N-CSR 1 chesterfundsfinal.htm VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT
OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT COMPANY


Investment Company Act file number: 811-4098

Name of Registrant: Vanguard Chester Funds

Address of Registrant: P.O. Box 2600
Valley Forge, PA 19482

Name and address of agent for service: Heidi Stam, Esquire
P.O. Box 876
Valley Forge, PA 19482

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (610) 669-1000


Date of fiscal year end: September 30

Date of reporting period: October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

Item 1: Reports to Shareholders


 

 

 

 

 

Vanguard® PRIMECAP Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Annual Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund returned more than 12% during fiscal 2006, handily outpacing the market return and the average result for peer funds.

 

>

The fund benefited from excellent stock selection in the information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors.

 

>

The fund missed some opportunities among financial stocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Total Returns

1

Chairman’s Letter

2

Advisor’s Report

7

Fund Profile

10

Performance Summary

11

Financial Statements

13

Your Fund’s After-Tax Returns

25

About Your Fund’s Expenses

26

Trustees Approve Advisory Agreement

28

Glossary

29

 

 

 

 

Please note: The opinions expressed in this report are just that—informed opinions. They should not be considered promises or advice. Also, please keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. Of course, the risks of investing in your fund are spelled out in the prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Total Returns

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

Total

 

Return

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund

 

Investor Shares

12.3%

Admiral™ Shares1

12.5

S&P 500 Index

10.8

Average Multi-Cap Growth Fund2

4.9

 

 

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance

 

 

 

September 30, 2005–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions Per Share

 

Starting

Ending

Income

Capital

 

Share Price

Share Price

Dividends

Gains

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund

 

 

 

 

Investor Shares

$64.79

$70.30

$0.386

$1.908

Admiral Shares

67.28

73.03

0.472

1.980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 A lower-cost class of shares available to many longtime shareholders and to those with significant investments in the fund.

2 Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

 

1

 

 

 


 

Chairman’s Letter

 

 

Dear Shareholder,

 

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund returned more than 12%, handily outpacing the gain of its benchmark and the average return of its growth-oriented peers, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006. Your fund’s strong performance reflected excellent security selection among technology, industrial, and consumer-oriented stocks.

 

If you own Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund in a taxable account, you may wish to review our report on the fund’s after-tax returns on page 25. Please note that as of September 30 the fund remained closed to new investors. Existing shareholders may make additional purchases of up to $25,000 per year.

 

Stocks endured some rough going, then recovered to post strong results

The stock market advanced through the first part of the fund’s fiscal year, then hit a speed bump in May, as investors feared that the economy was growing too rapidly. But a slowdown in the housing market, coupled with a late-summer decline in oil prices, helped to allay inflation concerns. The broad market rebounded to post a solid 10.5% return for the 12-month period. Value-oriented stocks outperformed growth stocks, and large-capitalization stocks edged out small-caps, one of the market’s best-performing segments in recent years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

International stocks handily outpaced domestic issues, continuing a multiyear trend. European and emerging market stocks fared particularly well. Stocks in the Pacific region also performed admirably, even though Japanese stocks did not fully participate in the global market’s summer recovery.

 

In the bond market, prices rallied as the Fed paused

At its August and September meetings, the Federal Reserve Board twice voted to maintain the federal funds rate at 5.25%, marking a pause in the central bank’s two-year inflation-fighting campaign. With investor sentiment buoyed by the Fed’s near-term inflation outlook, interest rates decreased, driving bond prices higher.

 

The broad taxable bond market finished the period with a 3.7% return, and municipal bonds performed slightly better.

 

Although rates decreased along the entire maturity spectrum in late summer, the difference between the yields of the shortest- and longest-term issues remained narrow by historical standards. At the end of September, the U.S. Treasury yield curve was actually inverted, meaning that short-term issues such as 3-month and 6-month Treasury notes offered higher yields than those with longer maturities.

 

The fund tapped into some surprising sources of strength

Although stocks registered a strong advance during the past 12 months, broad market themes had limited bearing on your

 

 

Market Barometer

 

 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

 

One Year

Three Years

Five Years

Stocks

 

 

 

Russell 1000 Index (Large-caps)

10.2%

12.8%

7.6%

Russell 2000 Index (Small-caps)

9.9

15.5

13.8

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index (Entire market)

10.5

13.3

8.6

MSCI All Country World Index ex USA (International)

19.4

23.9

16.4

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

 

 

Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (Broad taxable market)

3.7%

3.4%

4.8%

Lehman Municipal Bond Index

4.5

4.4

5.2

Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index

4.4

2.6

2.2

 

 

 

 

CPI

 

 

 

Consumer Price Index

2.1%

3.1%

2.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

Fund’s performance. For example, Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund earned excellent returns from a handful of software and chip-maker stocks, even as the information technology sector turned in some of the broad market’s weaker results.

 

The fund’s consumer discretionary holdings—companies at the intersection of digital-entertainment delivery and production, such as DIRECTV and Sony—returned about eight percentage points more than the consumer discretionary stocks in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

 

This divergence between market dynamics and PRIMECAP performance is not unusual. The fund’s advisor, PRIMECAP Management Company, relies on intensive research to identify companies that seem to boast impressive growth prospects, and then establishes large positions in the most promising candidates, regardless of their weight in market indexes. FedEx, the portfolio’s largest holding, accounts for some 5% of fund assets, but less than half a percentage point of the S&P 500 Index’s value. (During the past 12 months, incidentally, the global freight carrier returned about 25%, making a significant contribution to your fund’s performance.)

 

The fund’s distinctive investment strategy was also apparent in its weak spots during the 12 months. The fund missed out on much of the bounty in the financials sector. Its allocation to financials was relatively small, and its stock selections underperformed. The fund also trailed the market in the energy sector. These stocks

 

 

Expense Ratios1

 

 

 

Your fund compared with its peer group

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Investor

Admiral

Multi-Cap

 

Shares

Shares

Growth Fund

PRIMECAP Fund

0.46%

0.31%

1.65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Fund expense ratios reflect the 12 months ended September 30, 2006. Peer-group expense ratio is derived from data provided by Lipper Inc. and captures information through year-end 2005.

 

 

4

 

 

have pulled back recently as oil prices have tumbled, but the fund’s relatively modest group of holdings in the sector fell especially hard.

 

Talent and conviction have combined to produce long-term excellence

The talent for identifying investment opportunities and the confidence to seize them have been hallmarks of Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund’s performance not just during the past 12 months but since the fund’s 1984 inception.

 

During the past ten years, the fund has produced an annualized return of 12.9%. Its benchmark index advanced by 8.6% per year, while the average annual return of competing funds was just 6.5%. In dollar terms, these percentage-point shortfalls would have translated into dramatic gaps in wealth accumulation. A hypothetical investment of $25,000 in Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund would have grown to more than $84,000 over the decade; the same investment compounded at the peer-group average would have been worth $46,751. While we remain confident in the fund managers’ ability to deliver outstanding long-term performance, it would be unreasonable to expect such margins of superiority to persist indefinitely.

 

Provision your portfolio for a long-term journey

Although the U.S. stock market finished the 12-month period with a solid return, the journey was circuitous: a strong start, a mid-May swoon, a powerful finish. These ups and downs are an unavoidable fact of investing life.

 

 

Total Returns

 

 

Ten Years Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Average

Final Value of a $25,000

 

Annual Return

Initial Investment

PRIMECAP Fund Investor Shares

12.9%

$84,455

S&P 500 Index

8.6

56,979

Average Multi-Cap Growth Fund

6.5

46,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

Our time-tested counsel to shareholders traveling across the market’s peaks and valleys toward long-term goals is to diversify both within and across asset classes. Within the stock market portion of your portfolio, for example, you can complement the large-cap-oriented PRIMECAP Fund with smaller stocks, potentially moderating the overall volatility of your stock investments. You can temper portfolio risk more dramatically by balancing stock funds with bond and money market funds in an allocation consistent with your goals and circumstances.

 

This simple plan gives you the opportunity to pursue the potentially high returns available from stocks while paying heed to risk control. Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund can play an important role in such a plan.

 

Thank you for entrusting your assets to Vanguard.

 


 

John J. Brennan

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

October 13, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

Advisor’s Report

 

During the past 12 months, equity markets delivered solid returns. The Investor Shares of Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund returned 12.3%, exceeding the 10.8% return of the S&P 500 Index and the 4.9% average gain of the fund’s peer group.

 

Investment environment

Overall, fiscal 2006 was a strong year for stocks; however, it was a relatively challenging environment for growth stocks, as investors showed a strong preference for value stocks. Stocks struggled during the summer as the market wrestled with whether the Federal Reserve Board would continue to hike interest rates, threatening economic growth, or would pause, satisfied that the specter of inflation was less of a concern than preserving economic growth.

 

Since the Fed’s August 8 decision to leave short-term interest rates unchanged, stocks have trended higher. Additionally, energy and commodity prices have recently declined from historical highs, providing much needed relief to consumers and further mitigating inflationary concerns. Valuations, in our view, appear attractive in light of low long-term interest rates and modest inflationary expectations; however, with corporate profit margins at record highs, multiple expansion from the current level may prove difficult.

 

We continue to see relatively low premiums for high-quality growth stocks. The valuation differential between growth and value stocks remains near a 20-year low. Because our objective is to buy companies with superior growth at reasonable prices, we believe this valuation compression has afforded us some compelling investment opportunities.

 

Our successes

The fund’s outperformance relative to the index reflected stock selections in the information technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors. Among technology stocks, our increased emphasis on software companies contributed significantly to the year’s results. During the year, we earned strong returns from Adobe Systems, Oracle, and Intuit. All three companies represent financially strong market leaders in consolidating industries.

 

In the industrials sector, successes included air-freight giant FedEx, the fund’s largest holding, which is increasing its share of the ground-parcel delivery market. Our airline stocks also generated strong returns, as increased load factors and lowered cost structures more than offset higher fuel prices. The fund earned excellent returns in the consumer discretionary sector from both broadcasting and entertainment companies, such as DIRECTV, Walt Disney, and select retailers. Schlumberger, Micron Technology, Inco, and Novartis also made strong contributions to our returns this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

Our shortfalls

We sustained setbacks in our health care positions. Medical-device makers Boston Scientific and Medtronic performed poorly. Product recalls, FDA inquiries, safety concerns, and declining reimbursement rates have had a short-term impact on growth rates and investor psychology. Additionally, Boston Scientific has found the initial integration of Guidant to be more challenging than expected. We have increased our holdings in these two companies, as we believe the short-term issues will eventually be favorably resolved and the long-term growth prospects of the implantable-device and stent industries remain intact.

 

Other shortfalls included telecommunications-equipment stocks Plantronics, Nortel, and QUALCOMM; energy stocks ConocoPhillips and Pogo Producing; and Internet company eBay.

 

Outlook

We remain especially enthusiastic about companies in information technology and health care—sectors that accounted for many of our largest purchases during the past 12 months. We’ve added to some of the software companies that helped generate strong returns during the past year, including Oracle. We believe that four major trends will drive strong demand for software through the rest of the decade and beyond: (1) the availability of inexpensive bandwidth as the U.S. household broadband penetration doubles from 40%; (2) the sharing and storage of digital information, such as photos, data files, music, and video; (3) the convergence of voice, data, video, and wireless services; and (4) the need to protect and secure data and identities.

 

We’ve also been adding to our positions in the health care sector, although the recent performance of health care stocks continues to be poor. Pharmaceuticals have been among the worst-performing industry groups within the S&P 500 Index for the past four years, and we have continued to increase our commitment to the group. Despite public concern about drug prices, we see pharmaceuticals as part of the solution to higher health care costs. A recent study of nearly 200,000 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that capping drug benefits not only resulted in increased hospitalizations and deaths but produced no net cost savings. The money saved by spending less on drugs was spent on increased medical care for those patients whose drug benefits were capped. With the difference between the price/earnings ratios of pharmaceutical stocks and that of the S&P 500 Index close to a 40-year low, they appear undervalued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

We believe that the two segments of the economy most vulnerable to a slowdown are consumers and financial institutions. Consumer home equity extractions, which ranged between $100 billion and $200 billion for most of the 1980s and early 1990s, increased to $700 billion in 2005. With short-term interest rates rising and the housing market seemingly slowing, this source of liquidity is drying up.

 

Financial institutions will be hurt by deteriorating consumer finances, as well as by the relatively flat yield curve, which makes it more difficult for banks to arbitrage the difference between the interest rates of short-term deposits and long-term investments. While financials stocks account for approximately 22% of the S&P 500 Index’s value, the sector makes up less than 6% of portfolio assets, reflecting our pessimism for this area.

 

 

Howard B. Schow

 

Theo A. Kolokotrones

Portfolio Manager

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Joel P. Fried

 

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Mitchell J. Milias

 

Alfred W. Mordecai

Portfolio Manager

 

Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRIMECAP Management Company, LLP

October 18, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Portfolio Characteristics

 

 

 

 

Comparative

 

Fund

Index1

Number of Stocks

125

500

Median Market Cap

$28.3B

$56.1B

Price/Earnings Ratio

20.1x

17.0x

Price/Book Ratio

2.9x

2.8x

Yield

 

1.9%

Investor Shares

0.6%

 

Admiral Shares

0.8%

 

Return on Equity

14.7%

18.9%

Earnings Growth Rate

20.0%

17.0%

Foreign Holdings

12.3%

0.0%

Turnover Rate

10%

Expense Ratio

 

Investor Shares

0.46%

 

Admiral Shares

0.31%

 

Short-Term Reserves

3%

 

 

Sector Diversification (% of portfolio)

 

 

 

 

Comparative

 

Fund

Index1

Consumer Discretionary

11%

10%

Consumer Staples

1

10

Energy

7

9

Financials

5

22

Health Care

21

13

Industrials

12

11

Information Technology

31

15

Materials

8

3

Telecommunication Services

1

4

Utilities

0

3

Short-Term Reserves

3%

 

 

Volatility Measures2

 

 

Fund Versus

 

Comparative Index1

R-Squared

0.83

Beta

1.21

 

 

 

 

Ten Largest Holdings3 (% of total net assets)

 

 

 

 

FedEx Corp.

air freight and logistics

4.9%

Adobe Systems, Inc.

application software

4.2

Texas Instruments, Inc.

semiconductors

3.2

Novartis AG ADR

pharmaceuticals

3.2

Eli Lilly & Co.

pharmaceuticals

2.8

Biogen Idec Inc.

biotechnology

2.7

Pfizer Inc.

pharmaceuticals

2.5

Microsoft Corp.

systems software

2.4

Oracle Corp.

systems software

2.4

Medtronic, Inc.

health care equipment

2.4

Top Ten

 

30.7%

 

 

Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

1 S&P 500 Index.

2 For an explanation of R-squared, beta, and other terms used here, see the Glossary on page 29.

3“Ten Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash investments and equity index products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: September 30, 1996–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $25,000

 


 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

Final Value

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

of a $25,000

 

One Year

Five Years

Ten Years

Investment

PRIMECAP Fund Investor Shares1

12.30%

11.34%

12.95%

$84,455

S&P 500 Index

10.79

6.97

8.59

56,979

Average Multi-Cap Growth Fund2

4.86

6.75

6.46

46,751

 

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

 

Since

of a $100,000

 

One Year

Inception3

Investment

PRIMECAP Fund Admiral Shares1

12.45%

9.49%

$155,681

S&P 500 Index

10.79

5.55

130,186

 

 

1 Total return figures do not reflect the 1% fee assessed on redemptions of shares held less than one year, or the 1% fee assessed until March 23, 2005, on shares purchased on or after April 23, 2001, and held for less than five years.

2 Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

3 November 12, 2001.

 

11

 

 

 

Fiscal-Year Total Returns (%): September 30, 1996–September 30, 2006

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: See Financial Highlights tables on pages 18 and 19 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

12

 

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

 

Value

 

 

Shares

($000)

Common Stocks (97.2%)

 

 

Consumer Discretionary (10.9%)

 

 

*

DIRECTV Group, Inc.

29,776,749

586,006

 

Sony Corp. ADR

11,350,000

458,086

 

TJX Cos., Inc.

12,394,800

347,426

 

Whirlpool Corp.

3,600,000

302,796

 

Target Corp.

5,019,000

277,300

*

Univision Communications Inc.

6,000,000

206,040

^

Eastman Kodak Co.

9,000,000

201,600

*

Kohl’s Corp.

3,014,600

195,708

 

The Walt Disney Co.

5,650,000

174,642

*

Comcast Corp. Class A

3,268,000

120,426

 

Best Buy Co., Inc.

1,575,000

84,357

 

Mattel, Inc.

3,707,900

73,046

*

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.

1,850,975

70,818

 

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

2,450,000

68,747

 

Time Warner, Inc.

2,609,600

47,573

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

375,000

26,055

 

Yum! Brands, Inc.

500,000

26,025

 

ArvinMeritor, Inc.

1,620,600

23,077

 

Tiffany & Co.

542,000

17,994

 

Weight Watchers International, Inc.

150,000

6,651

 

Brunswick Corp.

112,000

3,493

 

 

 

3,317,866

Consumer Staples (1.4%)

 

 

 

Costco Wholesale Corp.

7,000,000

347,760

 

Avon Products, Inc.

2,460,000

75,424

 

 

 

423,184

Energy (7.1%)

 

 

 

ConocoPhillips Co.

11,300,000

672,689

 

Schlumberger Ltd.

5,573,500

345,724

 

Noble Energy, Inc.

5,960,000

271,716

 

Hess Corp.

6,000,000

248,520

 

EnCana Corp.

3,650,200

170,428

1

Pogo Producing Co.

3,260,000

133,497

 

GlobalSantaFe Corp.

1,676,600

83,813

*

Transocean Inc.

1,100,000

80,553

 

 

 

 

EOG Resources, Inc.

1,200,000

78,060

 

Chevron Corp.

300,000

19,458

 

Noble Corp.

300,000

19,254

 

Murphy Oil Corp.

350,000

16,643

*

Cameron International Corp.

230,400

11,131

 

 

 

2,151,486

Financials (5.5%)

 

 

 

The Bank of New York Co., Inc.

9,800,000

345,548

 

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

9,102,300

256,230

 

The Chubb Corp.

4,766,800

247,683

 

American International Group, Inc.

3,325,000

220,315

*

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B

65,600

208,214

 

Fannie Mae

1,800,000

100,638

 

Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.

1,054,687

63,714

 

AFLAC Inc.

1,200,000

54,912

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

980,000

46,021

 

Wells Fargo & Co.

1,150,000

41,607

 

Capital One Financial Corp.

415,000

32,644

 

Freddie Mac

295,000

19,567

 

Fifth Third Bancorp

450,000

17,136

 

State Street Corp.

200,000

12,480

 

SLM Corp.

185,000

9,616

 

Washington Mutual, Inc.

100,000

4,347

 

 

 

1,680,672

Health Care (20.8%)

 

 

 

Novartis AG ADR

16,377,860

957,122

 

Eli Lilly & Co.

15,150,000

863,550

* 1

Biogen Idec Inc.

18,131,020

810,094

 

Pfizer Inc.

26,968,793

764,835

 

Medtronic, Inc.

15,573,452

723,231

 

Roche Holdings AG

2,950,000

508,241

*

Boston Scientific Corp.

25,728,010

380,517

*

Genzyme Corp.

4,400,000

296,868

 

Applera Corp.-Applied Biosystems Group

8,945,300

296,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

 

Value

 

 

Shares

($000)

 

GlaxoSmithKline PLC ADR

4,403,800

234,414

*^

Sepracor Inc.

3,600,000

174,384

* 1

Millipore Corp.

2,820,000

172,866

*

Amgen, Inc.

1,795,500

128,432

 

Applera Corp.-Celera Genomics Group

1,073,600

14,945

 

 

 

6,325,678

Industrials (12.0%)

 

 

 

FedEx Corp.

13,575,800

1,475,417

 

Union Pacific Corp.

6,570,000

578,160

 

Southwest Airlines Co.

23,914,737

398,420

 

Caterpillar, Inc.

5,256,900

345,904

*

AMR Corp.

9,528,200

220,483

1

Granite Construction Co.

3,150,000

168,052

 

Fluor Corp.

1,400,000

107,646

* 1

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

2,540,000

96,621

 

Deere & Co.

1,048,500

87,979

 

Pall Corp.

2,000,000

61,620

 

Donaldson Co., Inc.

1,600,000

59,040

 

United Parcel Service, Inc.

315,270

22,681

 

3M Co.

300,000

22,326

 

 

 

3,644,349

Information Technology (31.2%)

 

 

 

Communications Equipment (5.3%)

 

 

*

Corning, Inc.

18,297,000

446,630

 

QUALCOMM Inc.

10,403,000

378,149

 

Motorola, Inc.

14,050,000

351,250

*

Nortel Networks Corp.

83,009,400

190,922

^

LM Ericsson Telephone Co. ADR Class B

4,637,857

159,774

1

Plantronics, Inc.

4,701,500

82,417

 

 

 

 

 

Computers & Peripherals (2.2%)

 

 

 

Hewlett-Packard Co.

11,805,000

433,125

*

EMC Corp.

17,129,200

205,208

*

Dell Inc.

1,380,000

31,519

 

 

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (1.1%)

 

 

1

Tektronix, Inc.

6,629,600

191,794

 

Symbol Technologies, Inc.

5,200,000

77,272

*

Coherent, Inc.

1,420,000

49,217

*

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

237,681

7,770

 

 

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services (1.8%)

 

 

*

Google Inc.

717,500

288,363

*

eBay Inc.

6,625,000

187,885

*

Yahoo! Inc.

2,079,500

52,570

 

 

 

 

 

IT Services (0.6%)

 

 

 

Accenture Ltd.

4,136,200

131,159

 

Paychex, Inc.

1,400,000

51,590

 

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (7.8%)

 

 

 

Texas Instruments, Inc.

29,100,000

967,575

*

Micron Technology, Inc.

36,512,373

635,315

 

Intel Corp.

17,100,000

351,747

 

Applied Materials, Inc.

7,330,000

129,961

*

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Class B

2,163,863

82,248

*

NVIDIA Corp.

2,150,000

63,619

*

ASML Holding (New York)

2,001,000

46,583

*

Rambus Inc.

2,500,000

43,600

*

Entegris Inc.

2,583,472

28,186

 

KLA-Tencor Corp.

525,000

23,347

 

 

 

 

 

Software (12.4%)

 

 

* 1

Adobe Systems, Inc.

33,800,000

1,265,810

 

Microsoft Corp.

27,183,347

742,921

*

Oracle Corp.

41,150,600

730,012

*

Intuit, Inc.

14,200,000

455,678

*1

Citrix Systems, Inc.

9,600,000

347,616

*

Symantec Corp.

10,805,200

229,935

 

 

 

9,460,767

Materials (7.6%)

 

 

1

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.

6,851,400

713,847

 

Weyerhaeuser Co.

5,330,000

327,955

 

Monsanto Co.

6,594,360

310,001

 

Inco Ltd.

4,000,000

305,080

 

Praxair, Inc.

3,850,100

227,772

 

Dow Chemical Co.

5,650,000

220,237

 

Alcoa Inc.

4,854,000

136,106

1

MacDermid, Inc.

1,701,000

55,487

 

Phelps Dodge Corp.

280,000

23,716

 

Temple-Inland Inc.

70,000

2,807

 

 

 

2,323,008

Telecommunication Services (0.7%)

 

 

 

Sprint Nextel Corp.

10,393,800

178,254

 

Embarq Corp.

502,440

24,303

 

 

 

202,557

Total Common Stocks

 

 

(Cost $19,084,627)

 

29,529,567

Temporary Cash Investments (3.1%)

 

 

2

Vanguard Market

 

 

 

Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

872,849,044

872,849

2

Vanguard Market

 

 

 

Liquidity Fund,

 

 

 

5.306%—Note G

67,595,000

67,595

Total Temporary Cash Investments

 

 

(Cost $940,444)

 

940,444

Total Investments (100.3%)

 

 

(Cost $20,025,071)

 

30,470,011

Other Assets and Liabilities—Net (–0.3%)

 

(99,441)

 

 

 

 

Net Assets (100%)

 

30,370,570

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

Market

 

Value

 

($000)

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

Assets

 

Investments in Securities, at Value

30,470,011

Receivables for Capital Shares Issued

34,424

Other Assets—Note C

29,203

Total Assets

30,533,638

Liabilities

 

Security Lending Collateral

 

Payable to Brokers—Note G

67,595

Other Liabilities

95,473

Total Liabilities

163,068

Net Assets

30,370,570

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:3

 

 

Amount

 

($000)

Paid-in Capital

18,426,237

Undistributed Net Investment Income

108,084

Accumulated Net Realized Gains

1,391,265

Unrealized Appreciation

 

Investment Securities

10,444,940

Foreign Currencies

44

Net Assets

30,370,570

 

 

Investor Shares—Net Assets

 

Applicable to 310,500,758 outstanding $.001

 

par value shares of beneficial interest

 

(unlimited authorization)

21,828,190

Net Asset Value Per Share—

 

Investor Shares

$70.30

 

 

Admiral Shares—Net Assets

 

Applicable to 116,965,480 outstanding $.001

 

par value shares of beneficial interest

 

(unlimited authorization)

8,542,380

Net Asset Value Per Share—

 

Admiral Shares

$73.03

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

*

Non-income-producing security.

^

Part of security position is on loan to broker-dealers. See Note G in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Considered an affiliated company of the fund as the fund owns more than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of such company. See Note I in Notes to Financial Statements.

2 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

3 See Note E in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

ADR—American Depositary Receipt.

 

 

 

15

 

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Dividends1,2

270,002

Interest2

48,222

Security Lending

1,628

Total Income

319,852

Expenses

 

Investment Advisory Fees—Note B

62,097

The Vanguard Group—Note C

 

Management and Administrative

 

Investor Shares

46,254

Admiral Shares

5,969

Marketing and Distribution

 

Investor Shares

4,670

Admiral Shares

1,423

Custodian Fees

449

Auditing Fees

19

Shareholders’ Reports

 

Investor Shares

454

Admiral Shares

15

Trustees’ Fees and Expenses

32

Total Expenses

121,382

Expenses Paid Indirectly—Note D

(682)

Net Expenses

120,700

Net Investment Income

199,152

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Investment Securities Sold2

1,712,252

Foreign Currencies

(29)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

1,712,223

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

Investment Securities

1,447,579

Foreign Currencies

44

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

1,447,623

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

3,358,998

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Dividends are net of foreign withholding taxes of $4,770,000.

2 Dividend income, interest income, and realized net gain (loss) from affiliated companies of the fund were $10,428,000, $48,219,000, and $450,750,000, respectively.

 

 

16

 

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

199,152

230,848

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

1,712,223

712,533

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

1,447,623

2,542,634

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

3,358,998

3,486,015

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

 

 

Investor Shares

(120,479)

(163,617)

Admiral Shares

(50,404)

(36,076)

Realized Capital Gain

 

 

Investor Shares

(595,528)

Admiral Shares

(211,443)

Total Distributions

(977,854)

(199,693)

Capital Share Transactions—Note H

 

 

Investor Shares

(553,866)

(2,992,661)

Admiral Shares

969,966

2,573,706

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

416,100

(418,955)

Total Increase (Decrease)

2,797,244

2,867,367

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

27,573,326

24,705,959

End of Period1

30,370,570

27,573,326

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $108,084,000 and $89,985,000.

 

 

 

17

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

PRIMECAP Fund Investor Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

Sept. 1 to

 

 

For a Share Outstanding

September 30,

Sept. 30,

Year Ended August 31,

Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

2003

2002

Net Asset Value,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of Period

$64.79

$57.18

$54.93

$48.50

$39.51

$51.90

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.437

.5112

.03

.25

.23

.188

Net Realized and Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) on Investments

7.367

7.544

2.22

6.39

8.97

(12.183)

Total from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Operations

7.804

8.055

2.25

6.64

9.20

(11.995)

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

(.386)

(.445)

(.21)

(.21)

(.260)

Distributions from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized Capital Gains

(1.908)

(.135)

Total Distributions

(2.294)

(.445)

(.21)

(.21)

(.395)

Net Asset Value,

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Period

$70.30

$64.79

$57.18

$54.93

$48.50

$39.51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return3

12.30%

14.13%

4.10%

13.72%

23.41%

–23.28%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets,

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Period (Millions)

$21,828

$20,643

$20,933

$20,115

$16,886

$13,216

Ratio of Total Expenses to

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Net Assets

0.46%

0.46%

0.45%*

0.46%

0.51%

0.49%

Ratio of Net Investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income to Average Net Assets

0.64%

0.85%2

0.57%*

0.48%

0.56%

0.42%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

10%

12%

1%

9%

12%

11%

 

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Net investment income per share and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets include $.144 and 0.24%, respectively, resulting from a special dividend from Microsoft Corp. in December 2004.

3 Total returns do not reflect the 1% fee assessed on redemptions after March 23, 2005, of shares held for less than one year, or the 1% fee assessed until March 23, 2005, on shares purchased on or after April 23, 2001, and held for less than five years.

* Annualized.

 

 

 

 

18

 

 

PRIMECAP Fund Admiral Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 12,

 

Year Ended

Sept. 1 to

Year Ended

20012 to

For a Share Outstanding

September 30,

Sept. 30,

August 31,

Aug. 31,

Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

2003

2002

Net Asset Value,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of Period

$67.28

$59.36

$57.02

$50.34

$41.00

$50.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.562

.6363

.03

.35

.295

.191

Net Realized and Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) on Investments

7.640

7.836

2.31

6.62

9.310

(8.776)

Total from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Operations

8.202

8.472

2.34

6.97

9.605

(8.585)

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

(.472)

(.552)

(.29)

(.265)

(.275)

Distributions from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized Capital Gains

(1.980)

(.140)

Total Distributions

(2.452)

(.552)

(.29)

(.265)

(.415)

Net Asset Value,

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Period

$73.03

$67.28

$59.36

$57.02

$50.34

$41.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return4

12.45%

14.33%

4.10%

13.88%

23.58%

–17.35%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets,

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Period (Millions)

$8,542

$6,930

$3,773

$3,605

$2,067

$1,369

Ratio of Total Expenses to

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Net Assets

0.31%

0.31%

0.30%*

0.31%

0.37%

0.38%*

Ratio of Net Investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income to Average Net Assets

0.79%

0.96%3

0.72%*

0.63%

0.69%

0.52%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

10%

12%

1%

9%

12%

11%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Net investment income per share and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets include $.149 and 0.24%, respectively, resulting from a special dividend from Microsoft Corp. in December 2004.

4 Total returns do not reflect the 1% fee assessed on redemptions after March 23, 2005, of shares held for less than one year, or the 1% fee previously assessed on shares held for less than five years.

*

Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

19

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund offers two classes of shares, Investor Shares and Admiral Shares. Investor Shares are available to any investor who meets the fund’s minimum purchase requirements. Admiral Shares are designed for investors who meet certain administrative, servicing, tenure, and account-size criteria.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued at their fair values calculated according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. These procedures include obtaining quotations from an independent pricing service, monitoring news to identify significant market- or security-specific events, and evaluating changes in the values of foreign market proxies (for example, ADRs, futures contracts, or exchange-traded funds), between the time the foreign markets close and the fund’s pricing time. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate its net asset value may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund’s net asset value.

 

2. Foreign Currency: Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the valuation date as employed by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) in the calculation of its indexes. As part of the fund’s fair-value procedures, exchange rates may be adjusted if they change significantly before the fund’s pricing time but after the time at which the MSCI rates are determined (generally 11:00 a.m., Eastern time).

 

Realized gains (losses) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment securities include the effects of changes in exchange rates since the securities were purchased, combined with the effects of changes in security prices. Fluctuations in the value of other assets and liabilities resulting from changes in exchange rates are recorded as unrealized foreign currency gains (losses) until the asset or liability is settled in cash, when they are recorded as realized foreign currency gains (losses).

 

3. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

4. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

5. Security Lending: The fund may lend its securities to qualified institutional borrowers to earn additional income. Security loans are required to be secured at all times by collateral at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. The fund invests cash collateral received in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, and records a liability for the return of the collateral, during the period the securities are on loan. Security lending income represents the income earned on investing cash collateral, less expenses associated with the loan.

 

 

 

 

 

20

 

 

6. Other: Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income includes income distributions received from Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and is accrued daily. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold. Fees assessed on redemptions of capital shares are credited to paid-in capital.

 

Each class of shares has equal rights as to assets and earnings, except that each class separately bears certain class-specific expenses related to maintenance of shareholder accounts (included in Management and Administrative expenses) and shareholder reporting. Marketing and distribution expenses are allocated to each class of shares based on a method approved by the board of trustees. Income, other non-class-specific expenses, and gains and losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.

 

B. PRIMECAP Management Company provides investment advisory services to the fund for a fee calculated at an annual percentage rate of average net assets. For the year ended September 30, 2006, the investment advisory fee represented an effective annual rate of 0.21% of the fund’s average net assets.

 

C. The Vanguard Group furnishes at cost corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services. The costs of such services are allocated to the fund under methods approved by the board of trustees. The fund has committed to provide up to 0.40% of its net assets in capital contributions to Vanguard. At September 30, 2006, the fund had contributed capital of $3,117,000 to Vanguard (included in Other Assets), representing 0.01% of the fund’s net assets and 3.12% of Vanguard’s capitalization. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

D. The fund has asked its investment advisor to direct certain security trades, subject to obtaining the best price and execution, to brokers who have agreed to rebate to the fund part of the commissions generated. Such rebates are used solely to reduce the fund’s management and administrative expenses. The fund’s custodian bank has also agreed to reduce its fees when the fund maintains cash on deposit in the non-interest-bearing custody account. For the year ended September 30, 2006, these arrangements reduced the fund’s management and administrative expenses by $633,000 and custodian fees by $49,000.

 

E. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund realized net foreign currency losses of $29,000, which decreased distributable net income for tax purposes; accordingly, such losses have been reclassified from accumulated net realized gains to undistributed net investment income.

 

The fund used a tax accounting practice to treat a portion of the price of capital shares redeemed during the year as distributions from net investment income and realized capital gains. Accordingly, the fund has reclassified $10,141,000 from undistributed net investment income, and $84,109,000 from accumulated net realized gains, to paid-in capital.

 

 

21

 

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $165,037,000 of ordinary income and $1,375,972,000 of long-term capital gains available for distribution.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $20,025,071,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $10,444,940,000 consisting of unrealized gains of $11,282,360,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $837,420,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

F. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $2,925,726,000 of investment securities and sold $3,575,945,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

G. The market value of securities on loan to broker-dealers at September 30, 2006, was $64,634,000, for which the fund received cash collateral of $67,595,000.

 

H. Capital share transactions for each class of shares were:

 

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amount

Shares

Amount

Shares

 

($000)

(000)

($000)

(000)

Investor Shares

 

 

 

 

Issued

$1,953,345

28,851

$2,112,455

34,784

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

705,002

10,739

159,904

2,613

Redeemed1

(3,212,213)

(47,710)

(5,265,020)

(84,896)

Net Increase (Decrease)—Investor Shares

(553,866)

(8,120)

(2,992,661)

(47,499)

Admiral Shares

 

 

 

 

Issued

1,539,872

22,010

3,013,929

46,362

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

247,413

3,631

33,026

520

Redeemed1

(817,319)

(11,681)

(473,249)

(7,435)

Net Increase (Decrease)—Admiral Shares

969,966

13,960

2,573,706

39,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Net of redemption fees of $672,000 and $1,126,000 (fund totals).

 

 

 

22

 

 

I. Certain of the fund’s investments are in companies that are considered to be affiliated companies of the fund because the fund owns more than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of the company. Transactions during the period in securities of these companies were as follows:

 

 

 

 

Current-Period Transactions

 

 

 

Sept. 30, 2005

 

Proceeds from

 

Sept. 30, 2006

 

Market

Purchases

Securities

Dividend

Market

 

Value

at Cost

Sold

Income

Value

 

($000)

($000)

($000)

($000)

($000)

Adobe Systems, Inc.

1,019,557

3,772

19,419

1,265,810

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

73,812

96,621

AMR Corp.

103,974

5,800

n/a1

Biogen Idec Inc.

715,813

810,094

Citrix Systems, Inc.

245,115

5,167

347,616

Granite Construction Co.

120,456

1,260

168,052

MacDermid, Inc.

44,668

408

55,487

Micron Technology, Inc.

485,615

n/a1

Millipore Corp.

177,350

172,866

The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

179,910

180,000

The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

Class B

102,706

102,881

Plantronics, Inc.

144,853

940

82,417

Pogo Producing Co.

192,144

937

133,497

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.

630,041

7,792

3,481

713,847

Robert Half International, Inc.

310,523

326,785

1,811

Tektronix, Inc.

167,265

1,591

191,794

 

4,713,802

 

 

10,428

4,038,101

 

 

J. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 At September 30, 2006, the security is still held but the issuer is no longer an affiliated company of the fund.

 

 

23

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Trustees of Vanguard Chester Funds and the Shareholders of Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund:

 

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of net assets, including the statement of assets and liabilities, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund (the “Fund”) at September 30, 2006, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and by agreement to the underlying ownership records for Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

November 13, 2006

 

 


Special 2006 tax information (unaudited) for Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund

 

This information for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, is included pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The fund distributed $890,247,000 as capital gain dividends (from net long-term capital gains) to shareholders during the fiscal year.

 

The fund distributed $170,884,000 of qualified dividend income to shareholders during the fiscal year.

 

For corporate shareholders, 100% of investment income (dividend income plus short-term gains, if any) qualifies for the dividends-received deduction.

 

 

24

 

 

Your Fund’s After-Tax Returns

 

This table presents returns for your fund both before and after taxes. The after-tax returns are shown in two ways: (1) assuming that an investor owned the fund during the entire period and paid taxes on the fund’s distributions, and (2) assuming that an investor paid taxes on the fund’s distributions and sold all shares at the end of each period.

 

Calculations are based on the highest individual federal income tax and capital gains tax rates in effect at the times of the distributions and the hypothetical sales. State and local taxes were not considered. After-tax returns reflect any qualified dividend income, using actual prior-year figures and estimates for 2006. (In the example, returns after the sale of fund shares may be higher than those assuming no sale. This occurs when the sale would have produced a capital loss. The calculation assumes that the investor received a tax deduction for the loss.)

 

The table shows returns for Investor Shares only; returns for other share classes will differ. Please note that your actual after-tax returns will depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. Also note that if you own the fund in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan, this information does not apply to you. Such accounts are not subject to current taxes.

 

Finally, keep in mind that a fund’s performance—whether before or after taxes—does not guarantee future results.

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns: PRIMECAP Fund Investor Shares

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

One

Five

Ten

 

Year1

Years

Years

Returns Before Taxes

12.30%

11.34%

12.95%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

11.73

11.08

12.06

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

8.68

9.81

11.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Total return figures do not reflect the 1% fee assessed on redemptions of shares held less than one year, or the 1% fee assessed until March 23, 2005, on shares purchased on or after April 23, 2001, and held for less than five years.

 

 

25

 

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of the fund.

 

A fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.

 

The table below illustrates your fund’s costs in two ways:

 

• Based on actual fund return. This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

• Based on hypothetical 5% yearly return. This section is intended to help you compare your fund’s costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the fund had a yearly return of 5% before expenses, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case—because the return used is not the fund’s actual return—the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the Securities and Exchange Commission requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess your fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

 

Six Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Beginning

Ending

Expenses

 

Account Value

Account Value

Paid During

PRIMECAP Fund

3/31/2006

9/30/2006

Period1

Based on Actual Fund Return

 

 

 

Investor Shares

$1,000.00

$1,007.45

$2.31

Admiral Shares

1,000.00

1,008.14

1.56

Based on Hypothetical 5% Yearly Return

 

 

 

Investor Shares

$1,000.00

$1,022.76

$2.33

Admiral Shares

1,000.00

1,023.51

1.57

 

 

1 The calculations are based on expenses incurred in the most recent six-month period. The fund’s annualized six-month expense ratios for that period are 0.46% for Investor Shares and 0.31% for Admiral Shares. The dollar amounts shown as “Expenses Paid” are equal to the annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by the number of days in the most recent 12-month period.

 

 

26

 

 

Note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only; they do not include your fund’s low-balance fee or the 1% fee on redemptions of shares held for less than one year. These fees are fully described in the prospectus. If the fees were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Your fund does not carry a “sales load.”

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

You can find more information about the fund’s expenses, including annual expense ratios, in the Financial Statements section of this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the appropriate fund prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

 

Trustees Approve Advisory Agreement

 

The board of trustees of Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund has renewed the fund’s investment advisory agreement with PRIMECAP Management Company. The board determined that the retention of the advisor was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

 

The board based its decision upon an evaluation of PRIMECAP Management’s investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. The trustees considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the agreement. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board’s decision.

 

Nature, extent, and quality of services

The board considered the quality of the fund’s investment management over both the short and long term and took into account the organizational depth and stability of the firm. The board noted that PRIMECAP Management, founded in 1983, is recognized for its long-term approach to growth equity investing. The firm has managed the PRIMECAP Fund since its inception in 1984. Five experienced portfolio managers are responsible for separate subportfolios, and each portfolio manager employs a fundamental, research-driven approach in seeking to identify companies with long-term growth potential overlooked by the market and trading at attractive valuation levels.

 

The board concluded that PRIMECAP Management’s experience, stability, depth, and performance, among other factors, warranted continuation of the advisory agreement.

 

Investment performance

The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the fund, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance of a relevant benchmark and peer group. The board noted that PRIMECAP Management has carried out its investment strategy in disciplined fashion, and the results have been strong, as the fund has outperformed its relevant benchmark and peer group since its inception. Information about the fund’s performance, including some of the data considered by the board, can be found in the Performance Summary section of this report.

 

Cost

The board concluded that the fund’s expense ratio was far below the average expense ratio charged by funds in its peer group. The board noted that the fund’s advisory fee was also well below the peer-group average. Information about the fund’s expense ratio appears in the About Your Fund’s Expenses section of this report as well as in the Financial Statements section, which also includes information about the advisory fee rate. The board did not consider profitability of PRIMECAP Management in determining whether to approve the advisory fee, because PRIMECAP Management is independent of Vanguard and the advisory fee is the result of arm’s-length negotiations.

 

The benefit of economies of scale

The board concluded that the fund’s shareholders benefit from economies of scale because of breakpoints in the fund’s advisory fee schedule. The breakpoints reduce the effective rate of the fee as the fund’s assets increase.

 

The board also approved a change to the process for the quarterly calculation of PRIMECAP’s asset-based advisory fee. The calculation now will be based on the average daily net assets of the fund rather than the average month-end net assets.

 

The advisory agreement will continue for one year and is renewable by the fund’s board after that for successive one-year periods.

 

28

 

 

Glossary

 

Beta. A measure of the magnitude of a fund’s past share-price fluctuations in relation to the ups and downs of a given market index. The index is assigned a beta of 1.00. Compared with a given index, a fund with a beta of 1.20 typically would have seen its share price rise or fall by 12% when the index rose or fell by 10%. A fund’s beta should be reviewed in conjunction with its R-squared (see definition below). The lower the R-squared, the less correlation there is between the fund and the index, and the less reliable beta is as an indicator of volatility.

 

Earnings Growth Rate. The average annual rate of growth in earnings over the past five years for the stocks now in a fund.

 

Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its annual administrative and advisory expenses. These expenses directly reduce returns to investors.

 

Foreign Holdings. The percentage of a fund represented by stocks or depositary receipts of companies based outside the United States.

 

Median Market Cap. An indicator of the size of companies in which a fund invests; the midpoint of market capitalization (market price x shares outstanding) of a fund’s stocks, weighted by the proportion of the fund’s assets invested in each stock. Stocks representing half of the fund’s assets have market capitalizations above the median, and the rest are below it.

 

Price/Book Ratio. The share price of a stock divided by its net worth, or book value, per share. For a fund, the weighted average price/book ratio of the stocks it holds.

 

Price/Earnings Ratio. The ratio of a stock’s current price to its per-share earnings over the past year. For a fund, the weighted average P/E of the stocks it holds. P/E is an indicator of market expectations about corporate prospects; the higher the P/E, the greater the expectations for a company’s future growth.

 

R-Squared. A measure of how much of a fund’s past returns can be explained by the returns from the market in general, as measured by a given index. If a fund’s total returns were precisely synchronized with an index’s returns, its R-squared would be 1.00. If the fund’s returns bore no relationship to the index’s returns, its R-squared would be 0.

 

Return on Equity. The annual average rate of return generated by a company during the past five years for each dollar of shareholder’s equity (net income divided by shareholder’s equity). For a fund, the weighted average return on equity for the companies whose stocks it holds.

 

Short-Term Reserves. The percentage of a fund invested in highly liquid, short-term securities that can be readily converted to cash.

 

Turnover Rate. An indication of the fund’s trading activity. Funds with high turnover rates incur higher transaction costs and may be more likely to distribute capital gains (which may be taxable to investors). The turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions, which have minimal impact on costs.

 

Yield. A snapshot of a fund’s income from interest and dividends. The yield, expressed as a percentage of the fund’s net asset value, is based on income earned over the past 30 days and is annualized, or projected forward for the coming year. The index yield is based on the current annualized rate of income provided by securities in the index.

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The People Who Govern Your Fund

 

The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them on an at-cost basis.

 

A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals.

 

Our independent board members bring distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service to their task of working with Vanguard officers to establish the policies and oversee the activities of the funds. Among board members’ responsibilities are selecting investment advisors for the funds; monitoring fund operations, performance, and costs; reviewing contracts; nominating and selecting new trustees/directors; and electing Vanguard officers.

 

Each trustee serves a fund until its termination; or until the trustee’s retirement, resignation, or death; or otherwise as specified in the fund’s organizational documents. Any trustee may be removed at a shareholders’ meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the fund together with shares of other Vanguard funds organized within the same trust. The table on these two pages shows information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

 

 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Trustee

 

 

John J. Brennan1

 

Born 1954

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman of the Board, Chief

Trustee since May 1987;

Executive Officer, and Director/Trustee of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of each

Chairman of the Board and

of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

Chief Executive Officer

 

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

 

 

Independent Trustees

 

 

 

Charles D. Ellis

 

Born 1937

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Applecore Partners (pro bono ventures

Trustee since January 2001

in education); Senior Advisor to Greenwich Associates (international business strategy

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

consulting); Successor Trustee of Yale University; Overseer of the Stern School of Business

 

at New York University; Trustee of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.

 

 

Rajiv L. Gupta

 

Born 1945

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Trustee since December 20012

of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Board Member of the American Chemistry Council;

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Director of Tyco International, Ltd. (diversified manufacturing and services) (since 2005);

 

Trustee of Drexel University and of the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

 

 

Amy Gutmann

 

Born 1949

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: President of the University of

Trustee since June 2006

Pennsylvania since 2004; Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, Annenberg School

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

for Communication, and Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania

 

since 2004; Provost (2001–2004) and Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and the

 

University Center for Human Values (1990–2004), Princeton University; Director of Carnegie

 

Corporation of New York and of Philadelphia 2016 (since 2005) and of Schuylkill River

 

Development Corporation and Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (since 2004).

 

 

 

JoAnn Heffernan Heisen

 

Born 1950

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Corporate Vice President and Chief

Trustee since July 1998

Global Diversity Officer (since January 2006), Vice President and Chief Information

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Officer (1997–2005), and Member of the Executive Committee of Johnson & Johnson

 

(pharmaceuticals/consumer products); Director of the University Medical Center at

 

Princeton and Women’s Research and Education Institute.

 

 

André F. Perold

 

Born 1952

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: George Gund Professor of Finance and

Trustee since December 2004

Banking, Harvard Business School (since 2000); Senior Associate Dean, Director of Faculty

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Recruiting, and Chair of Finance Faculty, Harvard Business School; Director and Chairman

 

of UNX, Inc. (equities trading firm) (since 2003); Director of registered investment

 

companies advised by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and affiliates (1985–2004),

 

Genbel Securities Limited (South African financial services firm) (1999–2003), Gensec

 

Bank (1999–2003), Sanlam, Ltd. (South African insurance company) (2001–2003), and

 

Stockback, Inc. (credit card firm) (2000–2002).

 

 

Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.

 

Born 1941

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman, President, Chief Executive

Trustee since January 1993

Officer, and Director of NACCO Industries, Inc. (forklift trucks/housewares/ lignite);

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Director of Goodrich Corporation (industrial products/aircraft systems and services).

 

 

J. Lawrence Wilson

 

Born 1936

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Retired Chairman and Chief Executive

Trustee since April 1985

Officer of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Director of Cummins Inc. (diesel engines),

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

MeadWestvaco Corp. (packaging products), and AmerisourceBergen Corp. (pharmaceutical

 

distribution); Trustee of Vanderbilt University and of Culver Educational Foundation.

 

 

Executive Officers1

 

 

 

Heidi Stam

 

Born 1956

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.,

Secretary since July 2005

since November 1997; General Counsel of The Vanguard Group since July 2005;

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Secretary of The Vanguard Group and of each of the investment companies served

 

by The Vanguard Group since July 2005.

 

 

Thomas J. Higgins

 

Born 1957

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.;

Treasurer since July 1998

Treasurer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

 

 

 

Vanguard Senior Management Team

 

 

R. Gregory Barton

Kathleen C. Gubanich

Michael S. Miller

Mortimer J. Buckley

Paul A. Heller

Ralph K. Packard

James H. Gately

F. William McNabb, III

George U. Sauter

 

 

Founder

 

 

 

John C. Bogle

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 1974–1996

 

 

1 Officers of the funds are “interested persons” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

2 December 2002 for Vanguard Equity Income Fund, Vanguard Growth Equity Fund, the Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds, and the Vanguard State Tax-Exempt Funds.

More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, available from The Vanguard Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

P.O. Box 2600

 

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

 

Connect with Vanguard™ > www.vanguard.com

 

 

Fund Information > 800-662-7447

Vanguard, Admiral, Connect with Vanguard, and the ship

 

logo are trademarks of The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Direct Investor Account Services > 800-662-2739

 

 

All other marks are the exclusive property of their

Institutional Investor Services > 800-523-1036

respective owners.

 

 

Text Telephone > 800-952-3335

 

 

All comparative mutual fund data are from Lipper Inc.

 

or Morningstar, Inc., unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

 

This material may be used in conjunction

You can obtain a free copy of Vanguard’s proxy voting

with the offering of shares of any Vanguard

guidelines by visiting our website, www.vanguard.com,

fund only if preceded or accompanied by

and searching for “proxy voting guidelines,” or by calling

the fund’s current prospectus.

Vanguard at 800-662-2739. They are also available from

 

the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, you may

 

obtain a free report on how your fund voted the proxies for

 

securities it owned during the 12 months ended June 30.

 

To get the report, visit either www.vanguard.com

 

or www.sec.gov.

 

 

 

You can review and copy information about your fund

 

at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.

 

To find out more about this public service, call the SEC

 

at 202-551-8090. Information about your fund is also

 

available on the SEC’s website, and you can receive

 

copies of this information, for a fee, by sending a

 

request in either of two ways: via e-mail addressed to

 

publicinfo@sec.gov or via regular mail addressed to the

 

Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange

 

Commission, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2006 The Vanguard Group, Inc.

 

All rights reserved.

 

Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

 

 

 

Q590 112006

 

 

 

 


 

 

Vanguard® Target Retirement Funds

 

 

> Annual Report

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, returns for the six Target Retirement Funds covered in this report ranged from 4.4% for the most income-oriented fund to 8.2% for the 2025 fund, which has the highest allocation to stocks.

 

>

Domestic and international stock markets produced double-digit returns during the period, while bond returns were positive but generally modest, a result of rising interest rates.

 

>

On June 7, 2006, Vanguard expanded its Target Retirement Funds lineup to offer funds with retirement dates staggered at five-year intervals.

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Total Returns

1

Chairman’s Letter

2

Target Retirement Income Fund

8

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

17

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

26

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

35

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

44

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

53

Your Fund’s After-Tax Returns

63

About Your Fund’s Expenses

64

Glossary

66

 

 

 

Please note: The opinions expressed in this report are just that—informed opinions. They should not be considered promises or advice. Also, please keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. Of course, the risks of investing in your fund are spelled out in the prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Total Returns

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

Total

 

Returns1

Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund

4.4%

Target Income Composite Index2

4.5

Target Income Composite Average3

3.7

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund

5.1%

Target 2005 Composite Index2

5.2

Target 2005 Composite Average3

3.7

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund

5.1%

Target 2010 Composite Index2

5.0

Target 2010 Composite Average3

3.5

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund

7.2%

Target 2015 Composite Index2

7.3

Target 2015 Composite Average3

5.8

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund

5.7%

Target 2020 Composite Index2

5.7

Target 2020 Composite Average3

4.0

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund

8.2%

Target 2025 Composite Index2

8.3

Target 2025 Composite Average3

6.3

 

 

1 Returns for the 2010 and 2020 Funds are since inception on June 7, 2006.

2 Returns for the composite indexes are derived by applying the funds’ target allocations to the results of the following benchmarks: for U.S. stocks, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) US Broad Market Index; for international stocks, the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index; for bonds, the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index and the Lehman Treasury Inflation Notes Index; and for short-term reserves, the Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 Each composite average weights the average returns of the appropriate mutual fund peer groups in proportion with the targeted weighting of the specific Target Retirement Fund. All together, the composites use returns for the average fixed income fund, the average intermediate-term Treasury fund, the average Treasury inflation-protected securities fund, the average money market fund, the average general equity fund, the average international fund, and the average emerging markets fund. These returns are derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

 

 

 

1

 

 

 


 

Chairman’s Letter

 

Dear Shareholder,

 

During the 2006 fiscal year, Vanguard Target Retirement Funds enjoyed a period of positive performance overall. Returns for domestic stocks were strong, and bond returns were generally modest in the face of rising interest rates. Those funds holding larger weightings in international markets fared best during the period, as stocks abroad continued to outperform domestic issues.

 

Six Vanguard Target Retirement Funds are covered in this report, including two funds that were added to the lineup on June 7, 2006. All of the funds produced gains in line with their respective asset allocations. The returns ranged from 4.4% for the Target Retirement Income Fund, which has the heaviest bond allocation, to 8.2% for the Target Retirement 2025 Fund, with its heavy allocation to stocks, including notable exposure to the strongly performing European and Pacific markets.

 

Stocks endured some rough going, then recovered to post strong results

The stock market advanced through the first part of the funds’ fiscal year, then hit a speed bump in May, as investors feared that the economy was growing too rapidly. But a slowdown in the housing market, coupled with a late-summer decline in oil prices, helped to allay inflation concerns. The broad market rebounded to post a solid 10.5% return for the 12 months. Value-oriented stocks outperformed growth stocks, and large-capitalization stocks edged out small-caps, one of the market’s best-performing segments in recent years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

International stocks handily outpaced domestic issues, continuing a multiyear trend. European and emerging market stocks fared particularly well. Stocks in the Pacific region also performed admirably, even though Japanese stocks did not fully participate in the global market’s summer recovery.

 

In the bond market, prices rallied as the Fed paused

At its August and September meetings, the Federal Reserve Board twice voted to maintain the federal funds rate at 5.25%, marking a pause in the central bank’s two-year inflation-fighting campaign. With investor sentiment buoyed by the Fed’s near-term inflation outlook, interest rates decreased, driving bond prices higher. The broad taxable bond market finished the period with a 3.7% return, and municipal bonds performed slightly better.

 

Although rates decreased along the entire maturity spectrum in late summer, the difference between the yields of the shortest- and longest-term issues remained narrow by historical standards. At the end of September, the U.S. Treasury yield curve was actually inverted, meaning that short-term issues such as 3-month and 6-month Treasury notes offered higher yields than those with longer maturities.

 

The Target Retirement Funds performed as expected

For the Target Retirement Funds, performance during the fiscal year depended on where each fund stood on the retirement-year spectrum. The

 

 

Market Barometer

 

 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

 

One Year

Three Years

Five Years

Stocks

 

 

 

Russell 1000 Index (Large-caps)

10.2%

12.8%

7.6%

Russell 2000 Index (Small-caps)

9.9

15.5

13.8

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index (Entire market)

10.5

13.3

8.6

MSCI All Country World Index ex USA (International)

19.4

23.9

16.4

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

 

 

Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (Broad taxable market)

3.7%

3.4%

4.8%

Lehman Municipal Bond Index

4.5

4.4

5.2

Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index

4.4

2.6

2.2

 

 

 

 

CPI

 

 

 

Consumer Price Index

2.1%

3.1%

2.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

longest-dated fund, Target Retirement 2025, is the most aggressive, with 16% of its assets in international stocks, 65% in U.S. stocks, and 19% in bonds as of September 30. This allocation explains why the fund had the highest return among the six funds covered in this report. At the other end of the spectrum, with the highest exposure to bonds, the Target Retirement Income Fund gained 4.4%, as rising interest rates depressed bond prices.

 

Each of the Target Retirement Funds includes a mix of stock and bond funds that is appropriate for its target maturity date. As the retirement date nears, these allocations shift to become more income-oriented. The funds designed for investors in, or closest to, retirement—the Target Retirement Income Fund and the Target Retirement 2005 Fund—both hold some portion of their assets in Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund and Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, providing shareholders with a combination of stability and inflation protection.

 

Among the underlying Vanguard funds represented in the Target Retirement series, the best performers were the international funds: Vanguard European Stock Index Fund (+22.1%), Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (+18.2%), and Pacific Stock Index Fund (+12.4). The more modest performers among the underlying funds included the Total Bond Market Index Fund and the Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, which returned 3.6% and 1.8%, respectively. The Inflation-Protected Securities Fund seeks to insulate investors against the long-term effects

 

 

Asset Allocations on September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Term

 

Stocks1

Bonds

Investments

Income2

30%

65%

5%

2005

47

52

1

2010

57

43

0

2015

65

35

0

2020

73

27

0

2025

81

19

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 As of September 30, 2006, international stock weightings for the Income, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025 Funds were 6%, 10%, 11%, 13%, 15%, and 16% of assets, respectively.

2 Allocations do not change.

 

 

4

 

 

of inflation and, in the short run, can provide some protection from unexpected inflationary spikes.

 

With one decision, the funds provide an age-appropriate portfolio

Except for the Income Fund, the Vanguard Target Retirement Funds all gradually march toward more conservative, age-appropriate asset allocations. In the process, the funds largely rely on cost-efficient Vanguard index funds to capture the returns of the stock and bond markets.

 

The results of this efficient approach are reflected in the table showing the funds’ competitive performance since inception. Each of the Target Retirement Funds is within 0.2 percentage point of the performance of its composite benchmark index, which reflects market performance but with no fees subtracted. Each fund is also ahead of the return for an appropriate composite of mutual-fund peer groups. Over the long term, we would expect such competitive performance to continue, as the funds’ low costs should continue to provide a competitive advantage.

 

A straightforward, low-cost solution

As we have counseled investors through the years, choosing and sticking with a carefully considered, balanced portfolio

 

 

Total Returns

 

 

Inception1 through September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Average Annual

Final Value of a $10,000

 

Total Return

Initial Investment

Target Retirement Income Fund

5.6%

$11,713

Target Income Composite Index

5.7

11,762

Target Income Composite Average

5.1

11,574

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

6.6

12,052

Target 2005 Composite Index

6.8

12,122

Target 2005 Composite Average

5.9

11,834

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

5.1

10,505

Target 2010 Composite Index

5.0

10,499

Target 2010 Composite Average

3.5

10,353

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

8.4

12,674

Target 2015 Composite Index

8.5

12,707

Target 2015 Composite Average

7.7

12,434

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

5.7

10,570

Target 2020 Composite Index

5.7

10,572

Target 2020 Composite Average

4.0

10,400

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

9.5

13,045

Target 2025 Composite Index

9.6

13,076

Target 2025 Composite Average

8.6

12,731

 

 

 

 

1 For the Income, 2005, 2015, and 2025 Funds, inception was October 27, 2003; for the 2010 and 2020 Funds, inception was June 7, 2006.

 

 

 

5

 

 

of stock, bond, and money market funds suited to your unique circumstances and time horizon can be critical to your portfolio’s long-term success. The Vanguard Target Retirement Funds put this counsel into practice, providing investors with a one-stop, age-appropriate solution to their retirement investment needs.

 

As seasoned investors know, the market’s shifts can be damaging to anyone who relies too heavily on any one market segment. By selecting a Target Retirement Fund, you have chosen an investment designed to be balanced appropriately, at any time, given your retirement target.

 

Thank you for investing with Vanguard.

 

Sincerely,

 


 

John J. Brennan

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

October 12, 2006

 

 

Expense Ratios

 

 

Your fund compared with its peer group

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Acquired” Fund

Peer-Group

 

Fees and

Expense

 

Expenses1

Ratio2

Income

0.21%

1.05%

2005

0.21

1.12

2010

0.203

1.44

2015

0.21

1.23

2020

0.203

1.44

2025

0.21

1.28

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the Target Retirement Funds invest. The Target Retirement Funds do not charge any expenses or fees of their own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

2 Peer groups are (from top to bottom) the Target Income Composite Average, the Target 2005 Composite Average, the Target 2010 Composite Average, the Target 2015 Composite Average, the Target 2020 Composite Average, and the Target 2025 Composite Average. Each average is a blended composite that weights the return of the average comparable mutual fund for each asset class in proportion to the target weighting of the appropriate Target Retirement Fund. Peer-group expense ratios are derived from data provided by Lipper Inc. and capture information through year-end 2005.

3 For the 2010 and 2020 Funds, acquired fund fees and expenses are annualized since inception on June 7, 2006.

 

 

6

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance

September 30, 20051–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions Per Share

 

 

Starting

Ending

 

 

 

 

Share

Share

Income

Capital

SEC

 

Price

Price

Dividends

Gains

Yield2

Income

$10.52

$10.52

$0.430

$0.015

4.11%

2005

11.14

11.38

0.310

0.009

3.44

2010

20.00

21.01

0.000

0.000

2.96

2015

11.54

12.10

0.260

0.002

2.71

2020

20.00

21.14

0.000

0.000

2.42

2025

11.80

12.51

0.240

0.001

2.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

For Target Retirement 2010 Fund and Target Retirement 2020 Fund, starting share price as of inception on June 7, 2006.

2 Thirty-day advertised yield net of expenses at month-end.

 

 

7

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

4.1%

Expense Ratio

0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Bond Market Index Fund

44.6%

Total Stock Market Index Fund

24.3

Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

20.1

Prime Money Market Fund

5.0

European Stock Index Fund

3.5

Pacific Stock Index Fund

1.7

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

0.8

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 66 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

8

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $10,000


 

 

 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

Final Value

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

of a $10,000

 

One Year

Since Inception1

Investment

Target Retirement Income Fund

4.36%

5.55%

$11,713

Lehman Aggregate Bond Index

3.67

3.81

11,155

Target Income Composite Index2

4.50

5.70

11,762

Target Income Composite Average3

3.66

5.12

11,574

 

Total Investment Returns (%): October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

 

 

Income

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2004

3.3%

2.9%

6.2%

6.3%

2005

2.1

3.6

5.7

5.8

2006

0.1

4.3

4.4

4.5

 

 

1 October 27, 2003.

2 The Target Income Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 45% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 24% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 20% Lehman Treasury Inflation Notes Index, 5% Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Index, 5% MSCI EAFE Index, and 1% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI US Broad Market Index replaced the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index on April 23, 2005. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target Income Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 45% average fixed income fund, 24% average general equity fund, 20% average Treasury inflation- protected securities fund, 5% average money market fund, 5% average international fund, and 1% average emerging markets fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 14 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

9

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (100%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (24.3%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

5,981,166

191,397

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

61,679

8,112

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (6.0%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

875,778

29,111

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

1,213,155

14,291

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

295,223

6,214

 

 

 

Bond Funds (64.7%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

36,704,961

366,316

Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares

13,826,547

165,089

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (5.0%)

 

 

Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund Investor Shares

41,452,707

41,453

Total Investment Companies

 

 

(Cost $809,320)

 

821,983

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.0%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

3,857

Liabilities

 

(4,212)

 

 

(355)

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 78,076,937 outstanding $.001 par value shares of beneficial interest

 

(unlimited authorization)

 

821,628

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$10.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:1

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

813,127

$10.41

Undistributed Net Investment Income

1,285

.02

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(5,447)

(.07)

Unrealized Appreciation

12,663

.16

Net Assets

821,628

$10.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

32,676

Net Investment Income—Note B

32,676

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

189

Investment Securities Sold

(5,644)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(5,455)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

6,317

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

33,538

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

32,676

18,706

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(5,455)

1,045

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

6,317

5,105

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

33,538

24,856

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

(31,951)

(18,511)

Realized Capital Gain1

(1,021)

(151)

Total Distributions

(32,972)

(18,662)

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

 

Issued

408,967

449,883

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

29,738

16,696

Redeemed

(294,882)

(110,338)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

143,823

356,241

Total Increase (Decrease)

144,389

362,435

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

677,239

314,804

End of Period2

821,628

677,239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Includes fiscal 2006 and 2005 short-term gain distributions totaling $204,000 and $0, respectively. Short-term gain distributions are treated as ordinary income dividends for tax purposes.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $1,285,000 and $560,000.

 

 

 

13

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

Sept. 1,

Oct. 27,

 

 

2004, to

20032 to

 

Year Ended September 30,

Sept. 30,

Aug. 31,

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$10.52

$10.31

$10.34

$10.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.4393

.3993

.06

.235

Capital Gain Distributions Received

.0033

.0223

.015

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.003

.163

(.01)

.310

Total from Investment Operations

.445

.584

.05

.560

Distributions

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.430)

(.370)

(.08)

(.205)

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

(.015)

(.004)

(.015)

Total Distributions

(.445)

(.374)

(.08)

(.220)

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$10.52

$10.52

$10.31

$10.34

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return

4.36%

5.73%

0.48%

5.65%

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$822

$677

$315

$297

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%4

0%

0%

0%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

4.21%

3.80%

3.96%*

3.62%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

22%

0%

0%

1%

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

4 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

*

Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds, and short-term reserves.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER® Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the year ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $1,297,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $5,058,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $809,721,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $12,262,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $26,099,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $13,837,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

 

15

 

 

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

D. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $312,007,000 of investment securities and sold $168,298,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

Shares

Shares

 

(000)

(000)

Issued

39,176

42,786

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

2,872

1,592

Redeemed

(28,362)

(10,507)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

13,686

33,871

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

3.4%

Expense Ratio

0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Bond Market Index Fund

40.6%

Total Stock Market Index Fund

37.8

Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

11.4

European Stock Index Fund

5.6

Pacific Stock Index Fund

2.7

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

1.2

Prime Money Market Fund

0.7

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 66 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

17

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $10,000

 


 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

Final Value

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

of a $10,000

 

One Year

Since Inception1

Investment

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

5.13%

6.59%

$12,052

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

10.48

12.12

13,975

Target 2005 Composite Index2

5.23

6.80

12,122

Target 2005 Composite Average3

3.68

5.92

11,834

 

Total Investment Returns (%): October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

 

 

2005

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2004

6.6%

0.6%

7.2%

7.3%

2005

4.6

2.4

7.0

7.1

2006

2.2

2.9

5.1

5.2

 

 

1 October 27, 2003.

2 The Target 2005 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 41% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 38% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 11% Lehman Treasury Inflation Notes Index, 8% MSCI EAFE Index, 1% Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Index, and 1% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI US Broad Market Index replaced the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index in the composite index on April 23, 2005. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2005 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 41% average fixed income fund, 38% average general equity fund, 11% average Treasury inflation- protected securities fund, 8% average international fund, 1% average money market fund, and 1% average emerging markets fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 23 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

18

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (100%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (37.8%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

10,892,945

348,574

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

98,256

12,923

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (9.5%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

1,614,322

53,660

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

2,212,202

26,060

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

527,124

11,096

 

 

 

Bond Funds (52.0%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

38,936,221

388,583

Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares

9,171,122

109,503

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (0.7%)

 

 

Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund Investor Shares

6,734,309

6,734

Total Investment Companies

 

 

(Cost $927,354)

 

957,133

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.0%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

5,900

Liabilities

 

(6,062)

 

 

(162)

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 84,063,637 outstanding $.001 par value shares of beneficial interest

 

(unlimited authorization)

 

956,971

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$11.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:1

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

911,043

$10.83

Undistributed Net Investment Income

22,368

.27

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(6,219)

(.07)

Unrealized Appreciation

29,779

.35

Net Assets

956,971

$11.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

30,677

Net Investment Income—Note B

30,677

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

138

Investment Securities Sold

(6,192)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(6,054)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

19,405

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

44,028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

30,677

14,866

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(6,054)

443

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

19,405

9,560

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

44,028

24,869

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

(20,383)

(6,718)

Realized Capital Gain1

(592)

(112)

Total Distributions

(20,975)

(6,830)

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

 

Issued

540,605

485,535

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

20,534

6,633

Redeemed

(277,991)

(96,913)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

283,148

395,255

Total Increase (Decrease)

306,201

413,294

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

650,770

237,476

End of Period2

956,971

650,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Includes fiscal 2006 and 2005 short-term gain distributions totaling $132,000 and $0, respectively. Short-term gain distributions are treated as ordinary income dividends for tax purposes.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $22,368,000 and $12,074,000.

 

 

 

22

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

Sept. 1,

Oct. 27,

 

 

2004, to

20032 to

 

Year Ended September 30,

Sept. 30,

Aug. 31,

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$11.14

$10.65

$10.58

$10.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.4083

.3883

.05

.185

Capital Gain Distributions Received

.0023

.0153

.010

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.149

.331

.02

.450

Total from Investment Operations

.559

.734

.07

.645

Distributions

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.310)

(.240)

(.055)

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

(.009)

(.004)

(.010)

Total Distributions

(.319)

(.244)

(.065)

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$11.38

$11.14

$10.65

$10.58

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return

5.13%

6.96%

0.66%

6.47%

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$957

$651

$237

$219

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%4

0%

0%

0%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

3.68%

3.57%

3.57%*

3.31%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

19%

4%

0%

2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

4 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

*

Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

23

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the year ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $22,361,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $6,111,000 to offset future net capital gains of $19,000 through September 30, 2014, and $6,092,000 through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $927,454,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $29,679,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $40,149,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $10,470,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

 

24

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

D. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $453,470,000 of investment securities and sold $161,078,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

Shares

Shares

 

(000)

(000)

Issued

48,954

44,377

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

1,875

613

Redeemed

(25,192)

(8,859)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

25,637

36,131

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

3.0%

Expense Ratio

0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.20%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

45.6%

Total Bond Market Index Fund

41.1

European Stock Index Fund

6.6

Pacific Stock Index Fund

3.1

Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

2.0

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

1.6

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 66 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

26

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

 

Cumulative Performance: June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

Initial Investment of $10,000

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

Total Returns

of a $10,000

 

Since Inception1

Investment

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

5.05%

$10,505

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

5.82

10,582

Target 2010 Composite Index2

4.99

10,499

Target 2010 Composite Average3

3.53

10,353

 

 

Total Investment Returns (%): June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

 

 

2010

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2006

5.1%

0.0%

5.1%

5.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 June 7, 2006.

2 The Target 2010 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 45% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 41% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 10% MSCI EAFE Index, 2% Lehman Treasury Inflation Notes Index, and 2% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2010 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 45% average general equity fund, 41% average fixed income fund, 10% average international fund, 2% average Treasury inflation-protected securities fund, and 2% average emerging markets fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 32 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

 

27

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (99.4%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (45.3%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

1,032,553

33,042

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

7,200

947

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (11.2%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

147,686

4,909

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

195,336

2,301

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

56,789

1,195

 

 

 

Bond Funds (42.9%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

3,074,132

30,680

Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares

124,161

1,483

Total Investment Companies

 

 

(Cost $73,237)

 

74,557

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.6%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

3,194

Liabilities

 

(2,750)

 

 

444

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 3,569,536 outstanding $.001 par value shares of

 

 

beneficial interest (unlimited authorization)

 

75,001

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$21.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Investments in Securities, at Value

 

74,557

Receivables for Capital Shares Issued

 

3,099

Other Assets

 

95

Total Assets

 

77,751

Liabilities

 

 

Payables for Investment Securities Purchased

 

1,915

Other Liabilities

 

835

Total Liabilities

 

2,750

Net Assets

 

75,001

 

 

 

28

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:1

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

73,390

$20.56

Undistributed Net Investment Income

294

.08

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(3)

Unrealized Appreciation

1,320

.37

Net Assets

75,001

$21.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

 

29

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

294

Net Investment Income—Note B

294

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

(3)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(3)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

1,320

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

1,611

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

Operations

 

Net Investment Income

294

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(3)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

1,320

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

1,611

Distributions

 

Net Investment Income

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

Issued

74,775

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(1,385)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

73,390

Total Increase (Decrease)

75,001

Net Assets

 

Beginning of Period

End of Period2

75,001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $294,000.

 

 

 

31

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period

September 30, 2006

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$20.00

Investment Operations

 

Net Investment Income

.232

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.78

Total from Investment Operations

1.01

Distributions

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$21.01

 

 

Total Return

5.05%

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$75

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%3

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

2.89%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.20%.

*

Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

32

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the period ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $294,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $3,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $73,237,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $1,320,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $1,323,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $3,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

D. During the period ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $74,506,000 of investment securities and sold $1,267,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

33

 

 

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

June 7, 20061, to

 

September 30, 2006

 

Shares

 

(000)

Issued

3,637

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(67)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

3,570

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

34

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.7%

Expense Ratio

0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

52.3%

Total Bond Market Index Fund

34.6

European Stock Index Fund

7.8

Pacific Stock Index Fund

3.7

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

1.6

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 66 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

35

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $10,000

 


 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

Final Value

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

of a $10,000

 

One Year

Since Inception1

Investment

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

7.25%

8.43%

$12,674

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

10.48

12.12

13,975

Target 2015 Composite Index2

7.30

8.53

12,707

Target 2015 Composite Average3

5.83

7.73

12,434

 

Total Investment Returns (%): October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

 

 

2015

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2004

7.4%

0.6%

8.0%

8.1%

2005

7.5

1.9

9.4

9.5

2006

4.9

2.3

7.2

7.3

 

 

1 October 27, 2003.

2 The Target 2015 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 52% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 35% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 11% MSCI EAFE Index, and 2% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI US Broad Market Index replaced the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index in the composite index on April 23, 2005. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2015 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 52% average general equity fund, 35% average fixed income fund, 11% average international fund, and 2% average emerging markets fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 41 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

36

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (100.0%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (52.3%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

58,761,705

1,880,375

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

499,841

65,739

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (13.1%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

8,681,143

288,561

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

11,650,639

137,245

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

2,847,947

59,949

 

 

 

Bond Fund (34.6%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

129,055,289

1,287,972

Total Investment Companies

 

 

(Cost $3,528,381)

 

3,719,841

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.0%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

17,727

Liabilities

 

(17,305)

 

 

422

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 307,409,104 outstanding $.001 par value shares of beneficial interest

 

(unlimited authorization)

 

3,720,263

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$12.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:1

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid-in Capital

3,481,642

$11.32

Undistributed Net Investment Income

63,654

.21

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(16,493)

(.05)

Unrealized Appreciation

191,460

.62

Net Assets

3,720,263

$12.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

 

38

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

85,290

Net Investment Income—Note B

85,290

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

67

Investment Securities Sold

(16,534)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(16,467)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

137,974

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

206,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

85,290

32,748

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(16,467)

319

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

137,974

51,376

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

206,797

84,443

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

(48,024)

(11,959)

Realized Capital Gain

(369)

(120)

Total Distributions

(48,393)

(12,079)

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

 

Issued

2,113,096

1,399,102

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

48,120

11,936

Redeemed

(403,612)

(148,714)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

1,757,604

1,262,324

Total Increase (Decrease)

1,916,008

1,334,688

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

1,804,255

469,567

End of Period1

3,720,263

1,804,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $63,654,000 and $26,388,000.

 

 

40

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

Sept. 1,

Oct. 27,

 

 

2004, to

20032 to

 

Year Ended September 30,

Sept. 30,

Aug. 31,

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$11.54

$10.74

$10.63

$10.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.3563

.3463

.03

.16

Capital Gain Distributions Received

.0043

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.466

.652

.08

.53

Total from Investment Operations

.822

1.002

.11

.69

Distributions

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.260)

(.200)

(.06)

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

(.002)

(.002)

Total Distributions

(.262)

(.202)

(.06)

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$12.10

$11.54

$10.74

$10.63

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return

7.25%

9.40%

1.03%

6.92%

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$3,720

$1,804

$470

$427

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%4

0%

0%

0%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

3.04%

3.11%

2.85%*

2.69%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

15%

1%

0%

1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

4 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

*

Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

42

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the year ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $63,720,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $16,552,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $3,528,389,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $191,452,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $208,432,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $16,980,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

 

42

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

D. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $2,216,213,000 of investment securities and sold $419,053,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

Shares

Shares

 

(000)

(000)

Issued

181,488

124,762

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

4,192

1,071

Redeemed

(34,594)

(13,239)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

151,086

112,594

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.4%

Expense Ratio

0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.20%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

58.9%

Total Bond Market Index Fund

26.6

European Stock Index Fund

8.6

Pacific Stock Index Fund

4.0

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

1.9

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 66 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

 

Cumulative Performance: June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

Initial Investment of $10,000

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

Total Returns

of a $10,000

 

Since Inception1

Investment

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

5.70%

$10,570

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

5.82

10,582

Target 2020 Composite Index2

5.72

10,572

Target 2020 Composite Average3

4.00

10,400

 

Total Investment Returns (%): June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

 

 

2020

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2006

5.7%

0.0%

5.7%

5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 June 7, 2006.

2 The Target 2020 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 59% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 27% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 12% MSCI EAFE Index, and 2% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2020 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 59% average general equity fund, 27% average fixed income fund, 12% average international fund, and 2% average emerging markets fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 50 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

 

45

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (94.1%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (55.2%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

1,967,737

62,968

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

12,800

1,684

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (13.7%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

284,848

9,468

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

377,193

4,443

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Fund Index Investor Shares

100,235

2,110

 

 

 

Bond Fund (24.9%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

2,924,161

29,183

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (0.3%)

 

 

1 Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

352,040

352

Total Investment Companies

 

 

(Cost $108,022)

 

110,208

Other Assets and Liabilities (5.9%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

9,899

Liabilities

 

(2,932)

 

 

6,967

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 5,543,084 outstanding $.001 par value shares of beneficial

 

 

interest (unlimited authorization)

 

117,175

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$21.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

 

 

Market

 

Value

 

($000)

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

Assets

 

Investments in Securities, at Value

110,208

Receivables for Capital Shares Issued

9,810

Other Assets

89

Total Assets

120,107

Liabilities

 

Payables for Investment Securities Purchased

2,904

Other Liabilities

28

Total Liabilities

2,932

 

 

Net Assets

117,175

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

114,631

$20.69

Undistributed Net Investment Income

359

.06

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(1)

Unrealized Appreciation

2,186

.39

Net Assets

117,175

$21.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

2 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

47

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

359

Net Investment Income—Note B

359

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

(1)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(1)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

2,186

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

2,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception

 

 

 

 

 

48

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

Operations

 

Net Investment Income

359

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(1)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

2,186

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

2,544

Distributions

 

Net Investment Income

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

Issued

117,259

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(2,628)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

114,631

Total Increase (Decrease)

117,175

Net Assets

 

Beginning of Period

End of Period2

117,175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $359,000.

 

 

49

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period

September 30, 2006

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$20.00

Investment Operations

 

Net Investment Income

.192

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.95

Total from Investment Operations

1.14

Distributions

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$21.14

 

 

Total Return

5.70%

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$117

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%3

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

2.24%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

2%

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.20%.

* Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the period ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $359,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $1,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $108,022,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $2,186,000, consisting entirely of unrealized gains on securities that had risen in value since their purchase.

 

D. During the period ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $108,575,000 of investment securities and sold $904,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

51

 

 

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

June 7, 2006,1 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

Shares

 

(000)

Issued

5,672

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(129)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

5,543

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.2%

Expense Ratio

0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

64.7%

Total Bond Market Index Fund

19.1

European Stock Index Fund

9.6

Pacific Stock Index Fund

4.6

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

2.0

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 66 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

53

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $10,000


 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

Final Value

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

of a $10,000

 

One Year

Since Inception1

Investment

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

8.18%

9.51%

$13,045

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

10.48

12.12

13,975

Target 2025 Composite Index2

8.27

9.60

13,076

Target 2025 Composite Average3

6.34

8.60

12,731

 

Total Investment Returns (%): October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

 

 

2025

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2004

8.2%

0.6%

8.8%

8.8%

2005

9.1

1.7

10.8

11.0

2006

6.0

2.2

8.2

8.3

 

 

1 October 27, 2003.

2 The Target 2025 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 65% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 19% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 14% MSCI EAFE Index, and 2% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI US Broad Market Index replaced the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index in the composite index on April 23, 2005. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 24, 2006. The composite index changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2025 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 65% average general equity fund, 19% average fixed income fund, 14% average international fund, and 2% average emerging markets fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 58 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

54

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (99.9%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (64.6%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

77,182,035

2,469,824

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

693,192

91,169

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (16.2%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

11,458,302

380,874

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

15,319,333

180,462

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

3,712,470

78,148

 

 

 

Bond Fund (19.1%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

75,542,082

753,910

Total Investment Companies

 

 

(Cost $3,691,874)

 

3,954,387

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.1%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

15,787

Liabilities

 

(13,121)

 

 

2,666

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 316,344,827 outstanding $.001 par value shares of beneficial

 

interest (unlimited authorization)

 

3,957,053

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$12.51

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:1

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

3,665,297

$11.59

Undistributed Net Investment Income

58,275

.18

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(29,032)

(.09)

Unrealized Appreciation

262,513

.83

Net Assets

3,957,053

$12.51

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

55

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

80,627

Net Investment Income—Note B

80,627

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

(29,027)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(29,027)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

192,887

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

244,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

80,627

30,017

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(29,027)

213

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

192,887

66,626

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

244,487

96,856

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

(46,196)

(10,500)

Realized Capital Gain

(192)

(117)

Total Distributions

(46,388)

(10,617)

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

 

Issued

2,143,288

1,538,295

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

46,214

10,564

Redeemed

(398,591)

(162,366)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

1,790,911

1,386,493

Total Increase (Decrease)

1,989,010

1,472,732

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

1,968,043

495,311

End of Period1

3,957,053

1,968,043

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $58,275,000 and $23,844,000.

 

 

 

 

57

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 1,

Oct. 27,

 

Year Ended September 30,

2004, to

20032 to

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

Aug. 31,

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$11.80

$10.82

$10.69

$10.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.3213

.3203

.02

.13

Capital Gain Distributions Received

.0033

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.630

.839

.11

.62

Total from Investment Operations

.951

1.162

.13

.75

Distributions

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.240)

(.180)

(.06)

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

(.001)

(.002)

Total Distributions

(.241)

(.182)

(.06)

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$12.51

$11.80

$10.82

$10.69

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return

8.18%

10.80%

1.22%

7.52%

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$3,957

$1,968

$495

$453

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%4

0%

0%

0%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

2.66%

2.84%

2.55%*

2.33%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

22%

2%

0%

3%

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

4 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

*

Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

58

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the year ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $58,337,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $28,984,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $3,691,985,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $262,402,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $269,756,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $7,354,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

 

59

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

D. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $2,486,244,000 of investment securities and sold $661,992,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

Shares

Shares

 

(000)

(000)

Issued

178,778

134,291

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

3,916

930

Redeemed

(33,110)

(14,252)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

149,584

120,969

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Trustees of Vanguard Chester Funds and the Shareholders of Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund, and Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund:

 

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets, including the statements of assets and liabilities for Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund and Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund, and Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund (hereafter referred to as the “Funds”) at September 30, 2006, and the results of each of their operations, the changes in each of their net assets, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and by agreement to the underlying ownership records for the Vanguard funds, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

November 13, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61

 

 


Special 2006 tax information (unaudited) for Vanguard Target Retirement Funds

 

This information for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, is included pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The funds distributed qualified dividend income to shareholders during the fiscal year as follows:

 

 

 

Qualified Dividend Income

 

($000)

Target Retirement Income Fund

3,921

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

2,982

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

0

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

13,638

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

0

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

17,933

 

 

For corporate shareholders, the percentage of investment income (dividend income plus short-term gains, if any) that qualifies for the dividends-received deduction is as follows:

 

 

 

Percentage

Target Retirement Income Fund

7.8

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

14.2

Target Retirement 2010 Fund

34.2

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

23.2

Target Retirement 2020 Fund

50.6

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

32.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62

 

 

Your Fund’s After-Tax Returns

 

This table presents returns both before and after taxes for those Target Retirement Funds that have at least one year of operating history. The after-tax returns are shown in two ways: (1) assuming that an investor owned the fund during the entire period and paid taxes on the fund’s distributions, and (2) assuming that an investor paid taxes on the fund’s distributions and sold all shares at the end of each period.

 

Calculations are based on the highest individual federal income tax and capital gains tax rates in effect at the times of the distributions and the hypothetical sales. State and local taxes were not considered. After-tax returns reflect any qualified dividend income, using actual prior-year figures and estimates for 2006. (In the example, returns after the sale of fund shares may be higher than those assuming no sale. This occurs when the sale would have produced a capital loss. The calculation assumes that the investor received a tax deduction for the loss.)

 

Please note that your actual after-tax returns will depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. Also note that if you own the fund in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan, this information does not apply to you. Such accounts are not subject to current taxes.

 

Finally, keep in mind that a fund’s performance—whether before or after taxes—does not guarantee future results.

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns: Target Retirement Funds

 

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

One

Since

 

Year

Inception1

Target Retirement Income Fund

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

4.36%

5.55%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

2.94

4.30

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

2.93

4.04

 

 

 

Target Retirement 2005 Fund

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

5.13%

6.59%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

4.19

5.94

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

3.41

5.29

 

 

 

Target Retirement 2015 Fund

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

7.25%

8.43%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

6.55

7.95

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

4.82

6.99

 

 

 

Target Retirement 2025 Fund

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

8.18%

9.51%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

7.59

9.10

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

5.46

7.98

 

 

 

1 October 27, 2003.

 

 

63

 

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of the fund.

 

A typical fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. The Target Retirement Funds have no direct expenses, but each fund bears its proportionate share of the costs for the underlying funds in which it invests. These indirect expenses make up the acquired fund fees and expenses, also expressed as a percentage of average net assets.

 

The following examples, for funds that have at least one year of operating history, are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period. The costs were calculated using the acquired fund fees and expenses for each Target Retirement Fund.

 

The table on page 65 illustrates your fund’s costs in two ways:

 

• Based on actual fund return. This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

• Based on hypothetical 5% yearly return. This section is intended to help you compare your fund’s costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the fund had a yearly return of 5% before expenses, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case—because the return used is not the fund’s actual return—the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the Securities and Exchange Commission requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess your fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

Six Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Beginning

Ending

Expenses

 

Account Value

Account Value

Paid During

 

3/31/2006

9/30/2006

Period1

Based on Actual Fund Return

 

 

 

Income

$1,000.00

$1,033.35

$1.07

2005

1,000.00

1,031.73

1.02

2015

1,000.00

1,030.66

1.02

2025

1,000.00

1,029.63

1.02

Based on Hypothetical 5% Yearly Return

 

 

 

Income

$1,000.00

$1,024.02

$1.07

2005

1,000.00

1,024.07

1.01

2015

1,000.00

1,024.07

1.01

2025

1,000.00

1,024.07

1.01

 

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table above are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs or account maintenance fees. They do not include your fund’s low-balance fee, which is described in the prospectus. If this fee were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Your fund does not charge transaction fees, such as purchase or redemption fees, nor does it carry a “sales load.”

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the appropriate fund prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The calculations are based on the acquired fund fees and expenses for the most recent six-month period. The funds’ annualized expense figures for that period are (in order as listed from top to bottom) 0.21%, 0.20%, 0.20%, and 0.20%. The dollar amounts shown as "Expenses Paid" are equal to the expense figures, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by the number of days in the most recent 12-month period.

 

 

 

65

 

 

Glossary

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses. Funds that invest in other Vanguard funds incur no direct expenses, but they do bear proportionate shares of the operating, administrative, and advisory expenses of the underlying funds, and they must pay any fees charged by those funds. The figure for Acquired fund fees and expenses represents a weighted average of these underlying costs. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

 

Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its annual administrative and advisory expenses. These expenses directly reduce returns to investors.

 

Yield. A snapshot of a fund’s income from interest and dividends. The yield, expressed as a percentage of the fund’s net asset value, is based on income earned over the past 30 days and is annualized, or projected forward for the coming year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The People Who Govern Your Fund

 

The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them on an at-cost basis.

 

A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals.

 

Our independent board members bring distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service to their task of working with Vanguard officers to establish the policies and oversee the activities of the funds. Among board members’ responsibilities are selecting investment advisors for the funds; monitoring fund operations, performance, and costs; reviewing contracts; nominating and selecting new trustees/directors; and electing Vanguard officers.

 

Each trustee serves a fund until its termination; or until the trustee’s retirement, resignation, or death; or otherwise as specified in the fund’s organizational documents. Any trustee may be removed at a shareholders’ meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the fund together with shares of other Vanguard funds organized within the same trust. The table on these two pages shows information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

 

 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Trustee

 

 

John J. Brennan1

 

Born 1954

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman of the Board, Chief

Trustee since May 1987;

Executive Officer, and Director/Trustee of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of each

Chairman of the Board and

of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

Chief Executive Officer

 

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

 

 

Independent Trustees

 

 

 

Charles D. Ellis

 

Born 1937

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Applecore Partners (pro bono ventures

Trustee since January 2001

in education); Senior Advisor to Greenwich Associates (international business strategy

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

consulting); Successor Trustee of Yale University; Overseer of the Stern School of Business

 

at New York University; Trustee of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.

 

 

Rajiv L. Gupta

 

Born 1945

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Trustee since December 20012

of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Board Member of the American Chemistry Council;

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Director of Tyco International, Ltd. (diversified manufacturing and services) (since 2005);

 

Trustee of Drexel University and of the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

 

 

Amy Gutmann

 

Born 1949

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: President of the University of

Trustee since June 2006

Pennsylvania since 2004; Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, Annenberg School

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

for Communication, and Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania

 

since 2004; Provost (2001–2004) and Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and the

 

University Center for Human Values (1990–2004), Princeton University; Director of Carnegie

 

Corporation of New York and of Philadelphia 2016 (since 2005) and of Schuylkill River

 

Development Corporation and Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (since 2004).

 

 

 

JoAnn Heffernan Heisen

 

Born 1950

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Corporate Vice President and Chief

Trustee since July 1998

Global Diversity Officer (since January 2006), Vice President and Chief Information

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Officer (1997–2005), and Member of the Executive Committee of Johnson & Johnson

 

(pharmaceuticals/consumer products); Director of the University Medical Center at

 

Princeton and Women’s Research and Education Institute.

 

 

André F. Perold

 

Born 1952

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: George Gund Professor of Finance and

Trustee since December 2004

Banking, Harvard Business School (since 2000); Senior Associate Dean, Director of Faculty

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Recruiting, and Chair of Finance Faculty, Harvard Business School; Director and Chairman

 

of UNX, Inc. (equities trading firm) (since 2003); Director of registered investment

 

companies advised by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and affiliates (1985–2004),

 

Genbel Securities Limited (South African financial services firm) (1999–2003), Gensec

 

Bank (1999–2003), Sanlam, Ltd. (South African insurance company) (2001–2003), and

 

Stockback, Inc. (credit card firm) (2000–2002).

 

 

Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.

 

Born 1941

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman, President, Chief Executive

Trustee since January 1993

Officer, and Director of NACCO Industries, Inc. (forklift trucks/housewares/ lignite);

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Director of Goodrich Corporation (industrial products/aircraft systems and services).

 

 

J. Lawrence Wilson

 

Born 1936

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Retired Chairman and Chief Executive

Trustee since April 1985

Officer of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Director of Cummins Inc. (diesel engines),

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

MeadWestvaco Corp. (packaging products), and AmerisourceBergen Corp. (pharmaceutical

 

distribution); Trustee of Vanderbilt University and of Culver Educational Foundation.

 

 

Executive Officers1

 

 

 

Heidi Stam

 

Born 1956

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.,

Secretary since July 2005

since November 1997; General Counsel of The Vanguard Group since July 2005;

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Secretary of The Vanguard Group and of each of the investment companies served

 

by The Vanguard Group since July 2005.

 

 

Thomas J. Higgins

 

Born 1957

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.;

Treasurer since July 1998

Treasurer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

 

 

 

Vanguard Senior Management Team

 

 

R. Gregory Barton

Kathleen C. Gubanich

Michael S. Miller

Mortimer J. Buckley

Paul A. Heller

Ralph K. Packard

James H. Gately

F. William McNabb, III

George U. Sauter

 

 

Founder

 

 

 

John C. Bogle

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 1974–1996

 

 

1 Officers of the funds are “interested persons” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

2 December 2002 for Vanguard Equity Income Fund, Vanguard Growth Equity Fund, the Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds, and the Vanguard State Tax-Exempt Funds.

More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, available from The Vanguard Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

P.O. Box 2600

 

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

 

Connect with Vanguard™ > www.vanguard.com

 

Fund Information > 800-662-7447

Vanguard, Connect with Vanguard, VIPER, and the ship

 

logo are trademarks of The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Direct Investor Account Services > 800-662-2739

 

 

All other marks are the exclusive property of their

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or Morningstar, Inc., unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This material may be used in conjunction

You can obtain a free copy of Vanguard’s proxy voting

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fund only if preceded or accompanied by

and searching for “proxy voting guidelines,” or by calling

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Vanguard at 800-662-2739. They are also available from

 

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© 2006 The Vanguard Group, Inc.

 

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Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

 

 

 

Q3080 112006

 

 

 

 


 

 

Vanguard® Target Retirement Funds

 

 

> Annual Report

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, returns for the five Target Retirement Funds included in this report were in line with the performance of their benchmark indexes and ahead of the average returns for their composite peer funds.

 

>

Domestic and international stock markets produced double-digit returns during the period, while bond returns were positive but generally modest, a result of rising interest rates.

 

>

On June 7, 2006, Vanguard expanded its Target Retirement Funds lineup so that it now offers funds with retirement dates staggered at five-year intervals.

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Total Returns

1

Chairman’s Letter

2

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

7

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

16

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

24

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

33

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

41

Your Fund’s After-Tax Returns

52

About Your Fund’s Expenses

53

Glossary

55

 

 

 

 

Please note: The opinions expressed in this report are just that—informed opinions. They should not be considered promises or advice. Also, please keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. Of course, the risks of investing in your fund are spelled out in the prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Fund’s Total Returns

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

Total

 

Returns1

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund

6.3%

Target 2030 Composite Index2

6.3

Target 2030 Composite Average3

4.4

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund

9.7%

Target 2035 Composite Index2

9.9

Target 2035 Composite Average3

7.7

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund

5.7%

Target 2040 Composite Index2

5.7

Target 2040 Composite Average3

3.8

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund

10.7%

Target 2045 Composite Index2

10.8

Target 2045 Composite Average3

8.6

 

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund

6.2%

Target 2050 Composite Index2

6.2

Target 2050 Composite Average3

4.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Returns for the 2030, 2040, and 2050 Funds since inception: June 7, 2006.

2 Returns for the composite indexes are derived by applying the funds’ target allocations to the results of the following benchmarks: for U.S. stocks, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) US Broad Market Index; for international stocks, the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index and the Select Emerging Markets Index through August 23, 2006, and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index thereafter; for bonds, the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index.

3 Each composite average weights the average returns of the appropriate mutual fund peer groups in proportion with the targeted weighting of the specific Target Retirement Fund. All together, the composites use returns for the average fixed income fund, the average general equity fund, the average international fund, and the average emerging markets fund. These returns are derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

 

 

1

 

 

 


 

Chairman’s Letter

 

Dear Shareholder,

 

Five of the 11 Vanguard Target Retirement Funds are covered in this report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, including three new funds that were added to the lineup on June 7, 2006. Overall, the funds enjoyed a period of positive performance. Returns for domestic stocks were strong, and bond returns were generally modest in the face of rising interest rates. International stocks fared best during the period, as international markets continued to outperform the U.S. stock market.

 

The Target Retirement Funds reporting full-year returns produced gains in line with their asset allocations. The returns for Target Retirement Funds 2030, 2040, and 2050 were more muted, as not quite four months had elapsed since the funds’ inception.

 

Stocks endured some rough going, then recovered to post strong results

The stock market advanced through the first part of the funds’ fiscal year, then hit a speed bump in May, as investors feared that the economy was growing too rapidly. But a slowdown in the housing market, coupled with a late-summer decline in oil prices, helped to allay inflation concerns. The broad market rebounded to post a solid 10.5% return for the 12-month period. Value-oriented stocks outperformed growth stocks, and large-capitalization stocks edged out small-caps, one of the market’s best-performing segments in recent years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

International stocks handily outpaced domestic issues, continuing a multiyear trend. European and emerging market stocks fared particularly well. Stocks in the Pacific region also performed admirably, even though Japanese stocks did not fully participate in the global market’s summer recovery.

 

In the bond market, prices rallied as the Fed paused

At its August and September meetings, the Federal Reserve Board twice voted to maintain the federal funds rate at 5.25%, marking a pause in the central bank’s two-year inflation-fighting campaign. With investor sentiment buoyed by the Fed’s near-term inflation outlook, interest rates decreased, driving bond prices higher. The broad taxable bond market finished the period with a 3.7% return, and municipal bonds performed slightly better.

 

Although rates decreased along the entire maturity spectrum in late summer, the difference between the yields of the shortest- and longest-term issues remained narrow by historical standards. At the end of September, the U.S. Treasury yield curve was actually inverted, meaning that short-term issues such as 3-month and 6-month Treasury notes offered higher yields than those with longer maturities.

 

The Target Retirement Funds performed as expected

Each of the Target Retirement Funds includes a mix of stock and bond funds that is appropriate for its target maturity date. As the retirement date nears, these allocations shift to a more income-oriented weighting. The funds designed for investors in, or closest to, retirement—the Target Retirement Income Fund and the Target Retirement 2005 Fund—also hold some portion of their assets in both

 

 

Market Barometer

 

 

 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

 

One Year

Three Years

Five Years

Stocks

 

 

 

Russell 1000 Index (Large-caps)

10.2%

12.8%

7.6%

Russell 2000 Index (Small-caps)

9.9

15.5

13.8

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index (Entire market)

10.5

13.3

8.6

MSCI All Country World Index ex USA (International)

19.4

23.9

16.4

 

 

 

 

Bonds

 

 

 

Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (Broad taxable market)

3.7%

3.4%

4.8%

Lehman Municipal Bond index

4.5

4.4

5.2

Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index

4.4

2.6

2.2

 

 

 

 

CPI

 

 

 

Consumer Price Index

2.1%

3.1%

2.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund and Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, providing shareholders with a combination of stability and inflation protection.

 

For investors in the funds covered in this report, retirement is, at the earliest, about 25 years distant. As a result, all of these funds feature a similar, aggressive asset allocation, with about 18% of their assets in international stocks, more than 70% in U.S. stocks, and about 10% in bonds as of September 30.

 

Among the five underlying Vanguard funds represented in this report’s portion of the Target Retirement series, the best performers for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, were the international funds: Vanguard European Stock Index Fund (+22.1%), Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (+18.2%), and Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (+12.4%). Lagging these, but still providing a solid return for the period, was Vanguard Total Stock Market Index

Fund (+10.3%). The most modest performer among the five was the Total Bond Market Index Fund, which returned 3.6% for the 12 months, as rising interest rates depressed bond prices.

 

With one decision, the funds provide an age-appropriate portfolio

Over time, Vanguard Target Retirement Funds gradually march toward more conservative, age-appropriate asset allocations. In the process, the funds largely rely on cost-efficient Vanguard index funds to capture the returns of the stock and bond markets.

 

The results of this approach are reflected in the table on page 5 showing the funds’ competitive performance since inception. Each of the Target Retirement Funds is within 0.2 percentage point of the performance of its composite benchmark index, which reflects market performance but with no fees subtracted. Each fund is also ahead of the return for an appropriate composite of mutual-fund peer groups.

 

 

Asset Allocations on September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Term

 

Stocks1

Bonds

Investments

2030

88%

12%

0%

2035

90

10

0

2040

91

9

0

2045

90

10

0

2050

90

10

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 As of September 30, 2006, international stock weightings for the 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050 Funds were 17%, 18%, 18%, 18%, and 18% of assets, respectively.

 

 

4

 

 

 

Over the long term, we would expect such competitive performance to continue, as the funds’ low costs should provide an ongoing competitive advantage.

 

A straightforward, low-cost solution

As we have counseled investors through the years, choosing and sticking with a carefully considered, balanced portfolio of stock, bond, and money market funds suited to your unique circumstances and time horizon can be critical to your portfolio’s long-term success. The Vanguard Target Retirement Funds put this counsel into practice, providing investors with a one-stop, age-appropriate solution to their retirement investment needs.

 

As seasoned investors know, the market’s shifts can be damaging to anyone who relies too heavily on any one market segment. By selecting a Vanguard Target Retirement Fund, you have chosen an investment that is balanced appropriately to your retirement time horizon—no matter how fickle the markets may be at any given time.

 

Thank you for investing with Vanguard.

 

Sincerely,

 


 

John J. Brennan

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

October 12, 2006

 

 

Total Returns

 

 

Inception1 Through September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Average Annual

Final Value of a $10,000

 

Total Return

Initial Investment

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund

6.3%

$10,625

Target 2030 Composite Index

6.3

10,629

Target 2030 Composite Average

4.4

10,435

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund

11.3

13,684

Target 2035 Composite Index

11.4

13,733

Target 2035 Composite Average

10.3

13,312

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund

5.7

10,565

Target 2040 Composite Index

5.7

10,572

Target 2040 Composite Average

3.8

10,378

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund

12.4

14,083

Target 2045 Composite Index

12.6

14,140

Target 2045 Composite Average

11.3

13,691

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund

6.2

10,620

Target 2050 Composite Index

6.2

10,619

Target 2050 Composite Average

4.2

10,424

 

1 For the 2035 and 2045 Funds, October 27, 2003; for the 2030, 2040, and 2050 Funds, June 7, 2006.

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

Expense Ratios

 

 

Your fund compared with its peer group

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Acquired” Fund

Peer-Group

 

Fees and

Expense

 

Expenses1

Ratio2

2030

0.21%3

1.44%

2035

0.21

1.37%

2040

0.213

1.35%

2045

0.21

1.43%

2050

0.213

1.27%

 

 

Your Fund’s Performance at a Glance

September 30, 2005–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions Per Share

 

 

Starting

Ending

 

 

 

 

Share

Share

Income

Capital

SEC

 

Price

Price

Dividends

Gains

Yield5

2030

$20.004

$21.25

$0.00

$0.00

1.99%

2035

12.22

13.18

0.21

0.00

1.95

2040

20.004

21.13

0.00

0.00

1.93

2045

12.47

13.60

0.19

0.00

1.96

2050

20.004

21.24

0.00

0.00

1.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the Target Retirement Funds invest. The Target Retirement Funds do not charge any expenses or fees of their own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

2 Peer groups are (from top to bottom) the Target 2030 Composite Average, the Target 2035 Composite Average, the Target 2040 Composite Average, the Target 2045 Composite Average, and the Target 2050 Composite Average. Each average is a blended composite that weights the return of the average comparable mutual fund for each asset class in proportion to the target weighting of the appropriate Target Retirement Fund. Peer-group expense ratios are derived from data provided by Lipper Inc. and capture information through year-end 2005.

3 Inception date for Target Retirement Funds 2030, 2040, and 2050: June 7, 2006.

4 At inception, June 7, 2006.

5 Thirty-day advertised yield net of expenses at month-end.

 

 

6

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

70.9%

Total Bond Market Index Fund

11.7

European Stock Index Fund

10.2

Pacific Stock Index Fund

4.7

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

2.5

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 55 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

7

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

 

Cumulative Performance: June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

Initial Investment of $10,000

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

Total Return

of a $10,000

 

Since Inception1

Investment

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund

6.25%

$10,625

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

5.82

10,582

Target 2030 Composite Index2

6.29

10,629

Target 2030 Composite Average3

4.35

10,435

 

 

Fiscal-Period Total Returns (%): June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target 2030

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Period

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2006

6.3%

0.0%

6.3%

6.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 June 7, 2006.

2 The Target 2030 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 71% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 11% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 15% MSCI EAFE Index, and 3% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 23, 2006. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2030 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 71% average general equity fund, 11% average fixed income fund, and 18% average international fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 13 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

 

8

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (100.3%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (70.8%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

1,519,565

48,626

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (17.4%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

210,273

6,990

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

271,926

3,203

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

82,097

1,728

 

 

 

Bond Fund (11.6%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

800,606

7,990

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (0.5%)

 

 

1 Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

335,257

335

Total Investment Companies (Cost $67,429)

 

68,872

Other Assets and Liabilities (–0.3%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

4,501

Liabilities

 

(4,713)

 

 

(212)

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 3,231,647 outstanding $.001 par value shares of

 

 

beneficial interest (unlimited authorization)

 

68,660

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$21.25

 

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Investments in Securities, at Value

 

68,872

Receivables for Capital Shares Issued

 

4,476

Other Assets

 

25

Total Assets

 

73,373

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Payables for Investment Securities Purchased

 

4,666

Other Liabilities

 

47

Total Liabilities

 

4,713

Net Assets

 

68,660

 

 

9

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:2

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

67,032

$20.74

Undistributed Net Investment Income

189

.06

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(4)

Unrealized Appreciation

1,443

.45

Net Assets

68,660

$21.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

2 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

 

10

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

189

Net Investment Income—Note B

189

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

(4)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(4)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

1,443

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

1,628

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

11

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

Operations

 

Net Investment Income

189

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(4)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

1,443

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

1,628

Distributions

 

Net Investment Income

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

Issued

67,835

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(803)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

67,032

Total Increase (Decrease)

68,660

Net Assets

 

Beginning of Period

End of Period2

68,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $189,000.

 

 

 

12

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period

September 30, 2006

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$20.00

Investment Operations

 

Net Investment Income

.172

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

1.08

Total from Investment Operations

1.25

Distributions

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$21.25

 

 

Total Return

6.25%

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$69

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%3

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

1.81%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

13%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

* Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

13

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the period ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $197,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $4,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2014.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $67,441,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $1,431,000, consisting entirely of unrealized gains on securities that had risen in value since their purchase.

 

D. During the period ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $70,885,000 of investment securities and sold $3,787,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

14

 

 

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

Shares

 

(000)

Issued

3,271

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(39)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

3,232

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

15

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

71.8%

European Stock Index Fund

10.6

Total Bond Market Index Fund

10.1

Pacific Stock Index Fund

5.1

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

2.4

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 55 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

16

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $10,000


 

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

 

Since

of a $10,000

 

One Year

Inception1

Investment

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund

9.70%

11.31%

$13,684

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

10.48

12.12

13,975

Target 2035 Composite Index2

9.89

11.45

13,733

Target 2035 Composite Average3

7.67

10.27

13,312

 

 

Fiscal-Year Total Returns (%): October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target 2035

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2004

9.2%

0.7%

9.9%

9.9%

2005

11.9

1.6

13.5

13.6

2006

7.9

1.8

9.7

9.9

 

 

1 Since Inception, October 27, 2003.

2 The Target 2035 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% Spliced Total Stock Market Index, 10% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 15% MSCI EAFE Index, and 3% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 23, 2006. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2035 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% average general equity fund, 10% average fixed income fund, and 18% average international fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 21 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

17

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (99.9%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (71.7%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

55,036,596

1,761,171

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

581,419

76,468

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (18.1%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

8,144,513

270,724

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

11,045,422

130,115

Vanguard Emerging Markets Index Fund Investor Shares

2,961,752

62,345

 

 

 

Bond Fund (10.1%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

25,762,038

257,105

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (0.0%)

 

 

1 Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

766,788

767

Total Investment Companies (Cost $2,364,802)

 

2,558,695

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.1%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

11,936

Liabilities

 

(8,308)

 

 

3,628

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 194,400,787 outstanding $.001 par value shares of

 

 

beneficial interest (unlimited authorization)

 

2,562,323

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$13.18

 

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:2

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

2,349,190

$12.08

Undistributed Net Investment Income

29,545

.15

Accumulated Net Realized Losses

(10,305)

(.05)

Unrealized Appreciation

193,893

1.00

Net Assets

2,562,323

$13.18

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

2 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

18

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

41,439

Net Investment Income—Note B

41,439

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

(10,382)

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(10,382)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

139,747

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

170,804

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

41,439

13,841

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

(10,382)

54

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

139,747

52,546

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

170,804

66,441

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

(22,348)

(5,025)

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

(22,348)

(5,025)

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

 

Issued

1,523,484

862,555

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

22,296

5,015

Redeemed

(223,582)

(73,460)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

1,322,198

794,110

Total Increase (Decrease)

1,470,654

855,526

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

1,091,669

236,143

End of Period1

2,562,323

1,091,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Net Assets–End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $29,545,000 and $10,454,000.

 

 

20

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 1,

Oct. 27,

 

 

2004, to

20032 to

 

Year Ended September 30,

Sept. 30,

Aug. 31,

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$12.22

$10.92

$10.76

$10.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.283

.273

.03

.115

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.89

1.20

.13

.710

Total from Investment Operations

1.17

1.47

.16

.825

Distributions

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.21)

(.17)

(.065)

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

(.21)

(.17)

(.065)

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$13.18

$12.22

$10.92

$10.76

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return

9.70%

13.53%

1.49%

8.27%

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$2,562

$1,092

$236

$211

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%4

0%

0%

0%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

2.21%

2.33%

1.97%*

1.70%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

14%

0%

0%

2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

4 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

* Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

21

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER® Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the year ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $29,665,000 of ordinary income available for distribution. The fund had available realized losses of $10,268,000 to offset future net capital gains through September 30, 2015.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $2,364,959,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $193,736,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $196,843,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $3,107,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

 

22

 

 

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

 

D. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $1,592,122,000 of investment securities and sold $253,002,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

Shares

Shares

 

(000)

(000)

Issued

120,932

73,546

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

1,811

428

Redeemed

(17,683)

(6,256)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

105,060

67,718

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

1.9%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

72.4%

European Stock Index Fund

10.6

Total Bond Market Index Fund

9.5

Pacific Stock Index Fund

4.9

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

2.6

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 55 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

24

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

 

Cumulative Performance: June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

Initial Investment of $10,000

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

Total Return

of a $10,000

 

Since Inception1

Investment

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund

5.65%

$10,565

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

5.82

10,582

Target 2040 Composite Index2

5.72

10,572

Target 2040 Composite Average3

3.78

10,378

 

 

Fiscal-Period Total Returns (%): June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target 2040

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Period

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2006

5.7%

0.0%

5.7%

5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 June 7, 2006.

2 The Target 2040 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 10% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 15% MSCI EAFE Index, and 3% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 23, 2006. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2040 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% average general equity fund, 10% average fixed income fund, and 18% average international fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 30 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

25

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Financial Statements

Statement of Net Assets

 

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (100.5%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (72.2%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

714,240

22,856

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

1,500

197

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (18.1%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

101,195

3,364

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

132,165

1,557

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

40,045

843

 

 

 

Bond Fund (9.4%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

301,419

3,008

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (0.8%)

 

 

1 Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

248,969

249

Total Investment Companies (Cost $31,407)

 

32,074

Other Assets and Liabilities (–0.5%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

3,862

Liabilities

 

(4,018)

 

 

(156)

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 1,510,455 outstanding $.001 par value shares of

 

 

beneficial interest (unlimited authorization)

 

31,918

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$21.13

 

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Investments in Securities, at Value

 

32,074

Receivables for Capital Shares Issued

 

3,853

Other Assets

 

9

Total Assets

 

35,936

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Payables for Investment Securities Purchased

 

3,997

Other Liabilities

 

21

Total Liabilities

 

4,018

Net Assets

 

31,918

 

 

26

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:2

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

31,167

$20.63

Undistributed Net Investment Income

84

.06

Accumulated Net Realized Gains

Unrealized Appreciation

667

.44

Net Assets

31,918

$21.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

2 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

27

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

84

Net Investment Income—Note B

84

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

667

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

28

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

Operations

 

Net Investment Income

84

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

667

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

751

Distributions

 

Net Investment Income

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

Issued

31,632

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(465)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

31,167

Total Increase (Decrease)

31,918

Net Assets

 

Beginning of Period

End of Period2

31,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $84,000.

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period

September 30, 2006

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$20.00

Investment Operations

 

Net Investment Income

.162

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

.97

Total from Investment Operations

1.13

Distributions

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$21.13

 

 

Total Return

5.65%

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$32

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%3

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

1.72%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

* Annulaized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

30

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the period ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $84,000 of ordinary income available for distribution.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $31,407,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $667,000, consisting entirely of unrealized gains on securities that had risen in value since their purchase.

 

D. During the period ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $31,157,000 of investment securities and sold no investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

 

31

 

 

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

Shares

 

(000)

Issued

1,532

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(22)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

1,510

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

32

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

71.8%

European Stock Index Fund

10.7

Total Bond Market Index Fund

10.1

Pacific Stock Index Fund

5.1

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

2.3

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 55 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

33

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

Cumulative Performance: October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

Initial Investment of $10,000


 

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

 

Since

of a $10,000

 

One Year

Inception1

Investment

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund

10.70%

12.41%

$14,083

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

10.48

12.12

13,975

Target 2045 Composite Index2

10.83

12.57

14,140

Target 2045 Composite Average3

8.63

11.33

13,691

 

 

Fiscal-Year Total Returns (%): October 27, 2003–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target 2045

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Year

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2004

9.8%

0.7%

10.5%

10.6%

2005

13.6

1.5

15.1

15.2

2006

9.1

1.6

10.7

10.8

 

 

1 Since inception, October 27, 2003.

2 The Target 2045 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% Spliced Total Stock Market Index, 10% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 15% MSCI EAFE Index, and 3% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 23, 2006. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2045 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% average general equity fund, 10% average fixed income fund, and 18% average international fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 38 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

34

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (99.8%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (71.6%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

25,608,466

819,471

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

225,463

29,653

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (18.1%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

3,790,262

125,988

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

5,159,311

60,777

Vanguard Emerging Markets Index Fund Investor Shares

1,300,816

27,382

 

 

 

Bond Fund (10.0%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

11,905,254

118,814

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (0.1%)

 

 

1 Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

1,621,857

1,622

Total Investment Companies (Cost $1,093,845)

 

1,183,707

Other Assets and Liabilities (0.2%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

6,922

Liabilities

 

(4,846)

 

 

2,076

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 87,175,186 outstanding $.001 par value shares of

 

 

beneficial interest (unlimited authorization)

 

1,185,783

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$13.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:2

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

1,083,321

$12.43

Undistributed Net Investment Income

11,629

.13

Accumulated Net Realized Gains

971

.01

Unrealized Appreciation

89,862

1.03

Net Assets

1,185,783

$13.60

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

2 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

35

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

17,071

Net Investment Income—Note B

17,071

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

1,211

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

1,211

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

65,100

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

83,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

($000)

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

Operations

 

 

Net Investment Income

17,071

4,953

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

1,211

(241)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

65,100

24,158

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

83,382

28,870

Distributions

 

 

Net Investment Income

(9,135)

(1,786)

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

(9,135)

(1,786)

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

 

Issued

741,765

422,941

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

9,100

1,771

Redeemed

(131,331)

(44,437)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

619,534

380,275

Total Increase (Decrease)

693,781

407,359

Net Assets

 

 

Beginning of Period

492,002

84,643

End of Period1

1,185,783

492,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $11,629,000 and $3,693,000.

 

 

 

37

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

Sept. 1,

Oct. 27,

 

 

2004, to

20032 to

 

Year Ended September 30,

Sept. 30,

Aug. 31,

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2006

2005

20041

2004

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$12.47

$10.98

$10.80

$10.00

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.273

.243

.03

.11

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

1.05

1.41

.15

.76

Total from Investment Operations

1.32

1.65

.18

.87

Distributions

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.19)

(.16)

(.07)

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

(.19)

(.16)

(.07)

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$13.60

$12.47

$10.98

$10.80

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return

10.70%

15.09%

1.67%

8.72%

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$1,186

$492

$85

$76

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%4

0%

0%

0%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

2.03%

2.07%

1.65%*

1.38%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

3%

7%

0%

7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The fund’s fiscal year-end changed from August 31 to September 30, effective September 30, 2004.

2 Inception.

3 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

4 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

* Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

38

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the year ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $12,600,000 of ordinary income available for distribution.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $1,093,845,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $89,862,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $93,215,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $3,353,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

 

D. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $646,755,000 of investment securities and sold $21,738,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

 

39

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

2006

2005

 

Shares

Shares

 

(000)

(000)

Issued

57,087

35,327

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

720

149

Redeemed

(10,084)

(3,731)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

47,723

31,745

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Fund Profile

As of September 30, 2006

 

 

Financial Attributes

 

 

 

Yield

2.0%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1

0.21%

 

 

Allocation to Underlying Vanguard Funds

 

 

 

Total Stock Market Index Fund

71.7%

European Stock Index Fund

10.7

Total Bond Market Index Fund

10.2

Pacific Stock Index Fund

5.2

Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

2.2

Total

100.0%

 

 

Fund Asset Allocation

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Investment Focus

 


 

Fixed Income Investment Focus

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 This figure represents a weighted average of the expense ratios and any fees charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests. The fund does not charge any expenses or fees of its own. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

See page 55 for a glossary of investment terms.

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Performance Summary

 

All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data cited. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.

 

 

Cumulative Performance: June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

Initial Investment of $10,000

 

 

 

 

Final Value

 

Total Return

of a $10,000

 

Since Inception1

Investment

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund

6.20%

$10,620

Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index

5.82

10,582

Target 2050 Composite Index2

6.19

10,619

Target 2050 Composite Average3

4.24

10,424

 

 

Fiscal-Period Total Returns (%): June 7, 2006–September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target 2050

Fiscal

Capital

Income

Total

Composite

Period

Return

Return

Return

Index2

2006

6.2%

0.0%

6.2%

6.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 June 7, 2006.

2 The Target 2050 Composite Index is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of unmanaged benchmarks, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% MSCI US Broad Market Index, 10% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, 15% MSCI EAFE Index, and 3% MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index replaced the Select Emerging Markets Index on August 23, 2006. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation.

3 The Target 2050 Composite Average is derived by applying the fund’s target allocation to a set of peer-group averages, weighted as follows at the fiscal year-end: 72% average general equity fund, 10% average fixed income fund, and 18% average international fund. The composite average changes over time with the fund’s asset allocation. Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

Note: See Financial Highlights table on page 47 for dividend and capital gains information.

 

 

42

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Net Assets

As of September 30, 2006

 

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund’s semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

Value

 

Shares

($000)

Investment Companies (101.5%)

 

 

U.S. Stock Funds (71.5%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares

272,733

8,727

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

300

40

 

 

 

International Stock Funds (18.1%)

 

 

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

39,478

1,312

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

54,102

637

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Investor Shares

13,052

275

 

 

 

Bond Fund (10.1%)

 

 

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Investor Shares

124,492

1,243

 

 

 

Money Market Fund (1.8%)

 

 

1 Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, 5.306%

220,250

220

Total Investment Companies (Cost $12,092)

 

12,454

Other Assets and Liabilities (–1.5%)

 

 

Other Assets

 

309

Liabilities

 

(499)

 

 

(190)

Net Assets (100%)

 

 

Applicable to 577,409 outstanding $.001 par value shares of

 

 

beneficial interest (unlimited authorization)

 

12,264

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$21.24

 

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Investments in Securities, at Value

 

12,454

Receivables for Capital Shares Issued

 

304

Other Assets

 

5

Total Assets

 

12,763

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Payables for Investment Securities Purchased

 

467

Other Liabilities

 

32

Total Liabilities

 

499

Net Assets

 

12,264

 

 

43

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

 

At September 30, 2006, net assets consisted of:2

 

 

 

Amount

Per

 

($000)

Share

Paid-in Capital

11,859

$20.53

Undistributed Net Investment Income

43

.08

Accumulated Net Realized Gains

Unrealized Appreciation

362

.63

Net Assets

12,264

$21.24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.

1 Affiliated money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.

2 See Note C in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.

 

 

44

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

($000)

Investment Income

 

Income

 

Income Distributions Received

43

Net Investment Income—Note B

43

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Investment Securities Sold

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investment Securities

362

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

45

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30,

 

2006

 

($000)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

Operations

 

Net Investment Income

43

Realized Net Gain (Loss)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

362

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

405

Distributions

 

Net Investment Income

Realized Capital Gain

Total Distributions

Capital Share Transactions—Note E

 

Issued

12,301

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(442)

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions

11,859

Total Increase (Decrease)

12,264

Net Assets

 

Beginning of Period

End of Period2

12,264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Net Assets—End of Period includes undistributed net investment income of $43,000.

 

 

46

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

For a Share Outstanding Throughout The Period

September 30, 2006

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$20.00

Investment Operations

 

Net Investment Income

.172

Capital Gain Distributions Received

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

1.07

Total from Investment Operations

1.24

Distributions

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

Total Distributions

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$21.24

 

 

Total Return

6.20%

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$12

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets—Note B

0%3

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

1.88%*

Portfolio Turnover Rate

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

2 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3 The acquired fund fees and expenses were 0.21%.

* Annualized.

See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

47

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund files reports with the SEC under the company name Vanguard Chester Funds. The fund follows a balanced investment strategy by investing in selected Vanguard funds to achieve its targeted allocation of assets to U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds.

 

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

 

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Investments in other Vanguard funds (with the exception of ETF Shares, formerly known as VIPER Shares) are valued at that fund’s net asset value. ETFs are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from their primary market or, if not traded on the valuation date, at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

 

3. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

4. Other: Income and capital gain distributions received are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold.

 

B. Under a service agreement, The Vanguard Group furnishes corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services to the fund. The service agreement provides that Vanguard will reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent of savings in administrative and marketing costs realized by Vanguard in the operation of the fund. Accordingly, all expenses incurred by the fund during the period ended September 30, 2006, were reimbursed by Vanguard. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

 

C. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

 

For tax purposes, at September 30, 2006, the fund had $43,000 of ordinary income available for distribution.

 

At September 30, 2006, the cost of investment securities for tax purposes was $12,092,000. Net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $362,000, consisting entirely of unrealized gains on securities that had risen in value since their purchase.

 

D. During the period ended September 30, 2006, the fund purchased $11,872,000 of investment securities and sold no investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

 

 

48

 

 

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

 

E. Capital shares issued and redeemed were:

 

 

 

June 7, 20061 to

 

September 30, 2006

 

Shares

 

(000)

Issued

598

Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions

Redeemed

(21)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

577

 

 

F. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 establishes the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax-return positions in financial statements. FIN 48 will be effective for the fund’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007. Management is in the process of analyzing the fund’s tax positions for purposes of implementing FIN 48; based on the analysis completed to date, management does not believe the adoption of FIN 48 will result in any material impact to the fund’s financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Inception.

 

 

 

49

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Trustees of Vanguard Chester Funds and the Shareholders of Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund, and Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund:

 

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets, including the statements of assets and liabilities for Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund and Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund, and Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (hereafter referred to as the “Funds”) at September 30, 2006, and the results of each of their operations, the changes in each of their net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and by agreement to the underlying ownership records for the Vanguard funds, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

November 13, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

 


Special 2006 tax information (unaudited) for Vanguard Target Retirement Funds

 

This information for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, is included pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The funds distributed qualified dividend income to shareholders during the fiscal year as follows:

 

 

 

Qualified Dividend Income

 

($000)

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

0

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

13,224

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

0

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

6,863

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

0

 

 

For corporate shareholders, the percentage of investment income (dividend income plus short-term gains, if any) that qualifies for the dividends-received deduction is as follows:

 

 

 

Percentage

Target Retirement 2030 Fund

65.9

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

46.8

Target Retirement 2040 Fund

71.4

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

51.6

Target Retirement 2050 Fund

69.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51

 

 

Your Fund’s After-Tax Returns

 

This table presents returns both before and after taxes for those Target Retirement Funds that have at least one year of operating history. The after-tax returns are shown in two ways: (1) assuming that an investor owned the fund during the entire period and paid taxes on the fund’s distributions, and (2) assuming that an investor paid taxes on the fund’s distributions and sold all shares at the end of each period.

 

Calculations are based on the highest individual federal income tax and capital gains tax rates in effect at the times of the distributions and the hypothetical sales. State and local taxes were not considered. After-tax returns reflect any qualified dividend income, using actual prior-year figures and estimates for 2006. (In the example, returns after the sale of fund shares may be higher than those assuming no sale. This occurs when the sale would have produced a capital loss. The calculation assumes that the investor received a tax deduction for the loss.)

 

Please note that your actual after-tax returns will depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. Also note that if you own the fund in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan, this information does not apply to you. Such accounts are not subject to current taxes.

 

Finally, keep in mind that a fund’s performance—whether before or after taxes—does not guarantee future results.

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns: Vanguard Target Retirement Funds

 

 

Periods Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

One

Since

 

Year

Inception1

Target Retirement 2035 Fund

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

9.70%

11.31%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

9.27

10.99

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

6.49

9.62

 

 

 

Target Retirement 2045 Fund

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

10.70%

12.41%

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

10.37

12.15

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

7.17

10.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 For the 2035 and 2045 Funds, October 27, 2003.

 

 

 

52

 

 

About Your Fund’s Expenses

 

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of the fund.

 

A typical fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. The Target Retirement Funds have no direct expenses, but each fund bears its proportionate share of the costs for the underlying funds in which it invests. These indirect expenses make up the acquired fund fees and expenses, also expressed as a percentage of average net assets.

 

The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period. The costs were calculated using the acquired fund fees and expenses for each Target Retirement Fund listed.

 

The table below illustrates your fund’s costs in two ways:

 

• Based on actual fund return. This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

 

Six Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

Beginning

Ending

Expenses

 

Account Value

Account Value

Paid During

Target Retirement Fund

3/31/2006

9/30/2006

Period1

Based on Actual Fund Return

 

 

 

2035

1,000.00

$1,028.88

$1.07

2045

1,000.00

1,027.97

1.07

Based on Hypothetical 5% Yearly Return

 

 

 

2035

1,000.00

$1,024.02

$1.07

2045

1,000.00

1,024.02

1.07

 

 

1 These calculations are based on expenses incurred in the most recent fiscal period of each underlying fund. The Target Retirement Funds’ acquired fund fees and expenses as of September 30, 2006, are (in order as listed above from top to bottom) 0.21% and 0.21%. The dollar amounts shown as “Expenses Paid” are equal to the annualized acquired fund fees and expenses for the underlying funds, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by the number of days in the most recent 12-month period.

 

Note: The new Target Retirement Funds were excluded, as these funds do not have six months’ worth of history—namely, the 2030, 2040, and 2050 Funds.

 

 

53

 

 

 

• Based on hypothetical 5% yearly return. This section is intended to help you compare your fund’s costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the fund had a yearly return of 5% before expenses, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case—because the return used is not the fund’s actual return—the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons, because the Securities and Exchange Commission requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess your fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table on page 53 are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs or account maintenance fees. They do not include your fund’s low-balance fee, which is described in the prospectus. If this fee were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Your fund does not charge transaction fees, such as purchase or redemption fees, nor does it carry a “sales load.”

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the appropriate fund prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

Glossary

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses. Funds that invest in other Vanguard funds incur no direct expenses, but they do bear proportionate shares of the operating, administrative, and advisory expenses of the underlying funds, and they must pay any fees charged by those funds. The figure for acquired fund fees and expenses represents a weighted average of these underlying costs. Acquired is a term that the Securities and Exchange Commission applies to any mutual fund whose shares are owned by another fund.

 

Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its annual administrative and advisory expenses. These expenses directly reduce returns to investors.

 

Yield. A snapshot of a fund’s income from interest and dividends. The yield, expressed as a percentage of the fund’s net asset value, is based on income earned over the past 30 days and is annualized, or projected forward for the coming year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

The People Who Govern Your Fund

 

The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund’s trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them on an at-cost basis.

 

A majority of Vanguard’s board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals.

 

Our independent board members bring distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service to their task of working with Vanguard officers to establish the policies and oversee the activities of the funds. Among board members’ responsibilities are selecting investment advisors for the funds; monitoring fund operations, performance, and costs; reviewing contracts; nominating and selecting new trustees/directors; and electing Vanguard officers.

 

Each trustee serves a fund until its termination; or until the trustee’s retirement, resignation, or death; or otherwise as specified in the fund’s organizational documents. Any trustee may be removed at a shareholders’ meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the fund together with shares of other Vanguard funds organized within the same trust. The table on these two pages shows information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

 

 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Trustee

 

 

John J. Brennan1

 

Born 1954

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman of the Board, Chief

Trustee since May 1987;

Executive Officer, and Director/Trustee of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of each

Chairman of the Board and

of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

Chief Executive Officer

 

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

 

 

Independent Trustees

 

 

 

Charles D. Ellis

 

Born 1937

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Applecore Partners (pro bono ventures

Trustee since January 2001

in education); Senior Advisor to Greenwich Associates (international business strategy

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

consulting); Successor Trustee of Yale University; Overseer of the Stern School of Business

 

at New York University; Trustee of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.

 

 

Rajiv L. Gupta

 

Born 1945

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Trustee since December 20012

of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Board Member of the American Chemistry Council;

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Director of Tyco International, Ltd. (diversified manufacturing and services) (since 2005);

 

Trustee of Drexel University and of the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

 

 

Amy Gutmann

 

Born 1949

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: President of the University of

Trustee since June 2006

Pennsylvania since 2004; Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, Annenberg School

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

for Communication, and Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania

 

since 2004; Provost (2001–2004) and Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and the

 

University Center for Human Values (1990–2004), Princeton University; Director of Carnegie

 

Corporation of New York and of Philadelphia 2016 (since 2005) and of Schuylkill River

 

Development Corporation and Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (since 2004).

 

 

 

JoAnn Heffernan Heisen

 

Born 1950

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Corporate Vice President and Chief

Trustee since July 1998

Global Diversity Officer (since January 2006), Vice President and Chief Information

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Officer (1997–2005), and Member of the Executive Committee of Johnson & Johnson

 

(pharmaceuticals/consumer products); Director of the University Medical Center at

 

Princeton and Women’s Research and Education Institute.

 

 

André F. Perold

 

Born 1952

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: George Gund Professor of Finance and

Trustee since December 2004

Banking, Harvard Business School (since 2000); Senior Associate Dean, Director of Faculty

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Recruiting, and Chair of Finance Faculty, Harvard Business School; Director and Chairman

 

of UNX, Inc. (equities trading firm) (since 2003); Director of registered investment

 

companies advised by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and affiliates (1985–2004),

 

Genbel Securities Limited (South African financial services firm) (1999–2003), Gensec

 

Bank (1999–2003), Sanlam, Ltd. (South African insurance company) (2001–2003), and

 

Stockback, Inc. (credit card firm) (2000–2002).

 

 

Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.

 

Born 1941

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Chairman, President, Chief Executive

Trustee since January 1993

Officer, and Director of NACCO Industries, Inc. (forklift trucks/housewares/ lignite);

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Director of Goodrich Corporation (industrial products/aircraft systems and services).

 

 

J. Lawrence Wilson

 

Born 1936

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Retired Chairman and Chief Executive

Trustee since April 1985

Officer of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Director of Cummins Inc. (diesel engines),

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

MeadWestvaco Corp. (packaging products), and AmerisourceBergen Corp. (pharmaceutical

 

distribution); Trustee of Vanderbilt University and of Culver Educational Foundation.

 

 

Executive Officers1

 

 

 

Heidi Stam

 

Born 1956

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.,

Secretary since July 2005

since November 1997; General Counsel of The Vanguard Group since July 2005;

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

Secretary of The Vanguard Group and of each of the investment companies served

 

by The Vanguard Group since July 2005.

 

 

Thomas J. Higgins

 

Born 1957

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years: Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.;

Treasurer since July 1998

Treasurer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

142 Vanguard Funds Overseen

 

 

 

Vanguard Senior Management Team

 

 

R. Gregory Barton

Kathleen C. Gubanich

Michael S. Miller

Mortimer J. Buckley

Paul A. Heller

Ralph K. Packard

James H. Gately

F. William McNabb, III

George U. Sauter

 

 

Founder

 

 

 

John C. Bogle

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 1974–1996

 

 

1 Officers of the funds are “interested persons” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

2 December 2002 for Vanguard Equity Income Fund, Vanguard Growth Equity Fund, the Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds, and the Vanguard State Tax-Exempt Funds.

More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, available from The Vanguard Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

P.O. Box 2600

 

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

 

Connect with Vanguard™ > www.vanguard.com

 

 

Fund Information > 800-662-7447

Vanguard, VIPER, Connect with Vanguard, and the ship

 

logo are trademarks of The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Direct Investor Account Services > 800-662-2739

 

 

All other marks are the exclusive property of their

Institutional Investor Services > 800-523-1036

respective owners.

 

 

Text Telephone > 800-952-3335

All comparative mutual fund data are from Lipper Inc.

 

or Morningstar, Inc., unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This material may be used in conjunction

You can obtain a free copy of Vanguard’s proxy voting

with the offering of shares of any Vanguard

guidelines by visiting our website, www.vanguard.com,

fund only if preceded or accompanied by

and searching for “proxy voting guidelines,” or by calling

the fund’s current prospectus.

Vanguard at 800-662-2739. They are also available from

 

the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, you may

 

obtain a free report on how your fund voted the proxies for

 

securities it owned during the 12 months ended June 30.

 

To get the report, visit either www.vanguard.com

 

or www.sec.gov.

 

 

 

You can review and copy information about your fund

 

at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.

 

To find out more about this public service, call the SEC

 

at 202-551-8090. Information about your fund is also

 

available on the SEC’s website, and you can receive

 

copies of this information, for a fee, by sending a

 

request in either of two ways: via e-mail addressed to

 

publicinfo@sec.gov or via regular mail addressed to the

 

Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange

 

Commission, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2006 The Vanguard Group, Inc.

 

All rights reserved.

 

Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

 

 

 

Q3080B 112006

 

 

 

 


Item 2: Code of Ethics. The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics was amended during the reporting period covered by this report to make certain technical, non-material changes.

Item 3: Audit Committee Financial Expert. The following members of the Audit Committee have been determined by the Registrant’s Board of Trustees to be Audit Committee Financial Experts serving on its Audit Committee, and to be independent: Charles D. Ellis, Rajiv L. Gupta, JoAnn Heffernan Heisen, André F. Perold, Alfred M. Rankin, Jr., and J. Lawrence Wilson.

Item 4: Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a)     Audit Fees.

Audit Fees of the Registrant

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006: $169,700
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2005: $95,000

Aggregate Audit Fees of Registered Investment Companies in the Vanguard Group

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006: $2,347,620
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2005: $2,152,740

(b)     Audit-Related Fees.

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006: $530,000
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2005: $382,000

Includes fees billed in connection with assurance and related services provided to the Registrant, The Vanguard Group, Inc., Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and other registered investment companies in the Vanguard Group.

(c)     Tax Fees.

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006: $101,300
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2005: $98,400

Includes fees billed in connection with tax compliance, planning and advice services provided to the Registrant, The Vanguard Group, Inc., Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and other registered investment companies in the Vanguard Group and related to income and excise taxes.

(d)     All Other Fees.

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006: $0
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2005: $0

Includes fees billed for services related to risk management and privacy matters. Services were provided to the Registrant, The Vanguard Group, Inc., Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and other registered investment companies in the Vanguard Group.

(e)     (1) Pre-Approval Policies. The policy of the Registrant’s Audit Committee is to consider and, if appropriate, approve before the principal accountant is engaged for such services, all specific audit and non-audit services provided to: (1) the Registrant; (2) The Vanguard Group, Inc.; (3) other entities controlled by The Vanguard Group, Inc. that provide ongoing services to the Registrant; and (4) other registered investment companies in the Vanguard Group. In making a determination, the Audit Committee considers whether the services are consistent with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

        In the event of a contingency situation in which the principal accountant is needed to provide services in between scheduled Audit Committee meetings, the Chairman of the Audit Committee would be called on to consider and, if appropriate, pre-approve audit or permitted non-audit services in an amount sufficient to complete services through the next Audit Committee meeting, and to determine if such services would be consistent with maintaining the accountant’s independence. At the next scheduled Audit Committee meeting, services and fees would be presented to the Audit Committee for formal consideration, and, if appropriate, approval by the entire Audit Committee. The Audit Committee would again consider whether such services and fees are consistent with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

        The Registrant’s Audit Committee is informed at least annually of all audit and non-audit services provided by the principal accountant to the Vanguard complex, whether such services are provided to: (1) the Registrant; (2) The Vanguard Group, Inc.; (3) other entities controlled by The Vanguard Group, Inc. that provide ongoing services to the Registrant; or other registered investment companies in the Vanguard Group.

    (2) No percentage of the principal accountant’s fees or services were approved pursuant to the waiver provision of paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f)     For the most recent fiscal year, over 50% of the hours worked under the principal accountant’s engagement were not performed by persons other than full-time, permanent employees of the principal accountant.

(g)    Aggregate Non-Audit Fees.

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2006: $101,300
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2005: $98,400

Includes fees billed for non-audit services provided to the Registrant, The Vanguard Group, Inc., Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and other registered investment companies in the Vanguard Group.

(h)     For the most recent fiscal year, the Audit Committee has determined that the provision of all non-audit services was consistent with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Item 5: Not applicable.

Item 6: Not applicable.

Item 7: Not applicable.

Item 8: Not applicable.

Item 9: Not applicable.

Item 10: Not applicable

Item 11: Controls and Procedures.

    (a)    Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Principal Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on their evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

    (b)    Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no significant changes in Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Item 12: Exhibits.

(a) Code of Ethics.
(b) Certifications.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS

BY: (signature)
(HEIDI STAM)
JOHN J. BRENNAN*
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Date:   November 17, 2006

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS

BY: (signature)
(HEIDI STAM)
JOHN J. BRENNAN*
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Date:   November 17, 2006

VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS

BY: (signature)
(HEIDI STAM)
THOMAS J. HIGGINS*
TREASURER

Date:   November 17, 2006

* By Power of Attorney. See File Number 002-65955-99, filed on July 27, 2006. Incorporated by Reference.