The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is trading for $104.59 per unit, up 1.15% at the time of writing on Friday.
This popular ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) seeks to track the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) before fees.
This makes the VAS ETF different from other Australian index funds that typically only track the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
With the ASX VAS, you get exposure to 100 additional companies, all of which are small-cap shares with market capitalisations below $1.6 billion.
Small caps have more room for growth than large caps, so this is potentially advantageous for VAS ETF investors.
Of course, small companies can also fail or underperform, so those extra 100 companies also add some risk.
In 2024, both the ASX 200 and ASX 300 are performing well, up 10.31% and 10.16% respectively.
This year, both indexes are benefitting from big value uplifts among some of the larger companies within the ASX 200.
Outstanding examples include Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares, up 39.6%, WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares, up 66.7%, and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) shares, up 49.8%.
Also, REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares, up 35.2%, and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares, up 23.8%.
But what about the lesser-known stocks included in the ASX VAS that are ranked between 201 and 300?
Which ones have outperformed, and which ones are detractors in 2024?
Let's take a look.
Did you know these stocks are in the VAS ETF?
Among the outperforming shares within the VAS ETF that are ranked between 201 and 300 in the ASX 300 is telecommunications infrastructure company Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC), which is up 216.9% in 2024.
There's also titanium products developer Iperionx Ltd (ASX: IPX), with its share price up 215.4%, and gold explorer Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM), which has risen by 200.8% in the year to date.
Other top performers include gold and base metal explorer Spartan Resources Ltd (ASX: SPR), up 152% and global sports data and analytics company Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT), up 148.9%.
The share price of lithium producer Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) is up 144.9%.
There's also pooled development fund Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) shares, up 122.4%, and medical equipment supplier Paragon Care Ltd (ASX: PGC) shares, up 112.5%.
Among the detractors for the VAS ASX in 2024 are retirement village developer Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC) shares, down 51%, and transport company Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS), down 47%.
Shares in digital audio networking developer Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8) are down 46.5%. Financial services company Heartland Group Holdings (ASX: HGH) shares have lost 39.5% in value.
The share price of oil and gas explorer Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) is down 32.1%.
Building services provider Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG) shares are also down 29.2%, and uranium miner Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares are down 27.4%.
