 | 8.86 | 13.38 | 0.05 | Mid-Cap Blend |
| 9 | Vanguard Wellington Inv † | VWELX | 8.69 | 10.46 | 7.96 | 9.88 | 0.25 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 10 | Dodge & Cox Stock | DODGX | 0.60 | 12.99 | 8.27 | 12.35 | 0.52 | Large Value |
| 11 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Inv | VTTVX | 5.66 | 8.49 | 6.19 | 8.64 | 0.13 | Target-Date 2025 |
| 12 | Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Admiral | VTIAX | 1.83 | 7.42 | 2.72 | N/A | 0.11 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 13 | PIMCO Total Return A | PTTAX | 8.46 | 3.05 | 2.93 | 3.86 | 1.05 | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond |
| 14 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Inv | VTHRX | 5.20 | 9.13 | 6.46 | 9.11 | 0.14 | Target-Date 2030 |
| 15 | Vanguard Extended Market Index Admiral | VEXAX | -2.50 | 11.90 | 8.10 | 12.87 | 0.07 | Mid-Cap Blend |
| 16 | Vanguard Small Cap Index Adm | VSMAX | -2.60 | 11.47 | 8.15 | 12.87 | 0.05 | Small Blend |
| 17 | Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Adm | VTSAX | 4.27 | 14.07 | 10.39 | 13.40 | 0.04 | Large Blend |
| 18 | American Funds Growth Fund of Amer A | AGTHX | 1.34 | 14.75 | 10.88 | 12.77 | 0.62 | Large Growth |
| 19 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Inv | VTTHX | 4.73 | 9.73 | 6.73 | 9.55 | 0.14 | Target-Date 2035 |
| 20 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Inv | VTWNX | 5.81 | 7.69 | 5.77 | 8.09 | 0.13 | Target-Date 2020 |
| 21 | Metropolitan West Total Return Bd M | MWTRX | 8.72 | 2.76 | 2.91 | 5.04 | 0.67 | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond |
| 22 | Fidelity Growth Company † | FDGRX | -0.25 | 19.73 | 14.41 | 16.58 | 0.85 | Large Growth |
| 23 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 | TRRCX | 5.54 | 9.90 | 6.96 | 9.92 | 0.67 | Target-Date 2030 |
| 24 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Inv | VFORX | 4.24 | 10.34 | 6.96 | 9.84 | 0.14 | Target-Date 2040 |
| 25 | Fidelity Freedom 2030 | FFFEX | 3.76 | 9.42 | 6.64 | 8.58 | 0.69 | Target-Date 2030 |
| 26 | Fidelity Freedom 2020 | FFFDX | 4.61 | 7.75 | 5.75 | 7.49 | 0.60 | Target-Date 2020 |
| 27 | Dodge & Cox International Stock | DODFX | 1.54 | 6.45 | 0.50 | 5.30 | 0.63 | Foreign Large Value |
| 28 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 | TRRBX | 5.86 | 8.35 | 6.07 | 8.77 | 0.61 | Target-Date 2020 |
| 29 | Fidelity Freedom 2025 | FFTWX | 4.35 | 8.25 | 6.01 | 8.07 | 0.65 | Target-Date 2025 |
| 30 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Inv | VTIVX | 3.90 | 10.56 | 7.08 | 9.91 | 0.15 | Target-Date 2045 |
| 31 | Vanguard Windsor Inv | VWNDX | 2.20 | 10.96 | 6.83 | 11.44 | 0.31 | Large Value |
| 32 | T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth | TRBCX | 5.40 | 20.28 | 14.55 | 16.30 | 0.70 | Large Growth |
| 33 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025 | TRRHX | 5.74 | 9.15 | 6.54 | 9.37 | 0.64 | Target-Date 2025 |
| 34 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040 | TRRDX | 5.27 | 10.93 | 7.49 | 10.50 | 0.72 | Target-Date 2040 |
| 35 | Fidelity Freedom 2040 | FFFFX | 2.32 | 10.15 | 7.00 | 9.06 | 0.75 | Target-Date 2040 |
| 36 | Fidelity Freedom 2035 | FFTHX | 2.77 | 10.20 | 7.03 | 9.01 | 0.73 | Target-Date 2035 |
| 37 | American Funds American Balanced A | ABALX | 5.84 | 9.42 | 7.57 | 10.15 | 0.57 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 38 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035 | TRRJX | 5.38 | 10.46 | 7.25 | 10.28 | 0.70 | Target-Date 2035 |
| 39 | Harbor Capital Appreciation Inv | HCAIX | 1.79 | 17.82 | 12.52 | 14.10 | 1.03 | Large Growth |
| 40 | Fidelity Low-Priced Stock | FLPSX | -1.04 | 8.78 | 6.06 | 11.15 | 0.52 | Mid-Cap Value |
| 41 | Vanguard International Growth Inv | VWIGX | 1.71 | 12.49 | 6.95 | 8.12 | 0.45 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 42 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Inv | VFIFX | 3.92 | 10.55 | 7.09 | 9.91 | 0.15 | Target-Date 2050 |
| 43 | MFS Value A | MEIAX | 7.70 | 10.88 | 8.78 | 11.54 | 0.83 | Large Value |
| 44 | Fidelity Extended Market Index | FSMAX | -2.52 | 11.93 | 8.13 | N/A | 0.05 | Mid-Cap Blend |
| 45 | Dodge & Cox Income | DODIX | 8.01 | 3.63 | 3.52 | 4.51 | 0.42 | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond |
| 46 | Fidelity Diversified International | FDIVX | 3.29 | 7.18 | 4.07 | 6.06 | 0.81 | Foreign Large Growth |
| 47 | T. Rowe Price Growth Stock | PRGFX | 5.01 | 18.31 | 13.34 | 15.40 | 0.66 | Large Growth |
| 48 | Vanguard Growth Index Admiral | VIGAX | 6.47 | 16.77 | 12.26 | 14.67 | 0.05 | Large Growth |
| 49 | T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth † | RPMGX | 8.50 | 16.34 | 12.87 | 15.31 | 0.75 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 50 | Fidelity Balanced | FBALX | 4.55 | 10.15 | 7.60 | 9.84 | 0.53 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 51 | Vanguard Balanced Index Adm | VBIAX | 6.45 | 9.60 | 7.66 | 9.64 | 0.07 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 52 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Inv | VTXVX | 6.15 | 6.63 | 5.11 | 7.36 | 0.13 | Target-Date 2015 |
| 53 | Fidelity Freedom 2045 | FFFGX | 2.35 | 10.15 | 7.02 | 9.12 | 0.75 | Target-Date 2045 |
| 54 | Vanguard Developed Markets Index Admiral | VTMGX | 0.93 | 7.53 | 3.23 | 5.23 | 0.07 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 55 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 | TRRKX | 5.10 | 11.08 | 7.57 | 10.54 | 0.72 | Target-Date 2045 |
| 56 | American Funds Washington Mutual A | AWSHX | 6.97 | 13.83 | 9.92 | 12.97 | 0.59 | Large Blend |
| 57 | American Funds New Perspective A | ANWPX | 5.33 | 13.40 | 9.33 | 10.63 | 0.75 | World Large Stock |
| 58 | Fidelity US Bond Index | FXNAX | 8.64 | 2.62 | 3.16 | N/A | 0.03 | Intermediate Core Bond |
| 59 | T. Rowe Price Instl Large Cap Growth | TRLGX | 5.16 | 21.56 | 15.10 | 16.38 | 0.56 | Large Growth |
| 60 | Fidelity Freedom 2050 | FFFHX | 2.35 | 10.14 | 7.01 | 9.11 | 0.75 | Target-Date 2050 |
| 61 | Fidelity International Index | FSPSX | 2.35 | 7.75 | 3.09 | N/A | 0.05 | Foreign Large Blend |
| 62 | Vanguard Equity-Income Inv | VEIPX | 6.58 | 11.85 | 9.44 | 13.04 | 0.27 | Large Value |
| 63 | Vanguard Value Index Adm | VVIAX | 4.41 | 12.38 | 9.35 | 12.34 | 0.05 | Large Value |
| 64 | Fidelity Puritan | FPURX | 1.90 | 9.84 | 7.33 | 9.86 | 0.54 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 65 | T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050 | TRRMX | 5.09 | 11.07 | 7.58 | 10.54 | 0.72 | Target-Date 2050 |
| 66 | Fidelity Blue Chip Growth | FBGRX | 2.64 | 19.19 | 13.33 | 15.85 | 0.80 | Large Growth |
| 67 | American Funds 2030 Trgt Date Retire A | AAETX | 4.91 | 9.20 | 6.68 | 9.58 | 0.72 | Target-Date 2030 |
| 68 | MainStay Large Cap Growth A | MLAAX | 5.23 | 18.75 | 12.79 | 13.97 | 0.98 | Large Growth |
| 69 | Vanguard Target Retirement Income Inv | VTINX | 6.60 | 5.37 | 4.42 | 5.80 | 0.12 | Target-Date Retirement |
| 70 | JPMorgan Mid Cap Value A | JAMCX | 0.82 | 8.22 | 6.92 | 12.33 | 1.24 | Mid-Cap Value |
| 71 | American Funds Fundamental Invs A | ANCFX | 3.60 | 12.88 | 9.84 | 12.23 | 0.59 | Large Blend |
| 72 | JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2030 A | JSMAX | 4.54 | 8.58 | 5.88 | 8.86 | 0.86 | Target-Date 2030 |
| 73 | Invesco Oppenheimer Developing Markets A † | ODMAX | 7.65 | 9.39 | 2.01 | 6.14 | 1.26 | Diversified Emerging Mkts |
| 74 | Vanguard Inflation-Protected Secs Inv | VIPSX | 5.55 | 2.14 | 1.96 | 3.24 | 0.20 | Inflation-Protected Bond |
| 75 | Invesco Diversified Dividend Investor † | LCEIX | 6.51 | 7.87 | 7.54 | 11.00 | 0.76 | Large Value |
| 76 | Vanguard Wellesley Income Inv | VWINX | 9.23 | 6.67 | 6.22 | 8.05 | 0.23 | Allocation: 30% to 50% Equity |
| 77 | PGIM Total Return Bond A | PDBAX | 9.83 | 3.93 | 4.02 | 5.41 | 0.76 | Intermediate Core-Plus Bond |
| 78 | T. Rowe Price New Horizons † | PRNHX | 6.84 | 21.12 | 15.32 | 18.90 | 0.77 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 79 | Vanguard Explorer Inv | VEXPX | -1.75 | 15.77 | 10.16 | 13.75 | 0.46 | Small Growth |
| 80 | JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2025 A | JNSAX | 4.82 | 7.58 | 5.45 | 8.32 | 0.85 | Target-Date 2025 |
| 81 | American Funds 2025 Trgt Date Retire A | AADTX | 5.21 | 7.89 | 5.86 | 8.88 | 0.70 | Target-Date 2025 |
| 82 | American Funds AMCAP A | AMCPX | 0.71 | 13.25 | 9.29 | 12.70 | 0.66 | Large Growth |
| 83 | Dodge & Cox Balanced | DODBX | 3.77 | 9.66 | 6.76 | 10.15 | 0.53 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 84 | JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2020 A | JTTAX | 4.99 | 6.66 | 4.94 | 7.62 | 0.81 | Target-Date 2020 |
| 85 | American Funds Capital World Gr&Inc A | CWGIX | 4.55 | 9.75 | 5.94 | 8.28 | 0.76 | World Large Stock |
| 86 | iShares S&P 500 Index Investor A | BSPAX | 5.37 | 14.13 | 10.53 | N/A | 0.35 | Large Blend |
| 87 | American Funds 2020 Trgt Date Retire A | AACTX | 5.48 | 6.91 | 5.32 | 7.93 | 0.68 | Target-Date 2020 |
| 88 | Vanguard Real Estate Index Admiral | VGSLX | 14.24 | 7.18 | 8.99 | 13.08 | 0.12 | Real Estate |
| 89 | Schwab S&P 500 Index | SWPPX | 5.67 | 14.47 | 10.85 | 13.43 | 0.02 | Large Blend |
| 90 | American Funds 2035 Trgt Date Retire A | AAFTX | 4.69 | 10.38 | 7.35 | 9.95 | 0.72 | Target-Date 2035 |
| 91 | JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2040 A | SMTAX | 3.36 | 9.45 | 6.25 | 9.42 | 0.88 | Target-Date 2040 |
| 92 | JPMorgan Large Cap Growth A | OLGAX | 4.91 | 21.94 | 14.12 | 15.85 | 0.94 | Large Growth |
| 93 | Janus Henderson Enterprise T † | JAENX | 10.67 | 18.39 | 14.47 | 15.75 | 0.91 | Mid-Cap Growth |
| 94 | American Funds 2040 Trgt Date Retire A | AAGTX | 4.50 | 10.74 | 7.56 | 10.12 | 0.73 | Target-Date 2040 |
| 95 | Neuberger Berman Genesis Inv | NBGNX | 1.78 | 13.56 | 10.15 | 12.60 | 1.02 | Small Growth |
| 96 | Vanguard Windsor II Inv | VWNFX | 3.34 | 10.89 | 7.45 | 11.24 | 0.33 | Large Value |
| 97 | JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2035 A | SRJAX | 3.71 | 8.91 | 6.00 | 9.18 | 0.87 | Target-Date 2035 |
| 98 | Oakmark Equity And Income Investor | OAKBX | 4.10 | 8.61 | 5.27 | 7.87 | 0.78 | Allocation: 50% to 70% Equity |
| 99 | American Beacon Large Cap Value Inv | AAGPX | 1.83 | 11.05 | 6.32 | 10.83 | 0.95 | Large Value |
| 100 | Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Inv | VFFVX | 3.90 | 10.55 | 7.05 | N/A | 0.15 | Target-Date 2055 |
* The dollar amounts represent funds' total assets under management held both within 401(k) plans and outside of 401(k)s, according to Morningstar. BrightScope ranked the funds by assets under management held in 401(k)s only, but it did not disclose the precise amounts for proprietary reasons.
† Closed to new investors.
SOURCES: BrightScope, Morningstar
