Top 9 Most Popular Stock Funds in 401(k) Retirement Plans

1. FDGRX – Fidelity Growth Company Fund

• Manager: Steve Wymer (since 1997)

• Fees: 0.79% expense ratio

• Description: Actively managed growth fund focusing on high-growth companies with strong earnings potential. Fidelity is an excellent mutual fund company that’s well known for its growth funds. This fund is the representative of the Fidelity growth funds. 

2. VPMCX – Vanguard Primecap Fund Investor Shares

• Manager: Primecap Management Company (since 1984)

• Fees: 0.35% expense ratio

• Description: Actively managed growth fund investing in companies with strong growth potential and competitive advantages. This fund has been featured by MyPlanIQ as the best stock fund that has the best long-term investment returns (see The Best Stock Funds In The Long-Term).

3. FCNTX – Fidelity Contrafund

• Manager: Will Danoff (since 1990)

• Fees: 0.81% expense ratio

• Description: Actively managed growth fund focusing on undervalued companies with strong growth potential. This mutual fund has had one of the best long-term track records among growth at a reasonable price (GARP) funds. 

4. AGTHX – Capital Group Growth Fund of America Class A

• Manager: Multiple managers (since 1934)

• Fees: 0.73% expense ratio (Class A shares)

• Description: Actively managed growth fund investing in companies with strong growth potential and competitive advantages. Capital Group and Vanguard are two fund companies that have garnered most retirement (401(k), 403(b), …) plan assets. Their funds are popular as they usually deliver steady returns. 

5. DODGX – Dodge & Cox Stock Fund

• Manager: Dodge & Cox (since 1931)

• Fees: 0.52% expense ratio

• Description: Actively managed value fund focusing on undervalued companies with strong fundamentals. Another value oriented fund that can be tilted to growth at a reasonable price or quality companies. 

6. TRBCX – T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund Inc.

• Manager: Larry Puglia (since 1993)

• Fees: 0.75% expense ratio

• Description: Actively managed growth fund investing in established companies with strong growth potential. T. Rowe Price is another growth and income fund company, in addition to Fidelity. 

7. VIGRX – Vanguard Growth Index Fund Investor Shares

• Manager: Vanguard (since 1996)

• Fees: 0.04% expense ratio

• Description: Index fund tracking the CRSP US Growth Index, providing broad exposure to growth stocks. Needless to say, Vanguard has some of the most popular and lowest fee index funds that are ultra popular in retirement plans. 

8. VFINX – Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares

• Manager: Vanguard (since 1976)

• Fees: 0.04% expense ratio

• Description: Index fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, providing broad exposure to the US stock market. This fund has the lowest fee among all S&P 500 index funds. 

9. VIVAX – Vanguard Value Index Fund Investor Shares

• Manager: Vanguard (since 1992)

• Fees: 0.04% expense ratio

• Description: Index fund tracking the CRSP US Value Index, providing broad exposure to value stocks.