- ISIN
- US9220386091
- CUSIP
- 922038609
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Inception Date
- Apr 24, 2006
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Small Cap Blend Equities
- Min. Investment
- $3,000
- Index Tracked
- No Index (Active)
- Domicile
- United States
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Small-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
- Assets Under Management
- $3B
Share Price Chart
Loading charts...
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Performance
VSTCX Performance Chart
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) is up 21.8% since the beginning of the year. VSTCX is currently trading at $52 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VSTCX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,837.
Loading charts...
Compare this symbol against anything
Returns By Period
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) has returned 21.78% so far this year and 42.42% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VSTCX has returned 12.56% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.26% annually.
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund
- 1D
- 1.18%
- 1M
- -1.13%
- 6M
- 17.27%
- YTD
- 21.78%
- 1Y
- 42.42%
- 3Y*
- 19.74%
- 5Y*
- 12.93%
- 10Y*
- 12.56%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.46%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 0.09%
- 6M
- 7.94%
- YTD
- 9.41%
- 1Y
- 20.07%
- 3Y*
- 17.84%
- 5Y*
- 11.25%
- 10Y*
- 13.26%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.09%
VSTCX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Apr 20, 2006, VSTCX's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +0.93%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.2 years.
Historically, 62% of months were positive and 38% were negative. The best month was Oct 2011 with a return of +17.1%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -25.1%. The longest winning streak lasted 10 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, VSTCX closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +10.9%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -14.6%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.85% | 2.14% | -3.74% | 11.77% | 2.87% | 6.80% | -2.86% | 21.78% | |||||
| 2025 | 2.91% | -4.97% | -7.29% | -2.54% | 7.01% | 5.16% | 0.94% | 7.54% | 2.84% | 0.77% | 2.17% | 0.79% | 15.20% |
| 2024 | -2.16% | 5.11% | 4.57% | -6.44% | 4.94% | -1.75% | 10.23% | -1.22% | 1.11% | -1.26% | 11.04% | -7.84% | 15.40% |
| 2023 | 10.09% | -1.01% | -5.19% | -1.93% | -1.84% | 9.19% | 5.39% | -4.09% | -4.46% | -6.51% | 9.22% | 13.32% | 21.34% |
| 2022 | -6.35% | 1.83% | 0.46% | -7.11% | 0.40% | -9.95% | 10.28% | -2.22% | -10.15% | 13.04% | 4.33% | -5.36% | -13.00% |
| 2021 | 5.23% | 7.69% | 4.57% | 3.56% | 2.35% | 1.10% | -2.16% | 2.76% | -2.70% | 4.31% | -2.05% | 5.22% | 33.53% |
Benchmark Metrics
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund has an annualized alpha of 0.12%, beta of 1.14, and R2 of 0.82 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since April 20, 2006.
- This fund captured 115.77% of S&P 500 Index gains and 112.46% of its losses - amplifying both gains and losses, but participating more in upside than downside.
- With beta of 1.14 and R2 of 0.82, this fund moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- 0.12%
- Beta
- 1.14
- R²
- 0.82
- Upside Capture
- 115.77%
- Downside Capture
- 112.46%
Expense Ratio
VSTCX has an expense ratio of 0.21%, which is considered low.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
VSTCX ranks 89 for risk / return — above 89% of mutual funds peers on PortfoliosLab. Its historical combined result is among the stronger results in the peer group.
Risk / Return Metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VSTCX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.77 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.25 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.76 | 2.00 | +2.76 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 16.72 | 8.49 | +8.22 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund provided a 6.20% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $3.20 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $3.20 | $3.20 | $3.82 | $0.93 | $2.35 | $7.78 | $0.44 | $1.37 | $3.30 | $2.05 | $0.47 | $0.68 |
Dividend yield | 6.20% | 7.55% | 9.66% | 2.50% | 7.44% | 19.92% | 1.24% | 4.14% | 11.74% | 5.76% | 1.35% | 2.33% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3.20 | $3.20 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3.82 | $3.82 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.93 | $0.93 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.35 | $2.35 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.78 | $7.78 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
Loading charts...
Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund was 62.50%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 884 trading sessions.
The current Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund drawdown is 2.86%.
Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater | Related event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-62.50%Mar 2009 | 1y 9mo | 3y 6mo | 5y 3moJun 2007 - Sep 2012 | Financial crisis2007–2009 |
-48.08%Mar 2020 | 1y 6mo | 9mo 2d | 2y 3moSep 2018 - Dec 2020 | COVID crash2020 |
-27.47%Apr 2025 | 4mo 13d | 4mo 29d | 9mo 12dNov 2024 - Sep 2025 | 2025 selloff2025 |
-24.90%Sep 2022 | 10mo 22d | 1y 2mo | 2y 1moNov 2021 - Dec 2023 | Bear market2022 |
-21.98%Feb 2016 | 7mo 22d | 9mo 4d | 1y 4moJun 2015 - Nov 2016 | — |
Drawdown Indicators
| VSTCX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.50% | -56.78% | -5.72% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.08% | -9.10% | +1.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.47% | -18.90% | -8.57% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.47% | -25.43% | -2.04% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.08% | -33.92% | -14.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.86% | -1.58% | -1.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.58% | -10.70% | +0.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.30% | 2.14% | +0.16% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Build a portfolio with VSTCX
Add Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Analyzer with VSTCX