The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF officially became the Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF on July 29, 2026, following Morningstar’s acquisition of the CRSP Market Indexes. The name change applies to 13 Vanguard U.S. equity index funds across all share classes—mutual fund and ETF versions—but represents a rebranding only, with no impact on how the funds operate or perform.
The shift stems from Morningstar’s completion of its $375 million acquisition of CRSP (Center for Research in Security Prices) in February 2026. After acquiring the University of Chicago’s index unit, Morningstar rebranded the CRSP Market Indexes as the Morningstar Market Indexes in July 2026, expanding visibility for benchmarks that underpin more than $3 trillion in investor assets globally. The Morningstar US Total Market Index—formerly the CRSP US Total Market Index—now serves as the benchmark for VTI and other flagship Vanguard funds.
For VTI shareholders, the name change carries no practical consequences. Ticker symbols, expense ratios, index methodology, fund holdings, tax treatment, performance history, and dividend yields all remain unchanged, according to Vanguard and The Street’s analysis. CUSIP numbers—the identifiers used for fund transactions—are also unchanged. Investors do not need to take any action or adjust their records.
Vanguard selected the CRSP indexes in 2013 because they blended academic research with industry best practices in index construction. The indexes employ rules-based methodology, float-adjusted market capitalization weighting, regular rebalancing, and investability constraints designed to ensure funds track benchmarks efficiently. According to Vanguard’s Chief Investment Officer Rodney Comegys, these design features align with Vanguard’s longstanding commitment to index investing. “The Morningstar Indexes incorporate disciplined, rules‑based approaches that align with Vanguard’s long‑standing views on index construction and help ensure our funds remain investable and representative over time,” Comegys said in Vanguard’s April 2026 announcement.
The broader rebranding affects 13 Vanguard index funds, including the Vanguard Mega Cap Index, Vanguard Large Cap Index, Vanguard Growth Index, Vanguard Value Index, and their mid-cap and small-cap equivalents. All now carry “Morningstar” in their official names. Amelia Furr, president of Morningstar Indexes, framed the rebrand as an opportunity to expand the reach and visibility of benchmarks that have long anchored some of the industry’s most widely used investment products. “These benchmarks help play an important role in the investment ecosystem and being part of Morningstar creates new opportunities to expand their reach,” Furr said in Morningstar’s July 2026 announcement.
Sources
- Vanguard Corporate Press Release — announced the name changes on April 29, 2026, effective July 29, 2026, with no changes to fund objectives or management
- Morningstar Newsroom — confirmed completion of CRSP acquisition in February 2026 and rebranding to Morningstar Market Indexes on July 28, 2026, affecting $3 trillion in assets
- The Street — provided investor-focused analysis of the name change, confirming unchanged ticker symbols, expense ratios, index methodology, holdings, and CUSIP numbers
