AOA vs. VASGX
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX).
AOA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Target Risk Aggressive Index. It was launched on Nov 4, 2008. VASGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
AOA vs. VASGX - Performance Comparison
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AOA vs. VASGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOA iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF | -0.59% | 19.59% | 13.55% | 18.27% | -16.23% | 15.42% | 12.82% | 22.60% | -7.86% | 20.05% |
VASGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund | -1.30% | 19.65% | 12.95% | 18.76% | -17.21% | 14.35% | 15.45% | 23.14% | -6.89% | 19.21% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AOA achieves a -0.59% return, which is significantly higher than VASGX's -1.30% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with AOA having a 9.69% annualized return and VASGX not far ahead at 9.75%.
AOA
- 1D
- 0.61%
- 1M
- -4.11%
- YTD
- -0.59%
- 6M
- 1.92%
- 1Y
- 18.69%
- 3Y*
- 14.47%
- 5Y*
- 7.97%
- 10Y*
- 9.69%
VASGX
- 1D
- 2.35%
- 1M
- -5.12%
- YTD
- -1.30%
- 6M
- 1.07%
- 1Y
- 18.07%
- 3Y*
- 14.25%
- 5Y*
- 7.43%
- 10Y*
- 9.75%
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AOA vs. VASGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AOA has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VASGX's 0.14% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
AOA vs. VASGX — Risk / Return Rank
AOA
VASGX
AOA vs. VASGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX). 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.
| AOA | VASGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.35 | 1.39 | -0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.97 | 1.99 | -0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.29 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.98 | 1.97 | +0.02 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.82 | 8.76 | +0.06 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AOA | VASGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.35 | 1.39 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.62 | 0.59 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.72 | 0.73 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.56 | +0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between AOA and VASGX is 0.96, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
AOA vs. VASGX - Dividend Comparison
AOA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.19%, less than VASGX's 4.15% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOA iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF | 2.19% | 2.18% | 2.30% | 2.22% | 2.10% | 1.67% | 1.71% | 2.50% | 2.37% | 5.09% | 2.26% | 2.15% |
VASGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund | 4.15% | 4.09% | 6.15% | 3.00% | 2.10% | 3.54% | 3.54% | 2.34% | 4.36% | 2.13% | 2.23% | 4.54% |
Drawdowns
AOA vs. VASGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AOA drawdown since its inception was -28.38%, smaller than the maximum VASGX drawdown of -51.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AOA and VASGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AOA | VASGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -28.38% | -51.16% | +22.78% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.62% | -9.40% | -0.22% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.62% | -24.43% | +0.81% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.38% | -28.53% | +0.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.18% | -6.01% | +0.83% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.08% | -7.29% | +3.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 2.11% | +0.05% |
Volatility
AOA vs. VASGX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) have volatilities of 5.28% and 5.11%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AOA | VASGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.28% | 5.11% | +0.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.34% | 8.07% | +0.27% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.87% | 13.38% | +0.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.92% | 12.71% | +0.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.51% | 13.44% | +0.07% |