AOA vs. VSMGX
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX).
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. VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
AOA vs. VSMGX - Performance Comparison
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AOA vs. VSMGX - 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% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | -1.04% | 16.26% | 15.03% | 15.70% | -16.01% | 10.08% | 13.59% | 19.37% | -4.91% | 13.66% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AOA achieves a -0.59% return, which is significantly higher than VSMGX's -1.04% return. Over the past 10 years, AOA has outperformed VSMGX with an annualized return of 9.69%, while VSMGX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.13% annualized return.
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%
VSMGX
- 1D
- 1.81%
- 1M
- -4.25%
- YTD
- -1.04%
- 6M
- 0.93%
- 1Y
- 14.43%
- 3Y*
- 13.22%
- 5Y*
- 6.60%
- 10Y*
- 8.13%
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AOA vs. VSMGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AOA has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VSMGX's 0.13% 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. VSMGX — Risk / Return Rank
AOA
VSMGX
AOA vs. VSMGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX). 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 | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.35 | 1.45 | -0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.97 | 2.08 | -0.11 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.30 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.98 | 2.05 | -0.07 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.82 | 8.78 | +0.04 |
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 | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.35 | 1.45 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.62 | 0.66 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.72 | 0.79 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.65 | 0.67 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between AOA and VSMGX is 0.94, 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. VSMGX - Dividend Comparison
AOA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.19%, less than VSMGX's 5.30% 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% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | 5.30% | 5.25% | 11.49% | 4.01% | 2.66% | 3.86% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 4.11% | 1.09% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
Drawdowns
AOA vs. VSMGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AOA drawdown since its inception was -28.38%, smaller than the maximum VSMGX drawdown of -41.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AOA and VSMGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AOA | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -28.38% | -41.13% | +12.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.62% | -7.24% | -2.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.62% | -22.29% | -1.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.38% | -22.43% | -5.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.18% | -4.94% | -0.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.08% | -4.86% | +0.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 1.69% | +0.47% |
Volatility
AOA vs. VSMGX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) has a higher volatility of 5.28% compared to Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) at 4.14%. This indicates that AOA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSMGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AOA | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.28% | 4.14% | +1.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.34% | 6.30% | +2.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.87% | 10.24% | +3.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.92% | 10.12% | +2.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.51% | 10.32% | +3.19% |