(VUSA) Vanguard SP500 CHF - Ratings and Ratios

Let me break this down for you. The Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF CHF (ticker: VUSA) is a straightforward way to gain exposure to the U.S. large-cap market, specifically the S&P 500, but it’s tailored for Swiss investors. This ETF is domiciled in Ireland, which matters for tax and regulatory reasons, and it tracks the Morningstar US Large-Mid NR USD index. The NR stands for net return, which means it accounts for dividends net of withholding taxes. This fund is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SW) and has a significant AUM of 46.595 billion CHF, which tells you it’s a substantial and liquid fund.

What’s important here is that VUSA is designed to provide broad diversification across the largest U.S. companies. The S&P 500 is a benchmark for a reason—it’s a reliable proxy for the U.S. stock market and the global economy. This ETF doesn’t try to pick winners; it just gives you the market. The expense ratio isn’t explicitly mentioned here, but Vanguard is known for its low-cost approach, so you can expect it to be competitive. For investors looking to build a core portfolio, this is the kind of fund that should be at the foundation.

One thing to note is that this ETF is designed for Swiss investors, so it’s CHF-hedged. That means it mitigates currency risk between the USD and CHF, which can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it protects you from a weakening CHF, but on the other hand, it also means you don’t benefit from a strengthening CHF. For long-term investors, this shouldn’t matter much, but it’s something to be aware of. The fund’s structure as a UCITS (Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) also makes it compliant with EU regulations, which is important for institutional investors and fund managers looking to allocate within European frameworks.

When it comes to performance, this ETF will closely track the S&P 500, less fees. The lack of P/E, P/B, and other metrics listed here isn’t unusual—these are more relevant for actively managed funds. For a passive ETF like this, what matters is tracking error and fees. Vanguard has a strong track record of keeping both in check. If you’re building a portfolio, this is the kind of ETF you can set and forget, knowing it’s giving you the market’s return minus a small fee.