AMD vs. VAW

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) is a stock, while VAW (Vanguard Materials ETF) is Materials fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index. Over the past 10 years, AMD returned 60.51%/yr vs 9.87%/yr for VAW. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

AMD vs. VAW - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AMD achieves a 128.95% return, which is significantly higher than VAW's 9.07% return. Over the past 10 years, AMD has outperformed VAW with an annualized return of 60.51%, while VAW has yielded a comparatively lower 9.87% annualized return.

AMD

• 1D: 5.14%
• 1M: 7.72%
• YTD: 128.95%
• 6M: 121.76%
• 1Y: 322.01%
• 3Y*: 57.74%
• 5Y*: 43.72%
• 10Y*: 60.51%

VAW

• 1D: -1.01%
• 1M: -3.30%
• YTD: 9.07%
• 6M: 14.24%
• 1Y: 17.86%
• 3Y*: 10.82%
• 5Y*: 5.32%
• 10Y*: 9.87%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AMD vs. VAW - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.	128.95%	77.30%	-18.06%	127.59%	-54.99%	56.91%	99.98%	148.43%	79.57%	-9.35%
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF	9.07%	12.30%	0.48%	13.67%	-11.80%	27.43%	19.44%	23.53%	-17.49%	23.76%

Correlation

The correlation between AMD and VAW is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.33
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.37
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.39
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 2, 2004	0.43

The correlation between AMD and VAW shifts across timeframes, from 0.33 (1 year) to 0.43 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

AMD vs. VAW — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

AMD

AMD Risk / Return Rank: 97
AMD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
AMD Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
AMD Omega Ratio Rank: 96
AMD Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
AMD Martin Ratio Rank: 97

VAW

VAW Risk / Return Rank: 30
VAW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 30
VAW Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
VAW Omega Ratio Rank: 28
VAW Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
VAW Martin Ratio Rank: 32

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

AMD vs. VAW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	AMD	VAW	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.91	1.01	+3.91
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.51	1.49	+3.02
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.60	1.18	+0.42
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	11.69	1.34	+10.35
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	24.15	4.32	+19.83
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AMD vs. VAW - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AMD Sharpe Ratio is 4.91, which is higher than the VAW Sharpe Ratio of 1.01. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AMD and VAW, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	AMD	VAW	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.91	1.01	+3.91
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.79	0.27	+0.52
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.07	0.47	+0.60
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.16	0.39	-0.22

Drawdowns

AMD vs. VAW - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AMD drawdown since its inception was -96.59%, which is greater than VAW's maximum drawdown of -62.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AMD and VAW.

Drawdown Indicators

	AMD	VAW	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-96.59%	-62.17%	-34.42%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-27.76%	-13.42%	-14.34%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-63.00%	-23.21%	-39.79%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-65.45%	-25.50%	-39.95%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-65.45%	-41.13%	-24.32%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.62%	-7.27%	-2.35%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-56.67%	-9.63%	-47.04%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	13.41%	4.14%	+9.27%

Volatility

AMD vs. VAW - Volatility Comparison

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) has a higher volatility of 22.76% compared to Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) at 5.94%. This indicates that AMD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VAW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AMD	VAW	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	22.76%	5.94%	+16.82%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	49.01%	14.18%	+34.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	66.18%	17.88%	+48.30%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	55.54%	19.65%	+35.89%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	56.93%	21.22%	+35.71%

Dividends

AMD vs. VAW - Dividend Comparison

AMD has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VAW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.41%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF	1.41%	1.55%	1.70%	1.72%	1.98%	1.44%	1.67%	1.94%	2.03%	1.63%	1.67%	2.30%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AMD and VAW in my portfolio?

AMD and VAW have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, AMD or VAW?

AMD has higher volatility (22.76%) compared to VAW (5.94%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AMD dropped -96.59% vs VAW's -62.17%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

AMD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.91 vs 1.01), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.