<div>
<h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>

NavPoint Financial, Inc. increased its Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) position by 45,086 shares during Q1 2026, with an estimated trade value of $3.5 million based on quarterly average pricing.</li><li>After the transaction, NavPoint holds 132,233 shares of VPLS valued at $10.3 million -- representing 4.2% of the firm's total assets under management (AUM).
</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Malvern Funds - Core Plus Bond Fund ›</li></ul><h2 id="what-happened">What happened</h2><p>According to an SEC filing dated April 24, 2026, NavPoint Financial, Inc. purchased 45,086 additional shares of <strong>Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Fund</strong> <span class="ticker">(NASDAQ:VPLS)</span> during the first quarter. The estimated value of the trade was $3.5 million, based on average closing prices during the period. The transaction represents a 1.43% change in the firm's reportable assets under management (AUM).</p><h2 id="what-else-to-know">What else to know</h2><ul><li>Post-trade, VPLS represents 4.2% of NavPoint's 13F assets under management (AUM), placing it outside the firm's top five holdings.</li><li>Top fund holdings as of the Q1 2026 filing:<ul><li>NYSE: GLDM: $23.84 million (9.6% of AUM)</li><li>NYSE: JPIE: $22.98 million (9.3% of AUM)</li><li>NYSE: CGCP: $15.32 million (6.2% of AUM)</li><li>NYSE: FPAG: $14.61 million (5.9% of AUM)</li><li>NYSE: JPST: $13.41 million (5.4% of AUM)</li></ul></li><li>As of April 24, 2026, VPLS shares were trading at $77.99, up about 6% over the past year -- lagging the S&amp;P 500 by roughly 23 percentage points over the same period.</li></ul><h2 id="etf-overview">ETF overview</h2><section><table><tbody><tr><th>Metric</th><th>Value</th></tr><tr><td>AUM</td><td>$1.4 billion</td></tr><tr><td>Expense ratio</td><td>0.20%</td></tr><tr><td>Dividend yield</td><td>4.55%</td></tr><tr><td>1-year total return</td><td>6.37%</td></tr></tbody></table></section><h2 id="etf-snapshot">ETF snapshot</h2><p>Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) is a low-cost, actively managed fixed income fund designed to provide broad exposure to the U.S. investment-grade bond market, with selective allocations to below-investment-grade and international debt.</p><ul><li><strong>Portfolio composition:</strong> U.S. Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, and emerging markets debt across a range of maturities and credit qualities.</li><li><strong>Strategy:</strong> The fund uses disciplined security selection and sector allocation to seek outperformance versus its benchmark -- while maintaining risk controls consistent with a core bond mandate.</li><li><strong>Cost efficiency:</strong> Structured as a low-expense ETF, VPLS aims to serve as a competitive core fixed income holding for institutional and individual investors seeking diversified income and moderate risk exposure.</li></ul><h2 id="what-this-transaction-means-for-investors">What this transaction means for investors</h2><p>For NavPoint, adding more than 45,000 shares of VPLS is more than a tiny portfolio tweak -- it looks like a deliberate vote of confidence in active bond management. NavPoint grew its VPLS position by more than 50% this quarter (from roughly 87,000 to 132,000 shares), suggesting this isn't passive rebalancing so much as a meaningful increase in conviction.</p><p>Interest rates remain elevated by historical standards, which cuts two ways for bond investors: it pressures existing bond prices, but it also means new fixed income allocations are locking in relatively attractive yields. VPLS's current 4.55% dividend yield is competitive in that context -- and for a firm managing wealth across a diversified book, that kind of income generation can serve as a useful ballast.</p><p>Yes, VPLS has trailed the S&amp;P 500 by a wide margin over the past year. But comparing a core bond ETF to an equity index is a bit like faulting a reliable sedan for not keeping up with a sports car. These are different vehicles for different jobs. For investors already well-exposed to equities, a broadly diversified bond fund with active management and a solid yield profile can play a stabilizing role in a portfolio.</p><p>For everyday investors curious about the space, VPLS offers a relatively straightforward way to access active fixed income management at low cost -- something that has historically been harder to find in an ETF wrapper. That makes VPLS a potential core portfolio building block -- one that appeals most to investors who already have broad equity exposure and are looking to add income and stability to the mix.</p><h2>Should you buy stock in Vanguard Malvern Funds - Core Plus Bond Fund right now?</h2>
<p>Before you buy stock in Vanguard Malvern Funds - Core Plus Bond Fund, consider this:</p>
<p>The <em>Motley Fool Stock Advisor</em> analyst team just identified what they believe are the <strong>10 best stocks</strong> for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Malvern Funds - Core Plus Bond Fund wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.</p>
<p>Consider when <strong>Netflix</strong> made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, <strong>you’d have $498,522</strong>!* Or when <strong>Nvidia</strong> made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, <strong>you’d have $1,276,807</strong>!*</p>
<p>Now, it’s worth noting <em>Stock Advisor’s</em> total average return is 983<span>% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&amp;P 500. <strong><span>Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with <em>Stock Advisor</em>, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.</span></strong></span></p>
<p>See the 10 stocks »</p>
<p style="color: #767676; text-align: left"><em>*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2026. </em></p><p><em>Andy Gould has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.</em></p>
<p>The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.</p>
</div>

VPLS

<p>NavPoint Financial, Inc. increased its position in the Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) by 45,086 shares, valued at $3.5 million, during Q1 2026. This brings their total holdings to 132,233 shares, representing 4.2% of their total assets under management (AUM). Despite VPLS trailing the S&P 500, the firm’s significant increase in shares indicates a strong confidence in active bond management. The ETF offers a competitive 4.55% dividend yield, making it an attractive option for investors seeking income and stability in their portfolios.</p>

nasdaq

Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF

SPDR Gold Minishares

JPMorgan Income ETF

Capital Group Fixed Income ETF

FPA Global Equity ETF

Jpm Ultrashrt Income

S&P 500

NavPoint Loads Up on Bonds -- Adding $3.5 Million Worth of VPLS in Q1