There's no denying the importance and popularity of 401(k)s for retirement savers. Americans have $4.8 trillion invested in these tax-deferred savings accounts, according to the Investment Company Institute, and there are 52 million active 401(k) participants. BrightScope, a financial-information company that rates retirement-savings plans, compiled this list for Kiplinger of the most popular mutual funds in 401(k) plans based on funds' 401(k) assets under management. See Also: Best Vanguard Funds for Your Retirement Savings

Here is the list of the top 105 funds for your 401(k) retirement savings. All figures are as of September 30, 2016.

 

 

 

 

Annualized Total Return

 

Rank

Fund Name

Symbol

Total Assets*

1-YR

3-YR

5-YR

10-YR

Fund Type

1

Vanguard Institutional Index I

VINIX

$209 billion

15.41

11.13

16.35

7.24

Large Blend

2

PIMCO Total Return D

PTTDX

$84 billion

5.38

3.21

3.88

5.67

Intermediate-Term Bond

3

Fidelity® Contrafund

FCNTX

$108 billion

10.51

10.25

15.41

8.62

Large Growth

4

American Funds Europacific Growth A

AEPGX

$124 billion

8.13

2.99

8.73

3.93

Foreign Large Growth

5

Fidelity 500 Index Investor

FUSEX

$103 billion

15.34

11.07

16.28

7.17

Large Blend

6

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Inv

VBMFX

$175 billion

5.21

3.87

2.88

4.66

Intermediate-Term Bond

7

Vanguard Wellington Inv

VWELX

$92 billion

11.95

7.92

11.50

7.13

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

8

Dodge & Cox Stock

DODGX

$56 billion

14.53

8.91

17.10

5.52

Large Value

9

Fidelity Growth Company

FDGRX

$38 billion

13.74

11.50

17.66

10.67

Large Growth

10

Vanguard PRIMECAP Inv

VPMCX

$47 billion

17.40

13.27

18.52

9.51

Large Growth

11

Vanguard 500 Index Inv

VFINX

$260 billion

15.27

11.00

16.20

7.12

Large Blend

12

Vanguard Extended Market Idx Inv

VEXMX

$47 billion

13.29

7.34

16.17

8.11

Mid-Cap Blend

13

American Funds Growth Fund of Amer A

AGTHX

$144 billion

15.04

10.38

16.57

7.44

Large Growth

14

Vanguard Mid Cap Index Inv

VIMSX

$74 billion

12.54

9.76

16.36

8.06

Mid-Cap Blend

15

Fidelity Freedom 2020

FFFDX

$12 billion

10.31

5.61

8.50

4.77

Target-Date 2020

16

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Inv

VTTVX

$32 billion

10.67

6.46

10.39

5.65

Target-Date 2025

17

Fidelity Low-Priced Stock

FLPSX

$40 billion

7.01

6.73

14.43

8.08

Mid-Cap Value

18

Fidelity Freedom 2030

FFFEX

$11 billion

11.74

6.32

10.09

4.86

Target-Date 2030

19

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Inv

VTWNX

$28 billion

10.05

6.21

9.63

5.62

Target-Date 2020

20

Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Inv

VGTSX

$226 billion

9.53

0.79

6.71

2.15

Foreign Large Blend

21

Vanguard Windsor II Inv

VWNFX

$46 billion

12.11

8.14

14.72

5.78

Large Value

22

Dodge & Cox International Stock

DODFX

$55 billion

5.62

0.06

8.17

2.88

Foreign Large Blend

23

Vanguard Small Cap Index Inv

NAESX

$63 billion

14.82

7.78

16.55

8.28

Small Blend

24

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020

TRRBX

$26 billion

11.09

6.29

10.65

5.89

Target-Date 2020

25

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030

TRRCX

$26 billion

11.93

6.91

12.24

6.17

Target-Date 2030

26

Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Inv

VTHRX

$25 billion

11.15

6.64

11.12

5.64

Target-Date 2030

27

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Inv

VTTHX

$25 billion

11.64

6.80

11.83

5.74

Target-Date 2035

28

Fidelity Freedom 2025

FFTWX

$9 billion

10.73

6.01

9.62

5.06

Target-Date 2025

29

Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Inv

VTSMX

$469 billion

14.85

10.29

16.20

7.41

Large Blend

30

Fidelity Diversified International

FDIVX

$20 billion

5.96

3.00

9.60

2.75

Foreign Large Growth

31

Fidelity Freedom 2040

FFFFX

$7 billion

12.10

6.46

11.00

4.89

Target-Date 2040

32

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025

TRRHX

$20 billion

11.57

6.64

11.49

6.04

Target-Date 2025

33

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Inv

VTXVX

$17 billion

9.03

5.71

8.61

5.48

Target-Date 2015

34

Fidelity Freedom 2035

FFTHX

$6 billion

12.17

6.45

10.89

4.97

Target-Date 2035

35

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040

TRRDX

$18 billion

12.29

7.13

12.98

6.34

Target-Date 2040

36

Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Inv

VFORX

$17 billion

12.11

6.84

12.13

5.87

Target-Date 2040

37

Vanguard Instl Ttl Stk Mkt Idx I

VITNX

$39 billion

15.06

10.48

16.40

7.59

Large Blend

38

Harbor Capital Appreciation Inv

HCAIX

$38 billion

8.63

10.86

15.57

8.27

Large Growth

39

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth

RPMGX

$25 billion

11.25

11.22

17.13

10.61

Mid-Cap Growth

40

T. Rowe Price Growth Stock

PRGFX

$45 billion

10.05

11.03

17.36

8.61

Large Growth

41

American Funds American Balanced A

ABALX

$97 billion

12.09

8.26

12.12

6.82

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

42

Fidelity Balanced

FBALX

$29 billion

10.80

8.09

11.23

6.45

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

43

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth

TRBCX

$33 billion

11.34

11.56

17.86

9.11

Large Growth

44

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Inv

VTIVX

$16 billion

12.16

6.86

12.14

5.87

Target-Date 2045

45

MainStay Large Cap Growth Inv

MLINX

$81 billion

9.52

9.36

14.74

8.35

Large Growth

46

Vanguard International Growth Inv

VWIGX

$23 billion

16.72

3.13

9.84

4.17

Foreign Large Growth

47

T. Rowe Price Equity Income

PRFDX

$22 billion

17.45

6.63

13.71

5.67

Large Value

48

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035

TRRJX

$15 billion

12.14

7.05

12.72

6.24

Target-Date 2035

49

Harbor International Investor

HIINX

$13 billion

7.36

-0.91

6.92

3.43

Foreign Large Blend

50

Fidelity Puritan

FPURX

$26 billion

10.13

8.09

11.41

6.43

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

51

MFS Value A

MEIAX

$1 billion

15.07

9.62

15.97

6.94

Large Value

52

American Funds New Perspective A

ANWPX

$60 billion

10.90

7.02

12.94

6.80

World Stock

53

Fidelity Freedom 2015

FFVFX

$5 billion

9.84

5.37

7.82

4.84

Target-Date 2015

54

Vanguard Balanced Index Inv

VBINX

$30 billion

11.06

7.82

10.85

6.64

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

55

Vanguard Growth Index Inv

VIGRX

$53 billion

13.36

11.19

16.38

8.66

Large Growth

56

Metropolitan West Total Return Bd M

MWTRX

$39 billion

4.48

3.76

4.59

6.25

Intermediate-Term Bond

57

American Beacon Lg Cap Value Inv

AAGPX

$8 billion

10.62

6.42

14.45

5.11

Large Value

58

Fidelity Extended Market Index Investor

FSEMX

$17 billion

13.27

7.46

16.13

8.34

Mid-Cap Blend

59

Oakmark Equity & Income I

OAKBX

$30 billion

7.34

4.92

9.75

6.59

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

60

T. Rowe Price Instl Large Cap Growth

TRLGX

$12 billion

9.98

10.85

17.61

9.50

Large Growth

61

American Funds Washington Mutual A

AWSHX

$81 billion

15.20

9.39

14.58

6.57

Large Value

62

Neuberger Berman Genesis Inv

NBGNX

$16 billion

13.34

6.37

13.36

8.78

Small Growth

63

Fidelity US Bond Index Investor

FBIDX

$26 billion

5.09

3.85

2.90

4.40

Intermediate-Term Bond

64

Artisan Mid Cap Investor

ARTMX

$8 billion

8.08

5.75

14.16

9.88

Mid-Cap Growth

65

Fidelity Freedom 2045

FFFGX

$3 billion

12.11

6.53

11.22

4.96

Target-Date 2045

66

Fidelity Blue Chip Growth

FBGRX

$19 billion

10.85

11.74

17.32

9.58

Large Growth

67

American Funds Fundamental Invs A

ANCFX

$77 billion

16.99

10.24

15.87

7.48

Large Blend

68

Fidelity OTC

FOCPX

$14 billion

18.34

13.38

18.53

12.13

Large Growth

69

Vanguard Value Index Inv

VIVAX

$44 billion

16.11

10.19

15.86

5.88

Large Value

70

Dodge & Cox Balanced

DODBX

$15 billion

12.58

7.74

13.71

5.82

Allocation--50% to 70% Equity

71

Vanguard Explorer Inv

VEXPX

$11 billion

13.35

6.09

15.46

7.54

Small Growth

72

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015

TRRGX

$10 billion

10.49

5.88

9.62

5.71

Target-Date 2015

73

Dodge & Cox Income

DODIX

$47 billion

7.09

4.29

4.31

5.36

Intermediate-Term Bond

74

JPMorgan Mid Cap Value A

JAMCX

$15 billion

13.08

9.71

16.80

8.17

Mid-Cap Blend

75

BlackRock Equity Dividend Inv A

MDDVX

$20 billion

14.42

8.39

12.52

6.82

Large Value

76

JPMorgan Large Cap Growth A

OLGAX

$16 billion

6.09

8.90

13.69

8.63

Large Growth

77

Vanguard Inflation-Protected Secs Inv

VIPSX

$25 billion

6.48

2.31

1.78

4.26

Inflation-Protected Bond

78

American Funds Capital World Gr&Inc A

CWGIX

$82 billion

11.00

5.35

11.53

5.33

World Stock

79

Fidelity International Index Investor

FSIIX

$15 billion

6.51

0.55

7.60

1.92

Foreign Large Blend

80

Fidelity Freedom 2050

FFFHX

$3 billion

12.20

6.52

11.39

4.77

Target-Date 2050

81

Vanguard Windsor Inv

VWNDX

$17 billion

10.35

7.71

16.01

5.75

Large Value

82

Columbia Acorn A

LACAX

$5 billion

8.76

4.01

12.25

6.61

Mid-Cap Growth

83

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045

TRRKX

$9 billion

12.30

7.13

12.97

6.34

Target-Date 2045

84

Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Inv

VFIFX

$10 billion

12.14

6.85

12.14

5.87

Target-Date 2050

85

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value A

GCMAX

$25 billion

8.04

5.70

13.66

6.42

Mid-Cap Value

86

Oppenheimer Developing Markets A

ODMAX

$5 billion

17.93

-1.50

4.65

6.41

Diversified Emerging Mkts

87

Schwab S&P 500 Index

SWPPX

$23 billion

15.28

11.05

16.24

7.19

Large Blend

88

T. Rowe Price New Horizons

PRNHX

$17 billion

14.21

9.39

18.92

11.53

Small Growth

89

BlackRock Global Allocation Inv A

MDLOX

$43 billion

6.84

3.20

6.60

5.23

World Allocation

90

Fidelity Freedom 2010

FFFCX

$4 billion

9.07

5.02

7.49

4.78

Target-Date 2000-2010

91

Morgan Stanley Inst Mid Cap Growth A

MACGX

$10 billion

-0.12

-0.01

7.47

6.70

Mid-Cap Growth

92

Vanguard Capital Opportunity Inv

VHCOX

$14 billion

15.20

11.99

19.53

9.42

Large Growth

93

Vanguard Developed Markets Idx Investor

VDVIX

$65 billion

7.93

0.99

7.93

2.05

Foreign Large Blend

94

Vanguard Wellesley Income Inv

VWINX

$50 billion

11.58

7.28

8.70

7.10

Allocation--30% to 50% Equity

95

PIMCO Real Return D

PRRDX

$12 billion

6.26

1.53

1.58

4.26

Inflation-Protected Bond

96

Vanguard Small Cap Value Index Inv

VISVX

$21 billion

16.45

9.40

17.29

7.49

Small Value

97

Vanguard REIT Index Inv

VGSIX

$64 billion

19.53

13.84

15.54

6.34

Real Estate

98

AllianzGI NFJ Small-Cap Value A

PCVAX

$4 billion

10.40

3.42

10.87

7.09

Small Value

99

T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Stock

OTCFX

$9 billion

15.61

7.45

16.73

9.04

Small Growth

100

Vanguard Target Retirement Income Inv

VTINX

$11 billion

7.54

4.68

5.94

5.27

Target-Date Retirement

101

Vanguard Morgan Growth Inv

VMRGX

$11 billion

10.48

10.58

15.73

7.64

Large Growth

102

Fidelity Mid-Cap Stock

FMCSX

$7 billion

12.85

7.74

15.01

7.46

Mid-Cap Growth

103

GE RSP US Equity

GESSX

$5 billion

13.34

9.15

15.91

7.16

Large Blend

104

PIMCO All Asset D

PASDX

$19 billion

13.20

1.54

4.44

4.57

Tactical Allocation

105

T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050

TRRMX

$7 billion

12.30

7.11

12.96

-

Target-Date 2050

*The dollar amounts represent funds' total assets under management held both within 401(k) plans and outside of 401(k)s, according to Morningstar. BrightScope ranked the funds by assets under management held in 401(k)s only, but it did not disclose the precise amounts for proprietary reasons.

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