{"url":"https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/","section":"benchmarks","title":"ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark | ETFIQ","description":"ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks holds 40% VT and 60% BND and AGG. Its returns by window and by year, risk and cost, as of Oct 7, 2026.","as_of":"Oct 7, 2026","structured_data":[{"@type":"ItemList","name":"What ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks holds","numberOfItems":3,"itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"VT","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/vt"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"AGG","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/agg"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"BND","url":"https://etfiq.com/funds/bnd"}]},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A rules-based benchmark: 40% VT and 60% US bonds (BND and AGG in equal parts), rebalanced on the last trading day of each month. ETFIQ publishes it to measure strategic and target-risk allocation models with about 40% in stocks. It is not a fund and cannot be bought."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks a recommendation?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. It is a yardstick, the same for everyone, and every weight follows from a written rule and public facts. ETFIQ publishes no trades for it and takes no payment from the issuer of any fund it holds."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why are some of its returns hypothetical?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"ETFIQ froze the rule on Oct 3, 2026. Returns before Oct 5, 2026 apply today\u2019s rule and funds to earlier prices, which is look-ahead; returns from that date are tracked. The price source does not carry funds that closed before 2016, so nothing here is free of survivorship bias."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"ETFIQ","item":"https://etfiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Benchmarks","item":"https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Strategic","item":"https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Strategic, 40% stocks","item":"https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/"}]},{"@type":"WebPage","name":"ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark","description":"ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks holds 40% VT and 60% BND and AGG. Its returns by window and by year, risk and cost, as of Oct 7, 2026.","url":"https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/","dateModified":"2026-10-08","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".verdict",".faq"]},"publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org"}}],"characters":9456,"truncated":false,"content":"ETFIQ / Benchmarks / Strategic / Strategic, 40% stocks \n \n Rebuilt every trading night. Figures as of Oct 7, 2026; trailing windows end at the last month end, Sep 30, 2026.\n ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark\n A benchmark for strategic and target-risk allocation models in the moderately conservative band: 40% VT and 60% US bonds (BND and AGG in equal parts), rebalanced on the last trading day of each month. A yardstick, not a recommendation.\n +5.27% Total return, 1 year \n +5.68% Total return a year, 10 years \n\n Over 10 years to Sep 30, 2026, ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks, had a total return of +5.68% a year, hypothetical.\n Launched on Oct 3, 2026, when ETFIQ froze its rule. Figures before Oct 5, 2026 are hypothetical: today\u2019s rule and funds applied to earlier prices, which is look-ahead. From Oct 5, 2026 the record is tracked, and a window that starts before it is hypothetical as a whole.\n Total return by calendar year\n 2011: +1.87% total return, hypothetical \n 2012: +9.21% total return, hypothetical \n 2013: +7.40% total return, hypothetical \n 2014: +5.11% total return, hypothetical \n 2015: \u22120.21% total return, hypothetical \n 2016: +5.02% total return, hypothetical \n 2017: +11.52% total return, hypothetical \n 2018: \u22123.78% total return, hypothetical \n 2019: +15.87% total return, hypothetical \n 2020: +11.92% total return, hypothetical \n 2021: +5.92% total return, hypothetical \n 2022: \u221214.84% total return, hypothetical \n 2023: +12.05% total return, hypothetical \n 2024: +7.23% total return, hypothetical \n 2025: +13.13% total return, hypothetical \n 2026 to Oct 7, 2026: +3.93% total return, hypothetical \n Other strategic benchmarks\n Strategic, 20% stocks Strategic, 40% stocks Strategic, 60% stocks Strategic, 80% stocks Strategic, 95% stocks Global Stocks US Stocks US Bonds The rule\n The rule: 40% VT and 60% US bonds (BND and AGG in equal parts), rebalanced on the last trading day of each month. The strategic family\u2019s rule, as the method states it: \u201cx% VT, (100 - x)% the US bonds sleeve (BND and AGG in equal parts).\u201d Methodology version 1.3; launched on Oct 3, 2026, when ETFIQ froze the family\u2019s rule. Every weight follows from the rule and public facts; the funds are chosen by the rules in the method .\n What it holds\n The weights the rule sets at each rebalance, in force since Jan 4, 2010. Each fund\u2019s expense ratio is from its prospectus, as of Feb 27, 2026, Apr 28, 2026 and Jun 18, 2026.\n 3 funds held by ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks, largest weight first, as of Oct 7, 2026. Source: ETFIQ. Ticker Fund Sleeve Weight Expense ratio \n VT Vanguard Total World Stock Index ETF Global stocks 40% 0.06% \n AGG iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF US bonds 30% 0.03% \n BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF US bonds 30% 0.03% \n\n Weighted expense ratio 0.04%, each weight times its fund\u2019s expense ratio. It is already inside the returns below.\n Total return by window\n Trailing windows end at the last month end; the window since the start runs to the last close. A year is the annualised rate over whole months. Data sourced by Tiingo .\n Total return of ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks over each window, as of Oct 7, 2026. Data sourced by Tiingo. Window From To Total return A year Basis Note \n 1 year Sep 30, 2025 Sep 30, 2026 +5.27% +5.27% Hypothetical \n 3 years Sep 29, 2023 Sep 30, 2026 +36.10% +10.82% Hypothetical \n 5 years Sep 30, 2021 Sep 30, 2026 +22.65% +4.17% Hypothetical \n 10 years Sep 30, 2016 Sep 30, 2026 +73.76% +5.68% Hypothetical \n Since Jan 4, 2010 Jan 4, 2010 Oct 7, 2026 +153.43% +5.84% Hypothetical A year over whole months, Jan 29, 2010 to Sep 30, 2026 \n\n Total return by calendar year\n Each year from the last close of one December to the next; the current year runs to the last close. Data sourced by Tiingo .\n Calendar-year total return of ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks, as of Oct 7, 2026. Data sourced by Tiingo. Year Total return Basis Why not published \n 2026 to Oct 7, 2026 +3.93% Hypothetical \n 2025 +13.13% Hypothetical \n 2024 +7.23% Hypothetical \n 2023 +12.05% Hypothetical \n 2022 \u221214.84% Hypothetical \n 2021 +5.92% Hypothetical \n 2020 +11.92% Hypothetical \n 2019 +15.87% Hypothetical \n 2018 \u22123.78% Hypothetical \n 2017 +11.52% Hypothetical \n 2016 +5.02% Hypothetical \n 2015 \u22120.21% Hypothetical \n 2014 +5.11% Hypothetical \n 2013 +7.40% Hypothetical \n 2012 +9.21% Hypothetical \n 2011 +1.87% Hypothetical \n 2010 not published not published the history starts 2010-01-04, after the last close of December 2009 \n\n Risk, cost and turnover\n Volatility and the Sharpe ratio need 36 monthly returns; a figure with fewer is not published and says why. Data sourced by Tiingo .\n Risk and cost figures for ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks, as of Oct 7, 2026. Data sourced by Tiingo. Figure Value Dates Basis Note \n Volatility, since the start 7.14% Jan 29, 2010 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical \n Volatility, 10 years 7.93% Sep 30, 2016 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical \n Volatility, 5 years 9.18% Sep 30, 2021 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical \n Volatility, 3 years 7.25% Sep 29, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical \n Maximum drawdown, since the start \u221220.32% Jan 4, 2010 to Oct 7, 2026 Hypothetical from a peak on Nov 9, 2021 to a low on Oct 14, 2022; back at the peak on Jul 11, 2024 \n Maximum drawdown, 1 year \u22125.05% Sep 30, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical from a peak on Feb 25, 2026 to a low on Mar 27, 2026; back at the peak on Apr 17, 2026 \n Sharpe ratio, since the start 0.62 Jan 29, 2010 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical return over the Treasury 13-week bill rate, per unit of volatility, monthly \n Sharpe ratio, 10 years 0.42 Sep 30, 2016 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical return over the Treasury 13-week bill rate, per unit of volatility, monthly \n Sharpe ratio, 5 years 0.07 Sep 30, 2021 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical return over the Treasury 13-week bill rate, per unit of volatility, monthly \n Turnover, since the start 8.95% a year Jan 29, 2010 to Sep 30, 2026 Hypothetical the share of the benchmark its rebalances traded, a year \n Factor loadings, since the start Mkt-RF 0.43; SMB \u22120.03; HML \u22120.05; RMW 0.01; CMA 0.04; Mom \u22120.04 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical monthly excess return on the six factors, by least squares; each factor on its own row below \n Factor loading, market (Mkt-RF), since the start 0.43 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical t statistic 24.94 \n Factor loading, size (SMB), since the start \u22120.03 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical t statistic \u22121.06 \n Factor loading, value (HML), since the start \u22120.05 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical t statistic \u22121.63 \n Factor loading, profitability (RMW), since the start 0.01 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical t statistic 0.34 \n Factor loading, investment (CMA), since the start 0.04 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical t statistic 0.88 \n Factor loading, momentum (Mom), since the start \u22120.04 Jan 29, 2010 to Aug 31, 2026 Hypothetical t statistic \u22121.89 \n Level, from 100 at the start 253.43 Jan 4, 2010 to Oct 7, 2026 Hypothetical the benchmark\u2019s value on Oct 7, 2026, from a base of 100 on Jan 4, 2010 \n Weighted expense ratio 0.04% Oct 7, 2026 Tracked each weight times its fund\u2019s expense ratio; already inside the returns \n\n Questions people ask\n What is ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks? A rules-based benchmark: 40% VT and 60% US bonds (BND and AGG in equal parts), rebalanced on the last trading day of each month. ETFIQ publishes it to measure strategic and target-risk allocation models with about 40% in stocks. It is not a fund and cannot be bought. Is ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks a recommendation? No. It is a yardstick, the same for everyone, and every weight follows from a written rule and public facts. ETFIQ publishes no trades for it and takes no payment from the issuer of any fund it holds. Why are some of its returns hypothetical? ETFIQ froze the rule on Oct 3, 2026. Returns before Oct 5, 2026 apply today\u2019s rule and funds to earlier prices, which is look-ahead; returns from that date are tracked. The price source does not carry funds that closed before 2016, so nothing here is free of survivorship bias. Total returns are market price with distributions reinvested, net of each fund\u2019s own fees, with nothing else deducted. The price source does not carry funds that closed before 2016, so nothing here is free of survivorship bias. Data sourced by Tiingo .\n Where these figures came from\n Data sourced by Tiingo U.S. Treasury daily bill rates, for the Sharpe ratio Each fund\u2019s page, with its prospectus and fee Where to next\n Every strategic benchmark How the benchmarks are built Every benchmark Core funds Look a portfolio through Every method Every model, side by side ETFIQ is an independent publisher of exchange-traded fund data. It is not a fund issuer, broker-dealer or investment adviser, takes no payment from issuers, and makes no recommendations.\n \n Cite this page. ETFIQ, ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark, data as of Oct 7, 2026. https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/ Free to use with attribution for figures ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms. The underlying files are at Open data .\n Other forms Plain ETFIQ, ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark, data as of Oct 7, 2026. https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/ APA ETFIQ. (Oct 7, 2026). ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/ Markdown [ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark (ETFIQ, Oct 7, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/)","source":"ETFIQ, independent ETF data. Recomputed nightly from public filings and prices.","publisher":{"@id":"https://etfiq.com/#org","name":"ETFIQ","url":"https://etfiq.com"},"license":"https://etfiq.com/license/","license_text":"Figures ETFIQ computes are free to use with attribution: ETFIQ (etfiq.com). Issuer data stays under its owner's terms.","citation":"ETFIQ, ETFIQ Strategic, 40% stocks benchmark, data as of Oct 7, 2026. https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/strategic-40/"}