N-CSRS 1 ncsr.htm N-CSR FORM FOR EXPLORER

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT
OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT COMPANY


Investment Company Act file number: 811-1530

Name of Registrant: Vanguard Explorer Fund

Address of Registrant: P.O. Box 2600
Valley Forge, PA 19482

Name and address of agent for service: R. Gregory Barton, Esquire
P.O. Box 876
Valley Forge, PA 19482

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (610) 669-1000


Date of fiscal year end: October 31

Date of reporting period: November 1, 2004 - April 30, 2005

Item 1: Reports to Shareholders









    Vanguard® ExplorerFund
     
    April 30, 2005






  CONTENTS
 
 CHAIRMAN'S LETTER
 
 FUND PROFILE
 
 GLOSSARY OF INVESTMENT TERMS
 
 PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
29   ABOUT YOUR FUND'S EXPENSES
 
30   ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
 
  SUMMARY
 
Vanguard Explorer Fund’s Investor Shares returned 2.2% during the first half of the fund’s 2005 fiscal year, surpassing the returns of both the average competing fund and the benchmark index.
 
The gains of large-capitalization stocks exceeded those of small-cap stocks in the period, while value-oriented issues outpaced growth-oriented ones.
 
The advisors’ good stock selection in the health care, financial services, and materials & processing sectors helped the fund’s results.
 
 
 
     
     
    VANGUARD’S PLEDGE TO CLIENTS
     
    We recognize that your relationship with Vanguard rests on the twin pillars of trust and excellence, each of which is built upon the character of our people. Our Pledge to Clients reflects our ongoing efforts to deserve your trust and to continually improve so that we can offer you excellence in all that we do.
     
    We will:
     
    Put your interests first at all times.
     
  Put your interests first at all times.
     
  Continually seek to earn your trust by adhering to the highest standards of ethical behavior and fiduciary responsibility.
     
  Strive to be the highest-value provider of investment services, which means outstanding investment performance and service, both at the lowest possible cost.
     
  Communicate candidly not only about the rewards of investing but also about the risks and costs.
     
  Maintain highly effective controls to safeguard your assets and protect your confidential information.
     
  Invest a majority of our personal assets alongside yours.
     
     
    Please note: The opinions expressed in this report are just that—informed opinions. They should not be considered promises or advice. Also, please keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. Of course, the risks of investing in your fund are spelled out in the prospectus.
     
     
    Want less clutter in your mailbox? Just register with
Vanguard.com® and opt to get fund reports online.





   
  CHAIRMAN'S LETTER
   

Dear Shareholder,

During the six months ended April 30, 2005, the U.S. equity market struggled under the weight of high energy prices, mounting inflationary pressures, and rising interest rates. Against this backdrop, the Explorer Fund’s Investor Shares returned 2.2%, which exceeded the return of the average mutual fund peer by 3 percentage points and was twice that of the primary benchmark index. However, the Investor Shares’ performance fell 1.3 percentage points shy of that of the broad U.S. market. (The fund’s Admiral Shares returned 2.3% in the period.)


Total Returns
 

Six Months Ended
April 30, 2005

Vanguard Explorer Fund  
   Investor Shares 2.2%
   Admiral Shares 2.3   
Russell 2500 Growth Index 1.1   
Average Small-Cap Growth Fund* -0.8   
Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index 3.5   

*Derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.

The adjacent table presents the fund's total returns (capital change plus reinvested distributions), as well as those of the Russell 2500 Growth Index, the average small-capitalization growth fund, and the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Composite Index, a proxy for the broad stock market. The table on page 5 shows the beginning and ending share prices of the fund, as well as per-share distributions during the period.

STOCKS STALLED AMID UNCERTAINTY

U.S. stocks rallied in the final months of 2004, then drifted lower as the New Year began. Although the economy registered respectable growth during the fiscal half-year, concern about the strength and durability of the expansion seemed to dictate the market's direction. Segments of corporate America generated unexpectedly robust profits, for example,



1


   
  AdmiralShares
   
  A lower-cost class of shares available to many longtime shareholders and to those with significant investments in the fund.

but every instance of good news seemed to be overshadowed by a high-profile disappointment. Persistently high oil prices and other specters of inflation also cast a pall on the market's mood.

The broad stock market, as measured by the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index, returned 3.5% for the six months. As has been the case for much of the past five years, value-oriented stocks outpaced their growth-oriented counterparts. In a reversal of recent trends, large-cap stocks bested the market's smaller companies. On balance, international stocks generated higher returns than the U.S. market.

THE FED STEPPED TO THE FORE

In the bond market, the Federal Reserve Board commanded the spotlight, signaling that its near-term objective was to short-circuit any surge in inflation. The Fed raised its target for the federal funds rate to 2.75% during the half-year, a full percentage point higher than its level at the start of the period. (In early May, the Fed raised the target to 3.00%.) The yield of the 3-month U.S. Treasury bill paralleled the Fed's actions, rising steadily to close the period at 2.89%.



Market Barometer
 
Total Returns
Periods Ended April 30, 2005

 
 

Six
Months

One
Year

Five
Years*

Stocks      
Russell 1000 Index (Large-caps) 4.0% 7.2% -2.7%
Russell 2000 Index (Small-caps) -0.1    4.7    4.1   
Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index 3.5    7.0    -2.0   
     (Entire market)      
MSCI All Country World Index      
     ex USA (International) 9.1    16.9    0.6   

Bonds      
Lehman Aggregate Bond Index 1.0% 5.3% 7.5%
     (Broad taxable market)      
Lehman Municipal Bond Index 1.9    6.8    7.0   
Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index 1.1    1.7    2.6   

CPI      
Consumer Price Index 1.9% 3.5% 2.6%

*Annualized.

The impact on longer-term securities was less pronounced. The yield of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 0.18 percentage point to 4.20%, while the yields of the longest-term securities declined modestly.

THE FUND HELD ITS OWN IN A CHALLENGING MARKET ENVIRONMENT

As noted, your fund outpaced both its average peer and its benchmark index during the half-year, with returns of 2.2% for the Investor Shares and 2.3% for the Admiral Shares.




2





The Explorer Fund’s multimanager approach offers broad-based exposure to hundreds of small-cap stocks that the advisors believe are poised to benefit from strong earnings growth. The combination of several talented managers in a single fund promotes broad diversification, while preserving



Annualized Expense Ratios:
Your fund compared with its peer group
 
 
 

 
Investor
Shares

 
Admiral
Shares

Average
Small-Cap
Growth Fund

Explorer Fund 0.55% 0.40% 1.71%*

*Peer-group expense ratio is derived from data provided by Lipper Inc. and captures information through year-end 2004.

opportunities for outperformance—goals that can be hard to reconcile in a single-manager small-cap portfolio. To incorporate additional diversification, the fund’s board of trustees in February appointed a sixth investment advisor, Kalmar Investment Advisers of Wilmington, Delaware.

The advisors’ solid stock selection played an important part in the fund’s small gains in the period. This was most evident in the health care sector—the fund’s second-largest sector weighting—which provided more than half of the fund’s total return. Managed-care holdings posted very good results, offsetting weak showings from biotechnology and pharmaceutical holdings. In the financial services sector, which was beset by the fallout from rising interest rates and insurance-industry turmoil, the advisors’ stock choices posted a small positive return that contrasted with the index sector’s negative return. In materials & processing, astute stock selection made the difference, as the return of the fund’s holdings handily outpaced the return of the index sector.


Fund Assets Managed April 30, 2005
 
$ Million
Percentage
Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC $2,504  28%
Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group 2,095  23   
Granahan Investment Management, Inc. 1,802  20   
Wellington Management Company, LLP 1,317  15   
Chartwell Investment Partners 652  7   
Kalmar Investment Advisers 372  4   
Cash Investments* 254  3   

Total $8,996  100%

*These short-term reserves are invested by Vanguard in equity index products to simulate investment in stocks. Each advisor may also maintain a modest cash position.

On the negative side, some poor stock selection led to a disappointing showing from the fund’s technology holdings. Numerous tech holdings saw poor sales and earnings and were troubled by an increasingly competitive environment. As a group, the fund’s tech holdings were the largest drag on performance, declining nearly –9% in the period.




3


As always, your fund’s advisors continue to search for “growth at a reasonable price.” Although their respective strategies vary, their portfolios tend to screen out a large number of the more highly valued, speculative stocks that other small-cap managers may snap up in pursuit of high returns.

DIVERSIFICATION AND BALANCE NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

Investment trends come and go, and investors expend vast amounts of effort and money in pursuit of the best-performing sectors, styles, and funds. Over the years, Vanguard has repeatedly counseled investors to avoid chasing performance, to tune out the markets’ “noise,” and to maintain focus. Unlike some of those “here today, gone tomorrow” trends, a carefully crafted investment plan, grounded in the principles of diversification and balance, never goes out of style.

If you choose low-cost, diversified mutual funds to implement your plan, and then remain on that course through good and bad times, you will enhance your prospects of meeting your goals. Although you may not see your portfolio rise to the loftiest heights in the short run, you improve your chances of avoiding the depths of market downturns. The Explorer Fund can be a valuable way to gain exposure to smaller stocks within a portfolio that already has broad exposure to large-cap stocks.

If you would like some help in fine-tuning your investment plan, or are interested in exploring a vast array of educational material useful to both beginning and seasoned investors, I encourage you to visit Vanguard.com. Our website also provides many interactive tools that you will find useful.

Thank you for your continued confidence in Vanguard.

Sincerely,

John J. Brennan

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MAY 16, 2005




4






Your Fund's Performance at a Glance October 31, 2004-April 30, 2005
   
  Distributions Per Share
 
 

Starting
Share Price

Ending
Share Price

Income
Dividends

Capital
Gains

Explorer Fund        
      Investor Shares $67.01  $68.45  $0.000  $0.073 
      Admiral Shares 62.37  63.76  0.000  0.068 













5





   
  FUND PROFILE
As of 4/30/2005
 
This Profile provides a snapshot of the fund's characteristics, compared where indicated with both an appropriate market index and a broad market index. Key terms are defined on page 7.
   

EXPLORER FUND
Portfolio Characteristics
 
 

 
Fund

Comparative
Index*

Broad
Index**

Number of Stocks 985  1,713  4,949 
Median Market Cap $1.6B  $1.7B  $26.4B 
Price/Earnings Ratio 22.6x  24.8x  21.2x 
Price/Book Ratio 2.8x  3.1x  2.6x 
Yield    0.6% 1.7%
     Investor Shares 0.1%      
     Admiral Shares 0.2%      
Return on Equity 11.9% 14.1% 15.0%
Earnings Growth Rate 16.4% 17.6% 9.0%
Foreign Holdings 2.5% 0.0% 1.0%
Turnover Rate 86%†  —  — 
Expense Ratio    —  — 
     Investor Shares 0.55%†       
     Admiral Shares 0.40%†       
Short-Term Reserves 3% —  — 

 
 

Volatility Measures
 
 

 
Fund

Comparative
Index*

 
Fund

Broad
Index**

R-Squared 0.99  1.00  0.84  1.00 
Beta 0.97  1.00  1.18  1.00 

 
 

Sector Diversification (% of portfolio)
 
 

 
Fund

Comparative
Index*

Broad
Index**

Auto & Transportation 4% 4% 2%
Consumer Discretionary 24    26    16   
Consumer Staples 0    1    7   
Financial Services 12    12    23   
Health Care 20    19    13   
Integrated Oils 0    0    4   
Other Energy 6    5    3   
Materials & Processing 6    5    4   
Producer Durables 7    9    5   
Technology 16    17    12   
Utilities 2    2    7   
Other 0    0    4   

Short-Term Reserves 3%

*Russell 2500 Growth Index.
**Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Index.
†Annualized.
 
 

Ten Largest Holdings (% of total net assets)
 
Nextel Partners, Inc. 0.6%
   (telecommunications)
Bausch & Lomb, Inc. 0.6   
   (medical)
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 0.5   
   (retail)
Foot Locker, Inc. 0.5   
   (retail)
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. Class A 0.5   
   (industrial manufacturing)
Humana Inc. 0.5   
   (health care)
Urban Outfitters, Inc. 0.4   
   (retail)
CACI International, Inc. 0.4   
   (computer services)
Covance, Inc. 0.4   
   (pharmaceuticals)
CapitalSource Inc. 0.4   
   (financial services)

Top Ten 4.8%

“Ten Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash investments and equity index products.

Investment Focus

   Visit our website at Vanguard.com
for regularly updated fund information.




6





   
  GLOSSARY OF INVESTMENT TERMS
   


Beta.   A measure of the magnitude of a fund’s past share-price fluctuations in relation to the ups and downs of a given market index. The index is assigned a beta of 1.00. Compared with a given index, a fund with a beta of 1.20 typically would have seen its share price rise or fall by 12% when the index rose or fell by 10%. A fund’s beta should be reviewed in conjunction with its R-squared (see definition below). The lower the R-squared, the less correlation there is between the fund and the index, and the less reliable beta is as an indicator of volatility.


Earnings Growth Rate. The average annual rate of growth in earnings over the past five years for the stocks now in a fund.


Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its annual administrative and advisory expenses. These expenses directly reduce returns to investors.


Foreign Holdings. The percentage of a fund’s equity assets represented by stocks or depositary receipts of companies based outside the United States.


Median Market Cap. An indicator of the size of companies in which a fund invests; the midpoint of market capitalization (market price x shares outstanding) of a fund’s stocks, weighted by the proportion of the fund’s assets invested in each stock. Stocks representing half of the fund’s assets have market capitalizations above the median, and the rest are below it.


Price/Book Ratio. The share price of a stock divided by its net worth, or book value, per share. For a fund, the weighted average price/book ratio of the stocks it holds.


Price/Earnings Ratio. The ratio of a stock’s current price to its per-share earnings over the past year. For a fund, the weighted average P/E of the stocks it holds. P/E is an indicator of market expectations about corporate prospects; the higher the P/E, the greater the expectations for a company’s future growth.


R-Squared. A measure of how much of a fund’s past returns can be explained by the returns from the market in general, as measured by a given index. If a fund’s total returns were precisely synchronized with an index’s returns, its R-squared would be 1.00. If the fund’s returns bore no relationship to the index’s returns, its R-squared would be 0.


Return on Equity. The annual average rate of return generated by a company during the past five years for each dollar of shareholder’s equity (net income divided by shareholder’s equity). For a fund, the weighted average return on equity for the companies whose stocks it holds.


Short-Term Reserves. The percentage of a fund invested in highly liquid, short-term securities that can be readily converted to cash.


Turnover Rate. An indication of the fund's trading activity. Funds with high turnover rates incur higher transaction costs and may be more likely to distribute capital gains (which may be taxable to investors).


Yield. A snapshot of a fund’s income from interest and dividends. The yield, expressed as a percentage of the fund’s net asset value, is based on income earned over the past 30 days and is annualized, or projected forward for the coming year. The index yield is based on the current annualized rate of income provided by securities in the index.










7





   
  PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
As of 4/30/2005
 
All of the returns in this report represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results that may be achieved by the fund. (For performance data current to the most recent month-end, which may be higher or lower than that cited, visit our website at www.vanguard.com.) Note, too, that both investment returns and principal value can fluctuate widely, so an investor’s shares, when sold, could be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares.
   

EXPLORER FUND


Fiscal-Year Total Returns (%) October 31, 1994–April 30, 2005


  *Six months ended April 30, 2005.
Note: See Financial Highlights tables on pages 24 and 25 for dividend and capital gains information.




Average Annual Total Returns for periods ended March 31, 2005
This table presents average annual total returns through the latest calendar quarter—rather than through the end of the fiscal period. Securities and Exchange Commission rules require that we provide this information.
  Since Inception
 
 
 
Inception Date
One
Year
Five
Years
 
Capital
 
Income
 
Total

Explorer Fund            
      Investor Shares 12/11/1967 4.89% 2.56% 11.07% 0.29% 11.36%
      Admiral Shares 11/12/2001 5.03  9.29* —    —    —   

*Return since inception.








8




   
As of 4/30/2005 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
   


STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS

This Statement provides a detailed list of the fund's holdings, including each security's market value on the last day of the reporting period. Securities are grouped and subtotaled by asset type (common stocks, bonds, etc.) and by industry sector. Other assets are added to, and liabilities are subtracted from, the value of Total Investments to calculate the fund's Net Assets. Finally, Net Assets are divided by the outstanding shares of the fund to arrive at its share price, or Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share.

At the end of the Statement of Net Assets, you will find a table displaying the composition of the fund's net assets. Because all income and any realized gains must be distributed to shareholders each year, the bulk of net assets consists of Paid-in Capital (money invested by shareholders). The amounts shown for Undistributed Net Investment Income and Accumulated Net Realized Gains usually approximate the sums the fund had available to distribute to shareholders as income dividends or capital gains as of the statement date, but may differ because certain investments or transactions may be treated differently for financial statement and tax purposes. Any Accumulated Net Realized Losses, and any cumulative excess of distributions over net income or net realized gains, will appear as negative balances. Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) is the difference between the market value of the fund's investments and their cost, and reflects the gains (losses) that would be realized if the fund were to sell all of its investments at their statement-date values.

The fund provides a complete list of its holdings four times in each fiscal year, at the quarter-ends. For the second and fourth fiscal quarters, the lists appear in the fund's semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. For the first and third fiscal quarters, the fund files the lists with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q. Shareholders can look up the fund's Forms N-Q on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (see the back cover of this report for further information).


 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

COMMON STOCKS (95.2%) (1)    

Auto & Transportation (3.9%)
*Swift Transportation Co., Inc. 1,157,272  $  24,685 
*AMR Corp. 2,282,900  23,902 
 J.B. Hunt Transport
 Services, Inc. 598,400  23,391 
 CNF Inc. 538,900  23,038 
*Yellow Roadway Corp. 451,600  22,128 
 Tidewater Inc. 611,275  21,071 
*Landstar System, Inc. 589,000  18,053 
 C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 296,300  15,289 
 Knight Transportation, Inc. 722,900  15,275 
 Heartland Express, Inc. 802,140  14,872 
*AirTran Holdings, Inc. 1,771,300  14,702 
 UTI Worldwide, Inc. 193,555  12,415 
 Oshkosh Truck Corp. 160,300  12,047 
 Polaris Industries, Inc. 192,101  11,057 
*EGL, Inc. 495,185  9,661 
 Winnebago Industries, Inc. 320,400  9,336 
 Thor Industries, Inc. 298,200  8,036 
*Aviall Inc. 270,000  7,897 
*Tenneco Automotive, Inc. 475,500  6,101 
 Wabash National Corp. 235,100  5,995 
*General Maritime Corp. 120,200  5,271 
 Arkansas Best Corp. 167,000  5,265 
 Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. 87,800  4,955 
*ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. 506,900  4,501 
 Florida East Coast
 Industries, Inc. Class A 100,200  4,269 
 Forward Air Corp. 165,931  3,992 
 Gentex Corp. 120,050  3,897 
*Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. 135,500  3,808 
*Mesa Air Group Inc. 710,500  3,787 
 Visteon Corp. 1,013,800  3,548 
*The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. 168,000  1,994 
*Aftermarket Technology Corp. 122,561  1,895 
 Superior Industries
 International, Inc. 51,500  1,047 
*Hub Group, Inc. 4,200  231 

      347,411 



9





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

Consumer Discretionary (23.1%)
 Advertising Agencies (1.4%)
 Catalina Marketing Corp. 1,137,100  $  26,438 
*ValueClick, Inc. 2,280,362  23,625 
*Lamar Advertising Co. Class A 563,185  21,052 
 ADVO, Inc. 446,700  12,869 
*Marchex, Inc. 630,400  10,641 
*R.H. Donnelley Corp. 169,300  9,642 
*Valassis Communications, Inc. 219,600  7,741 
*aQuantive, Inc. 570,975  6,338 
 Harte-Hanks, Inc. 170,800  4,868 
*Ventiv Health, Inc. 199,400  4,157 
  
 Cable Television Services (0.3%)
*Astro All Asia Networks PLC 7,458,300  10,221 
*TiVo Inc. 1,647,100  9,273 
*Charter Communications, Inc. 6,808,500  7,898 
  
 Casinos & Gambling (1.3%)
 Boyd Gaming Corp. 429,600  22,674 
 Station Casinos, Inc. 330,785  21,346 
*Argosy Gaming Co. 338,600  15,555 
*Aztar Corp. 488,700  13,346 
*Scientific Games Corp. 368,735  7,917 
 Ameristar Casinos, Inc. 124,555  6,141 
 Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 89,695  5,886 
*Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. 336,400  5,100 
*WMS Industries, Inc. 168,025  4,268 
*Shuffle Master, Inc. 166,500  4,194 
*Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. 166,900  4,032 
*Multimedia Games Inc. 177,000  1,400 
*MTR Gaming Group Inc. 126,000  1,387 
  
 Commercial Information Services (0.2%)
*Ask Jeeves, Inc. 367,595  9,995 
*ProQuest Co. 185,700  6,024 
 infoUSA Inc. 169,128  1,857 
  
 Communications & Media (0.0%)
*Entravision Communications Corp. 226,800  1,785 
  
 Consumer Electronics (1.1%)
*Take-Two Interactive
 Software, Inc. 862,050  20,284 
*Activision, Inc. 865,476  12,515 
*InfoSpace, Inc. 371,921  11,526 
*iVillage Inc. 1,720,400  11,269 
*Earthlink, Inc. 950,100  8,722 
 THQ Inc. 326,984  8,247 
*CNET Networks, Inc. 726,596  7,204 
*United Online, Inc. 618,321  5,435 
*Lifeline Systems, Inc. 127,600  4,351 
*VeriSign, Inc. 148,425  $3,927 
*DoubleClick Inc. 347,500  2,794 
*NetFlix.com, Inc. 168,600  1,949 
 Harman International
 Industries, Inc. 23,900  1,878 
*Dolby Laboratories Inc. 53,015  1,084 
  
 Consumer Products (0.5%)
*Playtex Products, Inc. 1,212,100  12,303 
 Matthews International Corp. 191,442  6,817 
*Jarden Corp. 141,410  6,317 
 Tupperware Corp. 237,100  5,003 
*The Yankee Candle Co., Inc. 155,600  4,324 
 Blyth, Inc. 129,400  3,547 
 Nautilus Inc. 90,150  2,241 
 Oakley, Inc. 146,800  1,960 
  
 Cosmetics (0.4%)
*Helen of Troy Ltd. 590,000  16,485 
 Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. 725,000  15,950 
*Revlon, Inc. Class A 1,212,100  3,564 
*Elizabeth Arden, Inc. 48,100  1,053 
  
 Education-Services (0.5%)
*ITT Educational Services, Inc. 406,500  18,691 
*Laureate Education Inc. 269,482  11,970 
*Education Management Corp. 301,740  8,449 
*Bright Horizons Family
 Solutions, Inc. 200,000  6,778 
 Renaissance Learning, Inc. 11,200  187 
*Corinthian Colleges, Inc. 12,700  180 
  
 Electrical-Household Appliances (0.0%)
 Maytag Corp. 283,200  2,744 
  
 Entertainment (0.3%)
*LodgeNet Entertainment Corp. 799,800  13,021 
 Movie Gallery, Inc. 238,686  6,452 
*Gaylord Entertainment Co. 140,600  5,624 
  
 Hotel/Motel (0.3%)
 Hilton Hotels Corp. 558,490  12,192 
 The Marcus Corp. 357,600  6,848 
 Intrawest Corp. 320,100  6,447 
*Wynn Resorts Ltd. 84,020  4,448 
  
 Household Equipment & Products (0.0%)
 The Stanley Works 78,800  3,391 
  
 Household Furnishings (0.4%)
 Furniture Brands International Inc. 646,300  12,525 
 Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. 312,000  9,401 


10





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*Tempur-Pedic International Inc. 445,500  $  8,505 
 American Woodmark Corp. 79,600  2,534 
  
 Jewelry, Watches & Gems (0.2%)
*Fossil, Inc. 771,150  17,937 
  
 Leisure Time (0.4%)
*Penn National Gaming, Inc. 763,400  24,047 
 SCP Pool Corp. 211,262  6,883 
*Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. 188,010  3,991 
*Life Time Fitness, Inc. 28,900  782 
  
 Miscellaneous Business & Consumer Discretionary (0.1%)
 Techtronic Industries Co.
 Ltd. ADR 654,500  7,283 
  
 Publishing-Miscellaneous (0.4%)
*Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
 Class B 1,037,000  12,527 
*(2) Hollywood Media Corp. 1,825,023  8,979 
 Reader's Digest Association, Inc. 156,900  2,667 
*PRIMEDIA Inc. 446,000  1,971 
 Thomas Nelson, Inc. 80,100  1,921 
*Martha Stewart Living
 Omnimedia, Inc. 87,300  1,766 
 John Wiley & Sons Class A 47,000  1,700 
  
 Publishing-Newspapers (0.0%)
*Journal Register Co. 64,000  1,012 
 Hollinger International, Inc. 65,200  614 
  
 Radio & Television Broadcasters (0.1%)
*Radio One, Inc. Class D 587,200  7,675 
 Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. 408,918  3,132 
*Salem Communications Corp. 42,900  825 
 Gray Television, Inc. 39,900  525 
*Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. 9,800  154 
  
 Rent & Lease Services-Consumer (0.2%)
 Aaron Rents, Inc. Class B 308,275  6,770 
*Wesco International, Inc. 257,800  6,234 
*Rent-A-Center, Inc. 255,300  6,137 
 Amerco, Inc. 57,300  2,632 
  
 Restaurants (2.1%)
 Darden Restaurants Inc. 669,000  20,070 
*Rare Hospitality International Inc. 573,600  15,958 
*California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. 623,388  14,213 
*CEC Entertainment Inc. 375,950  13,609 
*Sonic Corp. 378,993  12,143 
 Applebee's International, Inc. 474,873  11,767 
 Ruby Tuesday, Inc. 510,700  11,491 
*CKE Restaurants Inc. 764,400  11,344 
*Jack in the Box Inc. 287,000  10,493 
*Brinker International, Inc. 294,600  9,957 
 Outback Steakhouse 228,600  9,235 
*Red Robin Gourmet Burgers 190,475  9,230 
 CBRL Group, Inc. 232,189  8,946 
*Panera Bread Co. 148,200  7,413 
*Papa John's International, Inc. 210,378  7,212 
*P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. 114,700  6,368 
*Texas Roadhouse, Inc. 132,125  3,438 
*The Cheesecake Factory 81,000  2,486 
  
 Retail (7.4%)
 American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 1,808,800  47,427 
 Foot Locker, Inc. 1,654,200  44,101 
 MSC Industrial
 Direct Co., Inc. Class A 1,515,189  40,713 
*Urban Outfitters, Inc. 911,600  40,384 
*O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. 550,050  28,229 
 Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 481,380  25,970 
 Michaels Stores, Inc. 759,825  25,226 
*Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. 959,825  21,702 
*Insight Enterprises, Inc. 1,018,210  18,430 
*Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. 658,650  17,764 
*Genesco, Inc. 666,000  17,136 
*Priceline.com, Inc. 660,840  16,759 
 Claire's Stores, Inc. 754,200  16,457 
*Men's Wearhouse, Inc. 380,400  15,699 
 Fred's, Inc. 1,055,600  15,243 
 Borders Group, Inc. 620,000  14,998 
 bebe stores, inc 410,625  13,271 
 The Neiman Marcus
 Group, Inc. Class A 129,600  12,742 
*Chico's FAS, Inc. 494,000  12,661 
*GameStop Corp. 488,625  12,025 
*Aeropostale, Inc. 410,250  11,458 
*United Natural Foods, Inc. 415,137  11,126 
 Tractor Supply Co. 251,150  10,101 
*The Children's Place
 Retail Stores, Inc. 269,103  10,013 
*CSK Auto Corp. 600,000  9,306 
*PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. 292,330  9,150 
*The Pantry, Inc. 282,600  9,049 
*Global Imaging Systems, Inc. 250,278  8,682 
*Barnes & Noble, Inc. 221,399  7,882 
 PETsMART, Inc. 288,600  7,691 
*Tuesday Morning Corp. 290,000  7,615 
 The Pep Boys
 (Manny, Moe & Jack) 506,650  7,184 
 United Auto Group, Inc. 225,700  6,396 
*Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. 259,300  6,350 
 CDW Corp. 101,625  5,558 


11





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*Central Garden and Pet Co. 122,205  $  5,082 
*Zale Corp. 187,100  5,057 
*Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. 159,100  4,894 
*Guitar Center, Inc. 95,200  4,698 
 Fastenal Co. 87,100  4,665 
*Coldwater Creek Inc. 258,150  4,315 
*BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. 149,900  3,995 
*MarineMax, Inc. 145,245  3,929 
 Pier 1 Imports Inc. 266,200  3,865 
*Too Inc. 165,800  3,815 
*Hot Topic, Inc. 184,500  3,688 
 Blockbuster Inc. Class A 330,600  3,273 
 Ross Stores, Inc. 116,300  3,108 
*Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. 94,425  3,097 
*Overstock.com, Inc. 77,090  2,720 
*Stein Mart, Inc. 131,600  2,666 
 Christopher & Banks Corp. 168,600  2,634 
 Cost Plus, Inc. 104,150  2,415 
 Talbots Inc. 89,300  2,282 
*Electronics Boutique
 Holdings Corp. 38,835  2,164 
*Cabela's Inc. 89,600  1,786 
*GameStop Corp. Class B 70,142  1,637 
*Stage Stores, Inc. 41,019  1,551 
*The Dress Barn, Inc. 67,400  1,159 
  
 Services-Commercial (3.9%)
*Getty Images, Inc. 419,375  30,006 
*MPS Group, Inc. 2,645,945  21,141 
*Labor Ready, Inc. 1,098,128  18,328 
 Regis Corp. 502,400  17,951 
*The Advisory Board Co. 376,225  15,312 
 The Brink's Co. 455,800  14,704 
 The Corporate
 Executive Board Co. 219,515  14,429 
*Navigant Consulting, Inc. 549,325  12,893 
*Korn/Ferry International 880,218  12,675 
*CRA International 240,200  12,586 
*CoStar Group, Inc. 317,200  12,545 
*Monster Worldwide Inc. 483,828  11,133 
*Copart, Inc. 513,298  11,128 
*Wireless Facilities, Inc. 1,823,800  9,648 
*West Corp. 289,759  9,385 
 ChoicePoint Inc. 214,925  8,483 
 Chemed Corp. 118,375  8,386 
*Harris Interactive Inc. 1,879,000  7,817 
 Hewitt Associates, Inc. 291,775  7,764 
 Robert Half International, Inc. 303,780  7,540 
*Weight Watchers
 International, Inc. 174,600  7,290 
 MAXIMUS, Inc. 226,425  6,951 
*Iron Mountain, Inc. 232,700  6,911 
*Resources Global Professionals 338,600  6,471 
*Coinstar, Inc. 376,600  6,455 
 Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. 325,300  5,992 
 Sabre Holdings Corp. 299,500  5,858 
 Aramark Corp. Class B 231,900  5,684 
*Waste Connections, Inc. 139,900  4,927 
*Heidrick & Struggles
 International, Inc. 180,725  4,674 
*Teletech Holdings Inc. 425,746  4,470 
 Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. 112,595  4,021 
*Vertrue Inc. 122,872  3,737 
*Autobytel Inc. 608,900  2,904 
 Manpower Inc. 63,600  2,452 
 World Fuel Services Corp. 89,900  2,248 
*AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. 133,172  1,967 
 Gevity HR, Inc. 114,000  1,830 
*DiamondCluster International, Inc. 113,100  1,408 
*Convergys Corp. 92,900  1,204 
*Gartner, Inc. Class B 92,087  774 
  
 Shoes (0.5%)
*Timberland Co. 237,800  16,420 
 K-Swiss, Inc. 314,595  9,438 
 Finish Line, Inc. 409,189  7,374 
 Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. 113,600  3,406 
*Deckers Outdoor Corp. 152,500  3,213 
*Skechers U.S.A., Inc. 249,018  3,048 
*Steven Madden, Ltd. 93,400  1,483 
  
 Textiles-Apparel Manufacturing (0.9%)
*Quiksilver, Inc. 632,100  17,414 
*Guess ?, Inc. 1,078,200  14,038 
 Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. 399,900  10,349 
*The Warnaco Group, Inc. 416,700  9,359 
*World Co. Ltd. 238,200  7,890 
*Carter's, Inc. 187,900  7,088 
*Columbia Sportswear Co. 122,500  5,268 
 Liz Claiborne, Inc. 113,200  4,011 
 Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. 73,760  2,589 
  
 Toys (0.1%)
*Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc. 780,000  7,808 
*Marvel Enterprises Inc. 95,700  1,876 
  
 Wholesalers (0.1%)
*Brightpoint, Inc. 204,950  4,329 
*United Stationers, Inc. 90,300  3,809 
*Tech Data Corp. 90,600  3,310 

      2,080,938 



12





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

Consumer Staples (0.6%)
*Performance Food Group Co. 619,100  $  16,648 
 Pilgrim's Pride Corp. 215,500  7,777 
*Constellation Brands, Inc.
 Class A 140,900  7,427 
*7-Eleven, Inc. 264,300  6,182 
*Rite Aid Corp. 1,230,900  4,468 
 Sanderson Farms, Inc. 100,400  3,638 
*NBTY, Inc. 152,300  3,247 
 Nash-Finch Co. 69,000  2,441 
 Church & Dwight, Inc. 52,050  1,875 
 Longs Drug Stores, Inc. 47,900  1,741 
*Boston Beer Co., Inc. Class A 73,700  1,474 

      56,918 

Financial Services (11.0%)
*CapitalSource Inc. 1,823,525  38,294 
*CheckFree Corp. 734,300  26,934 
*Alliance Data Systems Corp. 654,905  26,457 
 Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. 580,500  25,147 
 Global Payments Inc. 387,330  25,083 
*La Quinta Corp. REIT 2,868,815  24,959 
*The First Marblehead Corp. 631,915  24,348 
*Euronet Worldwide, Inc. 802,600  23,725 
 Avalonbay Communities, Inc.
 REIT 279,300  20,110 
 City National Corp. 282,100  19,888 
 Ryder System, Inc. 534,700  19,746 
 Legg Mason Inc. 271,220  19,219 
*Providian Financial Corp. 1,096,700  18,282 
 Jefferies Group, Inc. 494,400  17,897 
 SEI Investments Co. 528,000  17,324 
*Investment Technology
 Group, Inc. 879,600  16,721 
*Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. 261,390  16,345 
 Cash America International Inc. 1,082,300  16,072 
 Westcorp, Inc. 350,500  15,681 
 IndyMac Bancorp, Inc. 385,200  14,822 
 Eaton Vance Corp. 621,915  14,571 
*BISYS Group, Inc. 1,012,369  14,295 
 Regency Centers Corp. REIT 262,900  13,842 
*Ocwen Financial Corp. 1,883,777  13,714 
 Redwood Trust, Inc. REIT 268,200  13,442 
 Reinsurance Group
 of America, Inc. 297,500  13,304 
 Assured Guaranty Ltd. 681,000  12,980 
 Apartment Investment &
 Management Co.
 Class A REIT 322,300  12,286 
 Webster Financial Corp. 269,000  12,226 
 Fremont General Corp. 533,000  11,561 
*S1 Corp. 2,162,177  11,416 
 American Capital Strategies, Ltd. 341,585  10,924 
*CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. 306,075  10,636 
*Signature Bank 413,450  10,183 
 TCF Financial Corp. 387,300  9,795 
 Brown & Brown, Inc. 223,300  9,769 
*Silicon Valley Bancshares 197,019  9,339 
*United Rentals, Inc. 491,900  9,046 
 FactSet Research Systems Inc. 316,600  8,789 
*Portfolio Recovery
 Associates, Inc. 243,800  8,765 
*Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. 562,300  8,429 
 Catellus Development Corp. REIT 297,900  8,252 
 John H. Harland Co. 211,000  7,596 
 UCBH Holdings, Inc. 477,954  7,518 
*E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corp. 674,145  7,490 
 GATX Corp. 221,400  7,244 
 People's Bank 173,200  7,193 
 East West Bancorp, Inc. 216,500  6,954 
 First American Corp. 187,200  6,702 
 The Phoenix Cos., Inc. 586,800  6,648 
*Accredited Home
 Lenders Holding Co. 166,792  6,627 
 Student Loan Corp. 33,500  6,491 
*Nelnet, Inc. 201,900  6,431 
 Bank of Hawaii Corp. 133,100  6,302 
*The Dun & Bradstreet Corp. 99,600  6,219 
 Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. 317,100  6,038 
*WellChoice Inc. 104,620  5,880 
*Arch Capital Group Ltd. 146,800  5,871 
 Nuveen Investments, Inc. Class A 172,340  5,858 
*CompuCredit Corp. 218,300  5,783 
 Zenith National Insurance Corp. 99,600  5,728 
*iPayment Holdings, Inc. 156,743  5,704 
 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 204,500  5,693 
 StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. 73,300  5,609 
 Apollo Investment Corp. 347,325  5,509 
 Host Marriott Corp. REIT 317,605  5,342 
 Boston Private
 Financial Holdings, Inc. 226,575  5,062 
 First Industrial Realty Trust REIT 132,400  5,058 
 Federated Investors, Inc. 177,400  5,047 
 Equifax, Inc. 146,900  4,943 
*Digital Insight Corp. 226,243  4,541 
 Fair, Isaac, Inc. 134,675  4,428 
 Associated Banc-Corp 141,600  4,378 
*Sotheby's Holdings Class A 266,000  4,357 
 Gold Banc Corp., Inc. 310,200  4,290 
 Westamerica Bancorporation 85,500  4,270 
 Financial Federal Corp. 118,600  4,187 
*Conseco, Inc. 217,475  4,184 
 WFS Financial, Inc. 91,765  4,125 


13





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

 HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. 112,800  $  4,012 
 Hudson United Bancorp 116,600  3,995 
 Protective Life Corp. 102,500  3,920 
 Jack Henry & Associates Inc. 218,000  3,747 
 A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. 88,200  3,502 
*Ohio Casualty Corp. 140,500  3,295 
*Sterling Financial Corp. 97,716  3,194 
*eFunds Corp. 143,800  3,143 
 Investors Financial Services Corp. 74,800  3,138 
 Independent Bank Corp. (MI) 113,415  3,098 
 BankUnited Financial Corp. 126,000  3,009 
 Bank of the Ozarks, Inc. 96,500  2,989 
*Danielson Holdings Corp. 203,700  2,925 
 Cousins Properties, Inc. REIT 106,600  2,878 
 Inland Real Estate Corp. REIT 184,019  2,825 
*Kronos, Inc. 69,600  2,718 
 W Holding Co., Inc. 333,800  2,700 
*Alleghany Corp. 9,996  2,699 
 Advance America Cash
 Advance Centers Inc. 173,600  2,418 
 First BanCorp Puerto Rico 66,400  2,408 
 Certegy, Inc. 65,900  2,401 
 Equity Lifestyle
 Properties, Inc. REIT 56,100  2,053 
 Commercial Capital Bancorp, Inc. 126,800  2,002 
 Wintrust Financial Corp. 43,500  1,997 
 New Century REIT, Inc. 43,300  1,968 
 Umpqua Holdings Corp. 88,200  1,960 
*Markel Corp. 5,600  1,921 
*Encore Capital Group, Inc. 118,803  1,859 
 McGrath RentCorp 83,400  1,851 
 Arden Realty Group, Inc. REIT 49,300  1,759 
 Scottish Re Group Ltd. 74,000  1,738 
*TNS Inc. 93,000  1,726 
 Wilmington Trust Corp. 48,000  1,697 
 Hanmi Financial Corp. 104,201  1,527 
 Irwin Financial Corp. 71,000  1,425 
 Old Second Bancorp, Inc. 47,700  1,412 
 CBL & Associates
 Properties, Inc. REIT 18,200  1,408 
 CVB Financial Corp. 66,225  1,139 
 Global Signal, Inc. REIT 37,000  1,104 
 LaSalle Hotel Properties REIT 30,200  917 
*Argonaut Group, Inc. 44,800  881 
 MoneyGram International, Inc. 44,200  857 
 Fidelity Bankshares, Inc. 35,550  820 
*FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. REIT 51,300  628 
*Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. 24,836  508 
 NewAlliance Bancshares, Inc. 32,300  423 
 Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. 18,000  313 
*Credit Acceptance Corp. 12,800  240 

      987,065 

Health Care (19.3%)
 Bausch & Lomb, Inc. 739,700  55,477 
*Humana Inc. 1,172,800  40,638 
*Covance, Inc. 840,490  38,360 
 Cooper Cos., Inc. 564,444  38,128 
*Henry Schein, Inc. 917,690  34,423 
*Triad Hospitals, Inc. 646,266  33,121 
*Pharmaceutical Product
 Development, Inc. 687,396  31,194 
*CONMED Corp. 995,125  29,575 
*Respironics, Inc. 414,885  26,217 
*Lincare Holdings, Inc. 586,800  25,045 
*Protein Design Labs, Inc. 1,380,202  24,678 
*Charles River Laboratories, Inc. 514,653  24,379 
*Human Genome Sciences, Inc. 2,151,000  22,241 
 DENTSPLY International Inc. 404,750  22,124 
*Affymetrix, Inc. 475,900  21,944 
*Dade Behring Holdings Inc. 351,900  21,702 
*DaVita, Inc. 531,269  21,409 
*Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2,360,700  20,680 
 Manor Care, Inc. 587,000  19,576 
*Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1,146,600  19,492 
*Health Net Inc. 567,000  19,295 
*Impax Laboratories, Inc. 1,168,478  19,011 
*Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. 558,400  18,919 
*Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 416,764  17,896 
*Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. 476,600  17,625 
*Immucor Inc. 586,526  17,502 
*Coventry Health Care Inc. 253,150  17,323 
 Mentor Corp. 467,000  17,139 
*Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 805,000  16,893 
*IDEXX Laboratories Corp. 294,998  16,738 
*Matria Healthcare, Inc. 605,700  16,735 
*PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. 279,500  16,703 
*Cerner Corp. 285,888  16,599 
*Renal Care Group, Inc. 432,875  16,514 
*Biosite Inc. 283,500  16,160 
*IDX Systems Corp. 510,500  15,810 
*Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc. 422,775  15,748 
*ResMed Inc. 253,200  15,724 
 Arrow International, Inc. 473,956  15,707 
*Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. 1,067,014  15,258 
*Abgenix, Inc. 2,150,300  14,988 
*MGI Pharma, Inc. 674,180  14,866 
*Invitrogen Corp. 197,605  14,479 
 Hogy Medical Co., Ltd. 311,500  14,289 
*Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 475,000  14,250 
*LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. 319,900  14,220 
*Techne Corp. 339,793  14,197 
*Sierra Health Services, Inc. 210,700  13,630 
*Serologicals Corp. 630,775  13,581 


14





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*United Therapeutics Corp. 280,503  $  13,461 
 Beckman Coulter, Inc. 197,585  13,181 
*Biogen Idec Inc. 360,000  13,046 
*Beverly Enterprises, Inc. 1,102,700  12,924 
*AMERIGROUP Corp. 366,900  12,886 
*Edwards Lifesciences Corp. 290,900  12,811 
 Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. 244,625  12,686 
*Haemonetics Corp. 292,200  12,497 
*First Horizon
 Pharmaceutical Corp. 681,797  12,347 
*Kinetic Concepts, Inc. 197,900  12,161 
*Kindred Healthcare, Inc. 362,700  11,933 
*Gen-Probe Inc. 223,400  11,212 
 IMS Health, Inc. 457,200  10,964 
*Genesis Healthcare Corp. 273,964  10,931 
*Chattem, Inc. 264,390  10,877 
*Telik, Inc. 671,246  10,874 
*NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. 889,400  10,806 
*ICOS Corp. 475,800  10,734 
*Zymogenetics, Inc. 675,400  10,442 
*United Surgical Partners
 International, Inc. 235,250  10,410 
*Connetics Corp. 466,008  10,125 
*Cephalon, Inc. 225,200  9,886 
*Qiagen NV 757,000  9,841 
*CV Therapeutics, Inc. 491,300  9,738 
*American Healthways Inc. 259,100  9,677 
*IntraLase Corp. 550,000  9,196 
*Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. 134,700  9,172 
*Martek Biosciences Corp. 239,525  9,167 
*Centene Corp. 327,100  9,110 
*Bruker BioSciences Corp. 2,776,200  9,050 
 PolyMedica Corp. 291,900  9,046 
 Invacare Corp. 215,901  8,843 
*Apria Healthcare Group Inc. 290,700  8,750 
 Universal Health
 Services Class B 153,700  8,721 
*Axcan Pharma Inc. 598,100  8,631 
*Hologic, Inc. 226,100  8,045 
*Kensey Nash Corp. 290,534  7,984 
*Andrx Group 399,300  7,950 
*Cambridge Antibody
 Technology Group 713,000  7,665 
*WebMD Corp. 800,000  7,600 
*STERIS Corp. 312,400  7,398 
*Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 764,400  7,292 
*Community Health Systems, Inc. 199,495  7,272 
*NeighborCare Inc. 245,500  7,051 
*Wellcare Group Inc. 238,655  7,040 
*Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 145,200  6,994 
 Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. 236,500  6,646 
*Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. 150,900  6,492 
*Alkermes, Inc. 563,800  6,343 
*Accredo Health, Inc. 137,500  6,229 
*Molina Healthcare Inc. 140,300  6,138 
*Per-Se Technologies, Inc. 391,856  6,097 
*Medarex, Inc. 844,000  5,976 
*Gentiva Health Services, Inc. 293,994  5,756 
*QLT Inc. 528,600  5,667 
 Shire Pharmaceuticals
 Group PLC ADR 180,300  5,604 
*Cell Genesys, Inc. 1,183,600  5,516 
*Chiron Corp. 160,000  5,464 
*Pharmion Corp. 230,200  5,318 
 Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 155,225  5,237 
*The Medicines Co. 232,600  4,966 
 Omnicare, Inc. 142,250  4,932 
*DJ Orthopedics Inc. 194,848  4,900 
*Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. 137,756  4,816 
*Endo Pharmaceuticals
 Holdings, Inc. 241,200  4,788 
*Eon Labs, Inc. 151,100  4,515 
 Quality Systems, Inc. 91,200  4,339 
*Nektar Therapeutics 303,000  4,321 
 Diagnostic Products Corp. 83,500  4,050 
*Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 504,200  3,908 
*Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc. 237,833  3,889 
*InterMune Inc. 350,000  3,780 
*AmSurg Corp. 143,563  3,717 
*Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 221,500  3,684 
*Priority Healthcare Corp. Class B 157,100  3,579 
*Amedisys Inc. 116,000  3,481 
*Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 82,600  3,289 
*Possis Medical Inc. 369,200  3,271 
*Nuvelo, Inc. 558,700  3,257 
 Celgene Corp. 85,100  3,226 
 Perrigo Co. 167,800  3,074 
*ImmunoGen, Inc. 592,000  2,990 
*Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 235,471  2,979 
*Digene Corp. 152,137  2,898 
*Tanox, Inc. 298,079  2,868 
*Cytyc Corp. 133,903  2,853 
*Kyphon Inc. 103,507  2,707 
*PSS World Medical, Inc. 240,828  2,688 
*Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 84,500  2,610 
*King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 322,300  2,578 
*Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A 52,600  2,543 
*SFBC International, Inc. 81,000  2,527 
*VCA Antech, Inc. 107,800  2,510 
*Molecular Devices Corp. 127,594  2,412 
*INAMED Corp. 38,800  2,361 
*Symmetry Medical Inc. 127,900  2,200 


15





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*Alliance Imaging, Inc. 195,200  $  2,038 
*Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 361,900  2,012 
 Vital Signs, Inc. 47,786  1,950 
 Valeant Pharmaceuticals
 International 92,400  1,917 
*K-V Pharmaceutical Co. Class A 73,850  1,728 
*Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 Class B 323,898  1,710 
*NitroMed, Inc. 111,200  1,662 
*Stericycle, Inc. 34,099  1,660 
*LabOne, Inc. 43,899  1,540 
*Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 102,534  1,486 
*Myriad Genetics, Inc. 88,500  1,430 
*RehabCare Group, Inc. 46,200  1,387 
*Odyssey Healthcare, Inc. 104,550  1,195 
*ICU Medical, Inc. 32,400  1,148 
*Applera Corp.-Celera
 Genomics Group 123,600  1,137 
*AtheroGenics, Inc. 105,600  1,134 
*PAREXEL International Corp. 48,900  891 
*SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 371,300  828 
*Immunomedics Inc. 296,400  640 
*CorVel Corp. 19,000  390 
*OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 5,900  279 

      1,730,780 

Integrated Oils (0.3%)
*Western Oil Sand Inc. 418,400  18,590 
*KCS Energy, Inc. 397,000  5,574 
 Niko Resources Ltd. 65,800  2,779 
 Duvernay Oil Corp. 94,800  2,002 
 Delta Petroleum Corp. 99,050  1,107 

      30,052 

Other Energy (5.6%)
*Cal Dive International, Inc. 844,900  37,581 
*Grey Wolf, Inc. 5,120,995  30,726 
 Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 1,137,000  27,254 
*National-Oilwell Varco Inc. 632,700  25,143 
 IHC Caland NV 326,747  21,373 
*Unit Corp. 549,200  21,067 
 St. Mary Land & Exploration Co. 928,798  20,155 
 CARBO Ceramics Inc. 299,600  19,887 
*Grant Prideco, Inc. 809,704  17,959 
*TETRA Technologies, Inc. 600,400  16,229 
*Pride International, Inc. 622,100  13,873 
*FMC Technologies Inc. 383,300  11,625 
 Patina Oil & Gas Corp. 278,224  10,684 
 Helmerich & Payne, Inc. 277,800  10,679 
*Global Power
 Equipment Group Inc. 1,100,000  9,966 
*Whiting Petroleum Corp. 315,750  9,558 
*Denbury Resources, Inc. 284,200  9,020 
 Equitable Resources, Inc. 155,000  8,934 
*Tesoro Petroleum Corp. 218,600  8,294 
 Rowan Cos., Inc. 308,200  8,177 
*OPTI Canada, Inc. 423,800  8,156 
*Cimarex Energy Co. 200,500  7,118 
*Spinnaker Exploration Co. 222,310  7,116 
*Hydrill Co. 127,300  6,696 
 XTO Energy, Inc. 215,933  6,515 
*Energy Partners, Ltd. 282,758  6,464 
*Atwood Oceanics, Inc. 111,200  6,346 
 Range Resources Corp. 277,600  6,288 
 Peabody Energy Corp. 136,800  5,988 
 Ultra Petroleum Corp. 112,875  5,698 
*Encore Acquisition Co. 151,889  5,577 
 Vintage Petroleum, Inc. 174,400  5,038 
 Premcor, Inc. 75,200  4,974 
*Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. 442,800  4,778 
 CONSOL Energy, Inc. 105,700  4,570 
 Massey Energy Co. 119,400  4,312 
 ENSCO International, Inc. 131,700  4,293 
*Remington Oil & Gas Corp. 142,500  4,157 
*Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. 179,425  4,127 
 Holly Corp. 117,000  4,010 
*Superior Energy Services, Inc. 258,025  3,839 
*Todco 170,500  3,794 
*Pioneer Drilling Co. 277,375  3,659 
*Swift Energy Co. 135,900  3,578 
 Noble Energy, Inc. 55,600  3,565 
 Chesapeake Energy Corp. 161,335  3,104 
*Comstock Resources, Inc. 114,800  2,904 
*Plains Exploration &
 Production Co. 89,500  2,880 
*W-H Energy Services, Inc. 125,900  2,772 
*FuelCell Energy, Inc. 341,500  2,732 
*Oil States International, Inc. 129,900  2,638 
*Newfield Exploration Co. 36,950  2,625 
*Petroleum Development Corp. 100,900  2,583 
*Oceaneering International, Inc. 78,100  2,562 
*Stone Energy Corp. 51,000  2,292 
*Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. 98,500  2,280 
*Capstone Turbine Corp. 1,849,176  2,090 
*Calpine Corp. 156,500  280 
 Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. 150 

      500,586 

Materials & Processing (5.9%)
 Watsco, Inc. 723,100  31,375 
 Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. N.V 1,210,250  27,085 
 Precision Castparts Corp. 362,640  26,712 
 The St. Joe Co. 348,200  24,231 
 Cytec Industries, Inc. 491,100  22,650 
*Crown Holdings, Inc. 1,349,500  20,309 


16





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

 Fluor Corp. 375,200  $  19,345 
*Maverick Tube Corp. 599,300  17,434 
*Trex Co., Inc. 384,500  15,449 
 Minerals Technologies, Inc. 220,600  14,410 
 Ferro Corp. 750,900  13,606 
 Hughes Supply, Inc. 518,400  13,530 
*Armor Holdings, Inc. 365,900  12,810 
*Pactiv Corp. 593,600  12,727 
 URS Corp. 389,100  11,965 
 Allegheny Technologies Inc. 530,200  11,876 
 Corn Products International, Inc. 454,400  10,006 
*Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. 130,100  9,419 
 Ball Corp. 228,300  9,018 
 Commercial Metals Co. 330,000  8,418 
 Steel Dynamics, Inc. 297,900  8,097 
*NCI Building Systems, Inc. 245,425  7,957 
 Georgia Gulf Corp. 215,100  7,939 
*Lone Star Technologies, Inc. 185,600  7,227 
*Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. 141,600  6,897 
 Worthington Industries, Inc. 411,300  6,688 
 Brookfield Homes Corp. 153,800  6,603 
 Lyondell Chemical Co. 241,300  6,054 
*Mobile Mini, Inc. 166,806  5,848 
 Forest City Enterprise Class A 90,900  5,740 
*Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. 248,009  5,590 
 Texas Industries, Inc. 120,800  5,579 
 Mueller Industries Inc. 215,200  5,574 
 Southern Peru Copper Corp. 108,100  5,528 
*W.R. Grace & Co. 583,600  5,474 
*Cabot Microelectronics Corp. 185,800  5,349 
 Harsco Corp. 94,725  5,082 
 Carpenter Technology Corp. 88,600  4,900 
 Schnitzer Steel
 Industries, Inc. Class A 198,900  4,899 
 Sonoco Products Co. 162,800  4,410 
*Terra Industries, Inc. 609,900  4,208 
 Building Materials Holding Corp. 73,200  4,022 
*Owens-Illinois, Inc. 159,100  3,901 
 Simpson Manufacturing Co. 141,600  3,823 
*Dycom Industries, Inc. 155,600  3,619 
*Rogers Corp. 104,000  3,592 
*AK Steel Corp. 487,900  3,537 
 Ashland, Inc. 52,200  3,510 
 ElkCorp 127,550  3,507 
 Airgas, Inc. 156,600  3,433 
*NS Group Inc. 105,700  3,040 
*USG Corp. 72,200  3,032 
 Eastman Chemical Company 51,600  2,786 
 Bemis Co., Inc. 97,800  2,695 
*FMC Corp. 53,300  2,612 
 Silgan Holdings, Inc. 40,265  2,463 
 Cabot Corp. 75,400  2,303 
*Hexcel Corp. 135,000  2,214 
*DHB Industries, Inc. 332,900  2,210 
 Engelhard Corp. 61,300  1,878 
 Florida Rock Industries, Inc. 27,800  1,615 
 Ryerson Tull, Inc. 153,900  1,608 
 Neenah Paper Inc. 50,100  1,508 
*Ceradyne, Inc. 66,998  1,331 
 Apogee Enterprises, Inc. 100,484  1,294 
 MacDermid, Inc. 38,900  1,181 
*GrafTech International Ltd. 294,900  1,124 
*Tejon Ranch Co. 18,300  812 
*Encore Wire Corp. 78,520  715 
*Exide Technologies 65,028  676 
 Crompton Corp. 36,000  506 

      528,565 

Producer Durables (6.9%)
 United Defense Industries Inc. 496,700  36,746 
 Donaldson Co., Inc. 1,159,050  34,481 
 Plantronics, Inc. 733,500  23,098 
*Toll Brothers, Inc. 294,100  22,293 
*Meritage Corp. 336,900  21,322 
 Garmin Ltd. 532,100  21,018 
 Joy Global Inc. 581,200  19,685 
*NVR, Inc. 25,500  18,318 
 MDC Holdings, Inc. 268,249  17,538 
 Ryland Group, Inc. 270,200  16,590 
*Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.
 Class A 305,100  15,490 
 Graco, Inc. 452,715  15,288 
 Tektronix, Inc. 633,700  13,726 
*Moog Inc. 454,775  13,557 
*Polycom, Inc. 883,100  13,476 
*Mettler-Toledo International Inc. 282,999  12,976 
 Cummins Inc. 189,700  12,900 
*Esterline Technologies Corp. 397,300  12,841 
 Bucyrus International, Inc. 321,400  12,515 
 Pentair, Inc. 292,450  11,634 
*Symmetricom Inc. 1,000,000  10,300 
*Paxar Corp. 543,800  9,745 
 KB HOME 169,200  9,644 
 Engineered Support
 Systems, Inc. 272,812  9,636 
*Rayovac Corp. 262,000  9,547 
*Arris Group Inc. 1,215,375  9,225 
 Standard Pacific Corp. 124,300  8,901 
*Varian Semiconductor
 Equipment Associates, Inc. 237,800  8,868 
*AGCO Corp. 465,100  8,000 
 Beazer Homes USA, Inc. 171,000  7,798 
*BE Aerospace, Inc. 635,245  7,712 


17





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*Actuant Corp. 172,600  $  7,351 
*ESCO Technologies Inc. 93,300  6,841 
*Sonic Solutions, Inc. 444,400  6,528 
 United Industrial Corp. 226,800  6,375 
*Photronics Inc. 400,369  6,366 
*American Tower Corp. Class A 361,395  6,227 
 Mine Safety Appliances Co. 172,000  6,140 
*Orbital Sciences Corp. 584,900  5,451 
 Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. 172,400  5,267 
*Crown Castle International Corp. 321,700  5,189 
 JLG Industries, Inc. 246,000  5,013 
*Alliant Techsystems, Inc. 69,700  4,822 
 Curtiss-Wright Corp. 88,100  4,775 
 ATMI, Inc. 204,700  4,691 
*Gardner Denver Inc. 116,010  4,239 
*Metrologic Instruments, Inc. 286,500  3,845 
 Roper Industries Inc. 54,500  3,688 
*LAM Research Corp. 142,695  3,660 
 CTS Corp. 342,500  3,613 
*Palm Harbor Homes, Inc. 210,000  3,578 
*Champion Enterprises, Inc. 358,600  3,385 
 IDEX Corp. 88,575  3,299 
*Mattson Technology, Inc. 483,307  3,069 
 Diebold, Inc. 62,900  3,042 
*Littelfuse, Inc. 107,200  2,888 
 Watts Water Technologies, Inc. 90,475  2,827 
 Levitt Corp. Class A 110,300  2,766 
*Credence Systems Corp. 437,775  2,754 
*Imagistics International Inc. 87,899  2,360 
*Brooks Automation, Inc. 178,025  2,289 
 Applied Industrial Technology, Inc. 81,800  2,282 
*Dionex Corp. 51,300  2,203 
*General Cable Corp. 178,200  2,165 
 Steelcase Inc. 163,600  2,150 
*Viisage Technology, Inc. 600,000  1,806 
 FEI Co. 99,750  1,798 
 Keithley Instruments Inc. 123,400  1,714 
 The Middleby Corp. 35,100  1,546 
 Ametek, Inc. 38,500  1,458 
 Herman Miller, Inc. 50,500  1,444 
*Thomas & Betts Corp. 46,200  1,438 
 Applied Signal Technology, Inc. 72,200  1,409 
*Rudolph Technologies, Inc. 98,800  1,275 
*Cymer, Inc. 48,700  1,207 
*William Lyon Homes, Inc. 13,000  1,149 
*Andrew Corp. 75,000  920 
 Stewart & Stevenson
 Services, Inc. 23,900  574 
*Entegris Inc. 64,700  557 

      624,301 

Technology (15.7%)
*CACI International, Inc. 631,900  39,254 
*Hutchinson Technology, Inc. 964,800  35,736 
*Western Digital Corp. 2,772,500  35,183 
*Ingram Micro, Inc. Class A 2,088,300  34,791 
 Acxiom Corp. 1,789,900  34,008 
*Hyperion Solutions Corp. 628,586  25,565 
*Red Hat, Inc. 2,291,700  24,636 
 Harris Corp. 844,000  23,801 
*Brocade Communications
 Systems, Inc. 5,401,700  23,551 
*Cree, Inc. 967,673  23,408 
*Sapient Corp. 3,161,539  22,605 
*Anteon International Corp. 534,025  22,322 
*Foundry Networks, Inc. 2,587,100  21,732 
*Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 784,100  21,202 
*Trimble Navigation Ltd. 586,900  20,201 
*F5 Networks, Inc. 462,722  19,809 
*Progress Software Corp. 732,570  19,545 
*International Rectifier Corp. 453,775  19,304 
*Digital River, Inc. 701,200  18,652 
*Tessera Technologies, Inc. 678,945  18,033 
 Amphenol Corp. 454,800  17,937 
*OmniVision Technologies, Inc. 1,280,600  17,928 
*Cognizant Technology
 Solutions Corp. 421,992  17,728 
*Avid Technology, Inc. 351,563  17,406 
*Microsemi Corp. 1,007,107  17,040 
*WebEx Communications, Inc. 734,000  16,016 
*SERENA Software, Inc. 835,600  15,901 
*Comverse Technology, Inc. 690,915  15,746 
*QLogic Corp. 472,400  15,703 
*Maxtor Corp. 3,191,000  15,476 
*ON Semiconductor Corp. 4,374,797  15,049 
*Cadence Design Systems, Inc. 1,018,200  14,255 
*Silicon Image, Inc. 1,393,314  14,031 
*MICROS Systems, Inc. 349,200  13,846 
*Agere Systems Inc. Class A 11,480,800  13,433 
*Electronics for Imaging, Inc. 806,800  13,248 
*MEMC Electronic
 Materials, Inc. 1,114,096  13,068 
*Websense, Inc. 244,300  12,960 
*j2 Global Communications, Inc. 345,200  12,331 
*Trident Microsystems, Inc. 700,000  11,921 
 Symbol Technologies, Inc. 886,900  11,858 
*NICE-Systems Ltd. 335,525  11,800 
 SS&C Technologies, Inc. 461,300  11,722 
*Avocent Corp. 451,867  11,360 
*Macromedia, Inc. 282,395  11,186 
*Internet Security Systems, Inc. 562,400  10,939 
*Parametric Technology Corp. 2,041,206  10,859 


18





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*Extreme Networks, Inc. 2,435,700  $  10,839 
 PerkinElmer, Inc. 573,800  10,615 
*Ixia 660,600  10,576 
*Synaptics Inc. 581,500  10,543 
*Informatica Corp. 1,363,720  10,542 
*Wind River Systems Inc. 812,138  10,542 
*Witness Systems, Inc. 595,000  10,478 
*ANSYS, Inc. 336,432  10,241 
 Affiliated Computer
 Services, Inc. Class A 214,650  10,232 
*SpectraSite, Inc. 180,475  10,130 
 Reynolds & Reynolds Class A 377,600  9,957 
*Digitas Inc. 958,075  9,552 
*MicroStrategy Inc. 211,968  9,227 
*Concur Technologies, Inc. 1,100,000  9,163 
*CIENA Corp. 3,878,500  8,921 
 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. 290,800  8,893 
*ScanSource, Inc. 188,025  8,696 
*ManTech International Corp. 356,000  8,562 
 Applera Corp.-Applied
 Biosystems Group 400,000  8,480 
*RSA Security Inc. 770,100  8,271 
*McAfee Inc. 381,100  7,969 
*Essex Corp. 516,200  7,929 
*SRA International, Inc. 121,000  7,907 
*Jupitermedia Corp. 618,791  7,865 
*Coherent, Inc. 239,700  7,690 
*Openwave Systems Inc. 541,475  7,250 
*PalmOne, Inc. 326,900  7,005 
*Ariba, Inc. 1,152,725  6,962 
*Skyworks Solutions, Inc. 1,292,900  6,775 
*Transaction Systems
 Architects, Inc. 319,000  6,613 
*Opsware, Inc. 1,369,400  6,546 
*Agile Software Corp. 979,100  6,433 
*InterVoice, Inc. 583,772  6,261 
*@ Road, Inc. 1,840,200  6,238 
*Novatel Wireless, Inc. 652,664  5,848 
*Atheros Communications 787,900  5,736 
*Perot Systems Corp. 445,066  5,621 
*Ditech Communications Corp. 496,181  5,612 
*Tekelec 410,300  5,584 
*Epicor Software Corp. 500,729  5,513 
*Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. 279,088  5,442 
 Ceridian Corp. 322,475  5,440 
*UNOVA, Inc. 303,600  5,392 
*Komag, Inc. 229,238  5,392 
*(2) Hifn, Inc. 855,500  5,193 
*Ulticom, Inc. 578,700  5,168 
*Anixter International Inc. 139,800  5,161 
*Kanbay International Inc. 281,350  5,059 
*Akamai Technologies, Inc. 427,538  5,049 
*SigmaTel Inc. 192,000  5,028 
*Comtech Telecommunications
 Corp 134,300  4,715 
*Sycamore Networks, Inc. 1,393,000  4,680 
 National Semiconductor Corp. 241,025  4,599 
 Intermagnetics General Corp. 172,475  4,236 
*DRS Technologies, Inc. 95,600  4,230 
*FLIR Systems, Inc. 157,305  4,183 
*Keane, Inc. 350,500  4,171 
*Macrovision Corp. 200,100  4,092 
*Cirrus Logic, Inc. 910,285  3,841 
*Aspect Communications Corp. 449,600  3,826 
*Integrated Circuit Systems, Inc. 202,900  3,707 
 Microchip Technology, Inc. 124,190  3,537 
 Autodesk, Inc. 110,380  3,513 
 EDO Corp. 117,400  3,502 
*DSP Group Inc. 145,200  3,499 
*FormFactor Inc. 151,925  3,470 
*Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 101,270  3,391 
*SafeNet, Inc. 118,795  3,320 
*Jabil Circuit, Inc. 117,885  3,254 
*Siebel Systems, Inc. 353,250  3,179 
*The Titan Corp. 174,000  3,123 
*Aeroflex, Inc. 376,363  2,985 
*Dendrite International, Inc. 189,700  2,925 
*Innovative Solutions and
 Support, Inc. 91,800  2,897 
*Westell Technologies, Inc. 547,099  2,834 
*Citrix Systems, Inc. 119,400  2,686 
*Integrated Device
 Technology Inc. 237,325  2,539 
*Cypress Semiconductor Corp. 204,300  2,450 
*Packeteer, Inc. 206,300  2,410 
*Stratex Networks, Inc. 1,850,600  2,406 
*Salesforce.com, Inc. 161,325  2,336 
*TTM Technologies, Inc. 251,260  2,264 
*Standard Microsystem Corp. 155,700  2,203 
*Tyler Technologies, Inc. 379,700  2,195 
*Anaren, Inc. 224,865  2,188 
*Cognos Inc. 55,275  2,092 
*Micrel, Inc. 216,000  2,030 
*Blackboard Inc. 109,700  1,990 
*ViaSat, Inc. 110,500  1,968 
*TIBCO Software Inc. 261,600  1,868 
*CommScope, Inc. 125,200  1,768 
*Emageon Inc. 109,000  1,719 
*Borland Software Corp. 284,500  1,653 
*Herley Industries Inc. 81,700  1,481 
*Quantum Corp. 600,400  1,441 
 BEI Technologies, Inc. 60,272  1,386 


19





 
 
Explorer Fund
 
 
Shares

Market
Value^
(000)

*Varian, Inc. 40,801  $  1,353 
*Plumtree Software, Inc. 297,000  1,337 
 QAD Inc. 158,917  1,302 
 RadiSys Corp. 83,325  1,167 
*Siliconix, Inc. 34,207  1,128 
*RF Micro Devices, Inc. 271,900  1,066 
*Semtech Corp. 60,100  1,015 
*Harmonic, Inc. 181,000  997 
 Inter-Tel, Inc. 51,100  973 
*Quest Software, Inc. 82,000  973 
*Excel Technology, Inc. 40,400  848 
*Open Solutions Inc. 42,200  789 
*Pixelworks, Inc. 101,809  784 
*McDATA Corp. Class A 251,700  775 
*ESS Technology, Inc. 177,300  681 
*Micromuse Inc. 101,200  523 
*Secure Computing Corp. 34,700  307 
*Gartner, Inc. Class A 17,500  148 

      1,415,174 

Utilities (2.4%)
*Nextel Partners, Inc. 2,473,800  58,184 
*UbiquiTel Inc. 2,991,625  21,629 
*Philippine Long Distance
 Telephone Co. ADR 578,800  14,916 
 PNM Resources Inc. 513,700  14,204 
*Western Wireless Corp.
 Class A 251,200  9,845 
*General Communication, Inc. 1,140,000  9,622 
*Southwestern Energy Co. 158,801  9,330 
 Western Gas Resources, Inc. 267,300  8,930 
 FairPoint Communications, Inc. 536,300  7,873 
 Energen Corp. 112,000  6,938 
*Telecom Argentina SA ADR 564,000  6,458 
 Questar Corp. 97,800  5,712 
*NII Holdings Inc. 112,900  5,653 
 SCANA Corp. 134,100  5,208 
*Commonwealth Telephone
 Enterprises, Inc. 95,739  4,448 
*Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1,036,500  4,146 
*Premiere Global Services, Inc. 315,983  3,413 
*Mediacom Communications Corp. 531,744 2,941 
 ONEOK, Inc. 92,600  2,672 
 Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc. 138,800  2,441 
 DPL Inc. 89,800  2,284 
*USA Mobility, Inc. 70,500  2,111 
*Intrado Inc. 163,128  2,057 
*Primus Telecommunications
 Group, Inc. 1,079,103  1,629 
 UGI Corp. Holding Co. 30,900  1,552 
*Centennial Communications
 Corp. Class A 75,000  862 

      215,058 

Other (0.5%)
 Brunswick Corp. 335,700  $14,099 
 Carlisle Co., Inc. 138,350  9,936 
*McDermott International, Inc. 379,100  7,700 
 Walter Industries, Inc. 189,153  6,488 
 Lancaster Colony Corp. 92,900  3,861 
 SPX Corp. 76,700  2,968 

      45,052 


TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
     (Cost $7,783,296)    8,561,900 

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS (7.7%)(1)
Exchange-Traded Funds (1.5%)
Vanguard Index Participation
 Equity Receipts-
 Small-Cap 1,982,703  102,129 
 Small-Cap Growth 755,800  36,913 

    139,042

Money Market Fund (5.6%)
    Vanguard Market
      Liquidity Fund,
      2.829 360,724,850  360,725 
    Vanguard Market
      Liquidity Fund,
      2.829%**-Note G 145,078,400  145,078 

     505,803 

 
  Face    
  Amount    
  (000)   

Repurchase Agreement (0.3%)
    Goldman Sachs & Co.
      2.970%, 5/2/2005
      (Dated 4/29/2005,
      Repurchase Value
      $22,906,000, collateralized
      by Federal Home Loan Bank,
      3.125%, 9/15/2006, and
      Federal Home Loan Mortgage
      Corp., 2.500%, 12/30/2005) $22,900  22,900 

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations (0.3%)
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.†
    (3)3.002%, 7/19/2005 21,000  20,864 
    U.S. Treasury Bill
    3.082%, 9/22/2005 2,600  2,569 

    23,433 


TOTAL TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS
 (Cost $686,659)    691,178 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (102.9%)
 (Cost $8,469,955)    9,253,078 



20





 
Market
Value^
(000)

OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (–2.9%)
Other Assets–Note C $142,906 
Payables for Investment
Securities Purchased (232,327)
Other Liabilities–Note G (167,701)

  (257,122)


NET ASSETS (100%) $8,995,956 

^See Note A in Notes to Financial Statements.
*Non-income-producing security.
**Money market fund available only to Vanguard funds and certain trusts and accounts managed by Vanguard. Rate shown is the 7-day yield.
†The issuer operates under a congressional charter; its securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. government. If needed, access to additional funding from the U.S. Treasury (beyond the issuer’s line-of-credit) would require congressional action.
(1)The fund invests a portion of its cash reserves in equity markets through the use of index futures contracts and exchange-traded funds. After giving effect to these investments, the fund’s effective common stock and temporary cash investment positions represent 98.4% and 4.5%, respectively, of net assets. See Note E in Notes to Financial Statements.
(2)Considered an affiliated company of the fund as the fund owns more than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of such company. See Note I in Notes to Financial Statements.
(3)Securities with a value of $20,864,000 and cash of $2,600,000 have been segregated as initial margin for open futures contracts.
ADR-American Depositary Receipts.
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust.



 
 

Amount
(000)

AT APRIL 30, 2005, NET ASSETS CONSISTED OF:
Paid-in Capital $7,762,124 
Accumulated Net Investment Losses (4,987)
Accumulated Net Realized Gains 463,881 
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
Investment Securities 783,123 
Futures Contracts (8,185)

NET ASSETS $8,995,956 

 
Investor Shares-Net Assets
Applicable to 111,307,431 outstanding $.001
par value shares of beneficial interest
(unlimited authorization) $7,618,788 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE-
INVESTOR SHARES $68.45 

 
Admiral Shares-Net Assets
Applicable to 21,600,784 outstanding $.001
par value shares of beneficial interest
(unlimited authorization) $1,377,168 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE-
ADMIRAL SHARES $63.76 

See Note E in Notes to Financial Statements for the tax-basis components of net assets.


21





STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

This Statement shows the types of income earned by the fund during the reporting period, and details the operating expenses charged to each class of its shares. These expenses directly reduce the amount of investment income available to pay to shareholders as income dividends. This Statement also shows any Net Gain (Loss) realized on the sale of investments, and the increase or decrease in the Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of investments during the period.




 
 
 

Explorer Fund
Six Months Ended April 30, 2005
(000)

INVESTMENT INCOME  
Income
Dividends $21,994 
Interest 5,408 
Security Lending 726 

Total Income 28,128 

Expenses
Investment Advisory Fees-Note B
Basic Fee 7,551 
Performance Adjustment 643 
The Vanguard Group-Note C
Management and Administrative
Investor Shares 13,848 
Admiral Shares 1,346 
Marketing and Distribution
Investor Shares 578 
Admiral Shares 111 
Custodian Fees 46 
Shareholders' Reports
Investor Shares 208 
Admiral Shares — 
Trustees' Fees and Expenses 10 

Total Expenses 24,341 
Expenses Paid Indirectly-Note D (239)

Net Expenses 24,102 

NET INVESTMENT INCOME 4,026 

REALIZED NET GAIN (LOSS)
Investment Securities Sold 459,554 
Futures Contracts 8,372 

REALIZED NET GAIN (LOSS) 467,926 

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION)
Investment Securities (291,900)
Futures Contracts (10,106)

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) (302,006)

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS $169,946 


22


STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

This Statement shows how the fund's total net assets changed during the two most recent reporting periods. The Operations section summarizes information detailed in the Statement of Operations. The amounts shown as Distributions to shareholders from the fund's net income and capital gains may not match the amounts shown in the Operations section, because distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be made in a period different from the one in which the income was earned or the gains were realized on the financial statements. The Capital Share Transactions section shows the net amount shareholders invested in or redeemed from the fund. Distributions and Capital Share Transactions are shown separately for each class of shares.




            Explorer Fund
 
 
 
 

Six Months
Ended
Apr. 30, 2005
(000)

Year
Ended
Oct. 31, 2004
(000)

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS    
Operations
Net Investment Income (Loss) $4,026  $(6,788)
Realized Net Gain (Loss) 467,926  607,899 
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) (302,006) (209,385)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations 169,946  391,726 

Distributions
Net Investment Income
Investor Shares —  — 
Admiral Shares —  — 
Realized Capital Gain
Investor Shares (8,028) — 
Admiral Shares (1,311) — 

Total Distributions (9,339) — 

Capital Share Transactions-Note H
Investor Shares 170,599  1,288,479 
Admiral Shares 202,199  399,501 

Net Increase (Decrease) from Capital Share Transactions 372,798  1,687,980 

Total Increase (Decrease) 533,405  2,079,706 

Net Assets
Beginning of Period 8,462,551  6,382,845 

End of Period $8,995,956  $8,462,551 



23


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

This table summarizes the fund’s investment results and distributions to shareholders on a per-share basis for each class of shares. It also presents the Total Return and shows net investment income and expenses as percentages of average net assets. These data will help you assess: the variability of the fund’s net income and total returns from year to year; the relative contributions of net income and capital gains to the fund’s total return; how much it costs to operate the fund; and the extent to which the fund tends to distribute capital gains. The table also shows the Portfolio Turnover Rate, a measure of trading activity. A turnover rate of 100% means that the average security is held in the fund for one year.



Explorer Fund Investor Shares
 
 
  Year Ended October 31,
For a Share Outstanding
Throughout Each Period

Six Months
Ended
April 30, 2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period $67.01  $63.17  $44.60  $51.91  $77.28  $61.49 

Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (Loss) .024  (.05) (.012) (.005) .15  .25 
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments 1.489  3.89  18.587  (7.200) (11.36) 23.80 

Total from Investment Operations 1.513  3.84  18.575  (7.205) (11.21) 24.05 

Distributions
Dividends from Net Investment Income —  —  (.005) (.105) (.25) (.23)
Distributions from Realized Capital Gains (.073) —  —  —  (13.91) (8.03)

Total Distributions (.073) —  (.005) (.105) (14.16) (8.26)

Net Asset Value, End of Period $68.45  $67.01  $63.17  $44.60  $51.91  $77.28 

 
Total Return 2.25% 6.08% 41.65% -13.93%  -16.22%  42.56%

  

Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net Assets, End of Period (Millions) $7,619  $7,302  $5,662  $3,432  $3,996  $4,566 
Ratio of Total Expenses to Average Net Assets* 0.55%** 0.57% 0.72% 0.70% 0.72% 0.71%
Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss)
to Average Net Assets 0.07%** (0.11%) (0.08%) (0.01%) 0.24% 0.36%
Portfolio Turnover Rate 86%** 82% 77% 69% 77% 123%

  *Includes performance-based investment advisory fee increases (decreases) of 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.07%, 0.07%, 0.06%, and 0.05%.
**Annualized.


24




Explorer Fund Admiral Shares
 
 
 
 
Six Months
Ended
 
Year Ended
October 31,

Nov.12,
2001* to
Oct. 31,
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
April 30, 2005
2004
2003
2002
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period $62.37  $58.71  $41.43  $50.00 

Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (Loss) .077  .04  .064  .035 
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments 1.381  3.62  17.259  (8.498)

Total from Investment Operations 1.458  3.66  17.323  (8.463)

Distributions
Dividends from Net Investment Income —  —  (.043) (.107)
Distributions from Realized Capital Gains (.068) —  —  — 
Total Distributions (.068) —  (.043) (.107)

Net Asset Value, End of Period $63.76  $62.37  $58.71  $41.43 

 
Total Return 2.33% 6.23% 41.85% -16.98% 

Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net Assets, End of Period (Millions) $1,377  $1,161  $721  $293 
Ratio of Total Expenses to Average Net Assets** 0.40%† 0.43% 0.57% 0.61%†
Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets 0.21%† 0.04% 0.05% 0.13%†
Portfolio Turnover Rate 86%†  82% 77% 69%

  *Inception
**Includes performance-based investment advisory fee increases (decreases) of 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.07%, and 0.07%.
†Annualized.




NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Vanguard Explorer Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund offers two classes of shares, Investor Shares and Admiral Shares. Investor Shares are available to any investor who meets the fund’s minimum purchase requirements. Admiral Shares are designed for investors who meet certain administrative, servicing, tenure, and account-size criteria.

A. The following significant accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles for U.S. mutual funds. The fund consistently follows such policies in preparing its financial statements.

1. Security Valuation: Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Equity securities are valued at the latest quoted sales prices or official closing prices taken from the primary market in which each security trades; such securities not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been materially affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the securities’ primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the board of trustees to represent fair value. Investments in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund are valued at that fund’s net asset value. Temporary cash investments acquired over 60 days to maturity are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Other temporary cash investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.


25


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

2. Futures Contracts: The fund uses Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000 Index futures contracts to a limited extent, with the objective of maintaining full exposure to the stock market while maintaining liquidity. The fund may purchase or sell futures contracts to achieve a desired level of investment, whether to accommodate portfolio turnover or cash flows from capital share transactions. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between changes in market values of stocks held by the fund and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market. Futures contracts are valued at their quoted daily settlement prices. The aggregate principal amounts of the contracts are not recorded in the financial statements. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Net Assets as an asset (liability) and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) until the contracts are closed, when they are recorded as realized futures gains (losses).

3. Repurchase Agreements: The fund may invest in repurchase agreements. Securities pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements are held by a custodian bank until the agreements mature. Each agreement requires that the market value of the collateral be sufficient to cover payments of interest and principal; however, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party to the agreement, retention of the collateral may be subject to legal proceedings.

4. Federal Income Taxes: The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

5. Distributions: Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

6. Security Lending: The fund may lend its securities to qualified institutional borrowers to earn additional income. Security loans are required to be secured at all times by collateral at least equal to the market value of securities loaned. The fund invests cash collateral received in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, and records a liability for the return of the collateral, during the period the securities are on loan. Security lending income represents the income earned on investing cash collateral, less expenses associated with the loan.

7. Other: Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income includes income distributions received from Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and is accrued daily. Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are bought or sold. Costs used to determine realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are those of the specific securities sold. Each class of shares has equal rights as to assets and earnings, except that each class separately bears certain class-specific expenses related to maintenance of shareholder accounts (included in Management and Administrative expenses) and shareholder reporting. Marketing and distribution expenses are allocated to each class of shares based on a method approved by the board of trustees. Income, other non-class-specific expenses, and gains and losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.

B. Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC, Granahan Investment Management, Inc., Wellington Management Company, LLP, Chartwell Investment Partners, and beginning February 1, 2005, Kalmar Investment Advisers each provide investment advisory services to a portion of the fund for a fee calculated at an annual percentage rate of average net assets managed by the advisor. The basic fees of each advisor, except Kalmar Investment Advisers, are subject to quarterly adjustments based on performance for the preceding three years relative to the Russell 2000 Growth Index for periods prior to January 31, 2003, and their new benchmark, the Russell 2500 Growth Index, beginning January 31, 2003. The benchmark change will be fully phased in by January 2006. In accordance with the advisory contract entered into with Kalmar Investment Advisers in February 2005, the investment advisory fee will be subject to quarterly adjustments based on performance relative to the Russell 2500 Growth Index beginning February 1, 2007.

The Vanguard Group provides investment advisory services to a portion of the fund on an at-cost basis; the fund paid Vanguard advisory fees of $409,000 for the six months ended April 30, 2005.



26


For the six months ended April 30, 2005, the aggregate investment advisory fee represented an effective annual basic rate of 0.16% of the fund’s average net assets before an increase of $643,000 (0.01%) based on performance.

C. The Vanguard Group furnishes at cost corporate management, administrative, marketing, and distribution services. The costs of such services are allocated to the fund under methods approved by the board of trustees. The fund has committed to provide up to 0.40% of its net assets in capital contributions to Vanguard. At April 30, 2005, the fund had contributed capital of $1,172,000 to Vanguard (included in Other Assets), representing 0.01% of the fund’s net assets and 1.17% of Vanguard’s capitalization. The fund’s trustees and officers are also directors and officers of Vanguard.

D. The fund has asked its investment advisors to direct certain security trades, subject to obtaining the best price and execution, to brokers who have agreed to rebate to the fund part of the commissions generated. Such rebates are used solely to reduce the fund’s management and administrative expenses. The fund’s custodian bank has also agreed to reduce its fees when the fund maintains cash on deposit in the non-interest-bearing custody account. For the six months ended April 30, 2005, these arrangements reduced the fund’s management and administrative expenses by $224,000 and custodian fees by $15,000. The total expense reduction represented an effective annual rate of 0.01% of the fund’s average net assets.

E. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain, or loss are recognized in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes. The fund’s tax-basis capital gains and losses are determined only at the end of each fiscal year.

At April 30, 2005, net unrealized appreciation of investment securities for tax purposes was $783,123,000, consisting of unrealized gains of $1,455,183,000 on securities that had risen in value since their purchase and $672,060,000 in unrealized losses on securities that had fallen in value since their purchase.

At April 30, 2005, the aggregate settlement value of open futures contracts expiring in June 2005 and the related unrealized appreciation (depreciation) were:



  (000)
 
 
 
Number of
Aggregate
Settlement
Unrealized
Appreciation
Futures Contracts
Long Contracts
Value 
(Depreciation)
Russell 2000 Index 237  $73,826  $(4,989)
E-mini Russell 2000 Index 756  46,196  (2,280)
E-mini Nasdaq 100 Index 780  22,826  (588)
Nasdaq 100 Index 39  5,887  (328)


Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on open futures contracts is required to be treated as realized gain (loss) for tax purposes.

F. During the six months ended April 30, 2005, the fund purchased $4,334,255,000 of investment securities and sold $3,772,599,000 of investment securities, other than temporary cash investments.

G. The market value of securities on loan to broker/dealers at April 30, 2005, was $139,683,000, for which the fund received cash collateral of $145,078,000.



27


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

H. Capital share transactions for each class of shares were:



 
 
Six Months Ended
April 30, 2005

Year Ended
October 31, 2004

 
 

Amount
(000)

Shares
(000)

Amount
(000)

Shares
(000)

Investor Shares        
Issued $965,010  13,364  $2,451,079  36,994 
Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions 7,866  106  —  — 
Redeemed (802,277) (11,124) (1,162,600) (17,671)




Net Increase (Decrease)-Investor Shares 170,599  2,346  1,288,479  19,323 




Admiral Shares
Issued 373,641  5,546  760,028  12,207 
Issued in Lieu of Cash Distributions 1,242  18  —  — 
Redeemed (172,684) (2,578) (360,527) (5,868)




Net Increase (Decrease)-Admiral Shares 202,199  2,986  399,501  6,339 


I. Certain of the fund’s investments are in companies that are considered to be affiliated companies of the fund because the fund owns more than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of the company. Transactions during the six months ended April 30, 2005, in securities of affiliated companies were as follows:



  (000)
  Current Period Transactions
 
 
 
 

Oct. 31, 2004
Market
Value

 
Purchases
at Cost

Proceeds from
Securities
Sold

 
Dividend
Income

Apr. 30, 2005
Market
Value

Hollywood Media Corp. $6,570  —  —  —  $8,979 
Hifn, Inc. —  $7,116  —  —  5,193 



  $6,570        —  $14,172 













28


   
  ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
   

As a shareholder of the fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of the fund.

A fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.

The table below illustrates your fund’s costs in two ways:

Based on actual fund return. This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

Based on hypothetical 5% yearly return. This section is intended to help you compare your fund’s costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the fund had a yearly return of 5% before expenses, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case—because the return used is not the fund’s actual return—the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the Securities and Exchange Commission requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess your fund’s costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds. Note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs or account maintenance fees. They do not include your fund’s low-balance fee, which is described in the prospectus. If this fee were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Your fund does not charge transaction fees, such as purchase or redemption fees, nor does it carry a “sales load.”



Six Months Ended April 30, 2004
 
 
Explorer Fund

Beginning
Account Value
10/31/2004

Ending
Account Value
4/30/2005

Expenses
Paid During
Period*

Based on Actual Fund Return      
Investor Shares $1,000.00  $1,022.50  $2.76 
Admiral Shares 1,000.00  1,023.30  2.01 

Based on Hypothetical 5% Yearly Return
Investor Shares $1,000.00  $1,022.07  $2.76 
Admiral Shares 1,000.00  1,022.81  2.01 

*The calculations are based on expenses incurred in the most recent six-month period. The fund's annualized six-month expense ratios for that period are 0.55% for Investor Shares and 0.40% for Admiral Shares. The dollar amounts shown as "Expenses Paid" are equal to the annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by the number of days in the most recent 12-month period.

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

You can find more information about the fund's expenses, including annual expense ratios, in the Financial Statements section of this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the appropriate fund prospectus.



29





   
  TRUSTEES APPROVE ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS
   


The board of trustees of Vanguard Explorer Fund has renewed its investment advisory arrangements with Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC (GMO), Kalmar Investment Advisers (Kalmar), and The Vanguard Group, Inc., three of the fund's investment advisors. The board determined that the retention of GMO, Kalmar, and Vanguard was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders. The board will review the investment advisory agreements with the fund's other advisors-Chartwell Investment Partners, Granahan Investment Management, and Wellington Management Company, LLP-on different dates throughout 2005.

The board decided to renew the arrangements with GMO, Kalmar, and Vanguard based upon its most recent evaluation of each firm's investment staff, portfolio management process, and performance. The trustees considered the factors discussed below, among others. However, no single factor determined whether the board approved the arrangements. Rather, it was the totality of the circumstances that drove the board's decision.

NATURE, EXTENT, AND QUALITY OF SERVICES

The board considered the quality of investment management over both short- and long-term periods, and took into account the organizational depth and stability of each firm.

• Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC. GMO is stable and diverse, with assets under management of about $87 billion. Portfolio managers Christopher M. Darnell and Robert M. Soucy have worked in investment management since 1979 and 1987, respectively. They have advised a portion of the fund since 2000.

• Kalmar Investment Advisers. Kalmar is a fundamental high-quality manager with a track record of consistent success. The firm, founded in 1996, uses a disciplined fundamental investment strategy. Portfolio manager Ford B. Draper, Jr. has significant experience, having worked in investment management since 1967. Kalmar began advising a portion of the fund in 2005.

• The Vanguard Group. Vanguard, through its Quantitative Equity Group, has been managing investments for more than two decades. George U. Sauter, Vanguard managing director and chief investment officer, has been in the investment management business since 1985 and oversees more than $580 billion in assets (stocks and bonds). The group adheres to a sound, disciplined investment management process; the team has considerable experience, stability, and depth.

INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

The board considered the short- and long-term performance of the fund, including any periods of outperformance or underperformance of relevant benchmarks and peer groups. Each investment advisor has carried out its investment strategy in disciplined fashion, and the results provided by each advisor have been in line with expectations. The fund outperformed the average returns of its peer group over the one-, five-, and ten-year periods. Information about the fund's performance, including some of the data considered by the board, can be found in the "Performance Summary" section of this report.

COST

The fund's expense ratio was far below the average expense ratio charged by funds in the fund's peer group. The fund's advisory fees were also well below the peer-group average. Information about the fund's expense ratio appears in the "About Your Fund's Expenses" section of this report as well as in the "Financial Statements" section, which also includes



30




information about the advisory fee rate. The board did not consider profitability of GMO and Kalmar in determining whether to approve the advisory fee. GMO and Kalmar are independent firms, and the advisory fee is the result of arm's-length negotiations. The board does not consider a "profitability" analysis of Vanguard because of Vanguard's unique "at-cost" structure. Unlike most other mutual fund management companies, Vanguard is owned by the funds it oversees, and only produces "profits" in the form of reduced expenses for fund shareholders.

THE BENEFIT OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE

The board concluded that the fund's shareholders benefit from economies of scale because of breakpoints in the advisory fee schedule for GMO and Kalmar. The breakpoints reduce the effective rate of the fee as the fund's assets managed by GMO and Kalmar increase. The board also concluded that the Explorer Fund's low-cost arrangement with Vanguard ensures that the fund will realize economies of scale as it grows, with the cost to shareholders declining as the fund's assets managed by Vanguard increase.

The advisory arrangements with GMO, Kalmar, and Vanguard will continue for one year and are renewable by the fund's board after that for successive one-year periods.







31


THE PEOPLE WHO GOVERN YOUR FUND


The trustees of your mutual fund are there to see that the fund is operated and managed in your best interests since, as a shareholder, you are a part owner of the fund. Your fund trustees also serve on the board of directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is owned by the Vanguard funds and provides services to them on an at-cost basis.

A majority of Vanguard's board members are independent, meaning that they have no affiliation with Vanguard or the funds they oversee, apart from the sizable personal investments they have made as private individuals.
 
Our independent board members bring distinguished backgrounds in business, academia, and public service to their task of working with Vanguard officers to establish the policies and oversee the activities of the funds. Among board members’ responsibilities are



Name
(Year of Birth)
Trustee/Officer
Since

Position(s) Held with
Fund (Number of
Vanguard Funds
Overseen by
Trustee/Officer)

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years
John J. Brennan*
(1954)
May 1987

Chairman of the
Board, Chief
Executive Officer,
and Trustee
(132)
Chairman of the Board,Chief Executive Officer, and Director/Trustee of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Charles D. Ellis
(1937)
January 2001
Trustee
(132)
The Partners of `63 (pro bono ventures in education); Senior Advisor to Greenwich Associates (international business strategy consulting); Successor Trustee of Yale University; Overseer of the Stern School of Business at New York University; Trustee of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.

Rajiv L. Gupta
(1945)
December 2001**
Trustee
(132)
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Board Member of the American Chemistry Council; Director of Tyco International, Ltd. (diversified manufacturing and services) (since 2005);Trustee of Drexel University and of the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

JoAnn Heffernan
Heisen

(1950)
July 1998
Trustee
(132)
Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Member of the Executive Committee of Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceuticals/consumer products); Director of the University Medical Center at Princeton and Women's Research and Education Institute.

Burton G. Malkiel
(1932)
May 1977
Trustee
(129)
Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of Economics, Princeton University; Director of Vanguard Investment Series plc (Irish investment fund) (since November 2001), Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited (investment management) (since November 2001), BKF Capital (investment management), The Jeffrey Co. (holding company), and CareGain, Inc. (health care management).

André F. Perold
(1952)
December 2004
Trustee
(132)
George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking, Harvard Business School (since 2000); Senior Associate Dean, Director of Faculty Recruiting, and Chair of Finance Faculty, Harvard Business School; Director and Chairman of UNX, Inc. (equities trading firm) (since 2003); Director of registered investment companies advised by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and affiliates (1985–2004), Genbel Securities Limited (South African financial services firm) (1999–2003), Gensec Bank (1999–2003), Sanlam Investment Management (1999–2001), Sanlam, Ltd. (South African insurance company) (2001–2003), Stockback, Inc. (credit card firm) (2000–2002), and Bulldogresearch.com (investment research) (1999–2001); and Trustee of Commonfund (investment management) (1989–2001).



selecting investment advisors for the funds; monitoring fund operations, performance, and costs; reviewing contracts; nominating and selecting new trustees/directors; and electing Vanguard officers.

Each trustee serves a fund until its termination; or until the trustee’s retirement, resignation, or death; or otherwise as specified in the fund’s organizational documents. Any trustee may be removed at a shareholders’ meeting by a vote representing two-thirds of the net asset value of all shares of the fund together with shares of other Vanguard funds organized within the same trust. The table on these two pages shows information for each trustee and executive officer of the fund. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.



Name
(Year of Birth)
Trustee/Officer
Since

Position(s) Held with
Fund (Number of
Vanguard Funds
Overseen by
Trustee/Officer)

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years
Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.
(1941)
January 1993
Trustee
(132)
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of NACCO
Industries, Inc. (forklift trucks/housewares/lignite); Director of Goodrich Corporation (industrial products/aircraft systems and services); Director of Standard Products Company (supplier for the automotive industry) until 1998.

J. Lawrence Wilson
(1936)
April 1985
Trustee
(132)

Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals); Director of Cummins Inc. (diesel engines), MeadWestvaco Corp. (packaging products), and AmerisourceBergen Corp. (pharmaceutical distribution); Trustee of Vanderbilt University and of Culver Educational Foundation.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS*

R. Gregory Barton
(1951)
June 2001

Secretary
(132)

Managing Director and General Counsel of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Secretary of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and of each of the investment
companies served by The Vanguard Group since June 2001.

Thomas J. Higgins
(1957)
July 1998
Treasurer
(132)
Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Treasurer of each of the investment companies served by The Vanguard Group.

* Officers of the funds are “interested persons” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
** December 2002 for Vanguard Equity Income Fund, Vanguard Growth Equity Fund, the Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds, and the Vanguard State Tax-Exempt Funds.

More information about the trustees is in the Statement of Additional Information, available from The Vanguard Group.




VANGUARD SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

Mortimer J. Buckley, Information Technology.
James H. Gately, Investment Programs and Services.
Kathleen C. Gubanich, Human Resources.
F. William McNabb, III, Client Relationship Group.
Michael S. Miller, Planning and Development.
Ralph K. Packard, Finance.
George U. Sauter, Chief Investment Officer.



John C. Bogle, Founder; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 1974-1996.








Post Office Box 2600
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600





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All other marks are the exclusive property of their respective owners.

All comparative mutual fund data are from Lipper Inc. or Morningstar, Inc., unless otherwise noted.

For More Information
This report is intended for the fund’s shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the current fund prospectus. To receive a free copy of the prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information, or to request additional information about the fund or other Vanguard funds, please contact us at one of the adjacent telephone numbers or by e-mail through Vanguard.com. Prospectuses may also be viewed online.

You can obtain a free copy of Vanguard’s proxy voting guidelines by visiting our website, www.vanguard.com, and searching for “proxy voting guidelines,” or by calling Vanguard at 800- 662-2739. They are also available from the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, you may obtain a free report on how your fund voted the proxies for securities it owned during the 12 months ended June 30. To get the report, visit either www.vanguard.com or www.sec.gov.

You can review and copy information about your fund at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about this public service, call the SEC at 202-942- 8090. Information about your fund is also available on the SEC’s website, and you can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by sending a request in either of two ways: via e-mail addressed to publicinfo@sec.gov or via regular mail addressed to the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, DC 20549–0102.

World Wide Web
www.vanguard.com

Fund Information
800-662-7447

Direct Investor
Account Services
800-662-2739

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Services
800-523-1036

Text Telephone
800-952-3335


©2005 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Vanguard Marketing
Corporation, Distributor.


Q242 062005




Item 2: Not Applicable

Item 3: Not Applicable

Item 4: Not Applicable

Item 5: Not applicable.

Item 6: Not applicable.

Item 7: Not applicable.

Item 8: Not applicable.

Item 9: Not applicable.

Item 10: Not applicable.

Item 11: Controls and Procedures

        (a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Principal Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant's Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on their evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

        (b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no significant changes in Registrant’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Item 12: Exhibits.

        Certifications.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND

BY: (signature)
(HEIDI STAM)
JOHN J. BRENNAN*
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Date:   June 14, 2005

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND

BY: (signature)
(HEIDI STAM)
JOHN J. BRENNAN*
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Date:   June 14, 2005

VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND

BY: (signature)
(HEIDI STAM)
THOMAS J. HIGGINS*
TREASURER

Date:   June 14, 2005

*By Power of Attorney. Filed on December 20, 2004, see File Number 002-14336. Incorporated by Reference.