Best Mutual Funds Awards 2026: Best Index Funds

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2026-03-20 13:09:11

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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 them having outperformed the S&P 500 over the past one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods.

Of 242 index funds at least 10 years old, just seven of them, or 3%, are winners among the 2026 IBD Best Mutual Funds.

The goal of index funds is to replicate the performance of a benchmark such as the S&P 500. These passive investment vehicles have been at the forefront of a revolution in U.S. equity markets, capturing the attention and investment dollars of a growing number of investors. In 2012, passive index funds that track market benchmarks made up just 21% of the U.S. equity fund market. In 2024, they accounted for about 60% of assets, outperforming actively traded funds.

For more details, read about how the best mutual funds deliver benchmark-beating returns, and see the full 2026 list of IBD’s Best Mutual Funds in every category, including bond funds, diversified stock funds, blend and index funds.

All returns are as of Dec. 31, 2025.

Best Index Funds

Fund
Symbol
1-year total return
3-year total return
5-year total return
10-year total return
Morningstar category
Annual report net expense ratio
—
Benchmark: S&P 500

17.88%
23.01%
14.42%
14.82%


Victory NASDAQ-100 Index
USNQX
20.58
32.67
14.82
19.17
US Fund Large Growth
0.42%
VALIC Company I NASDAQ-100 Index
VCNIX
20.42
32.58
14.73
19.06
US Fund Large Growth
0.42
Shelton Nasdaq-100 Index Investor
NASDX
20.78
32.75
14.95
18.99
US Fund Large Growth
0.52
Voya Russell Large Cap Growth Idx Port I
IRLNX
18.12
32.40
16.24
18.65
US Fund Large Growth
0.43
Nuveen Large Cap Gr Idx R6
TILIX
18.50
31.09
15.26
18.06
US Fund Large Growth
0.05
Vanguard Growth Index Investor*
VIGRX
19.29
32.33
14.48
17.30
US Fund Large Growth
0.17
Voya Russell Large Cap Index Port I
IIRLX
18.74
24.95
14.71
15.36
US Fund Large Blend
0.36

Sources: IBD, Morningstar Direct

Fund is closed to new investors

The 2026 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.

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