AOM vs. VSMGX
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX).
AOM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Target Risk Moderate. It was launched on Nov 4, 2008. VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
AOM vs. VSMGX - Performance Comparison
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AOM vs. VSMGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOM iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF | -0.40% | 13.28% | 7.95% | 12.38% | -14.54% | 6.93% | 10.02% | 15.58% | -3.88% | 11.63% |
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, AOM achieves a -0.40% return, which is significantly higher than VSMGX's -1.04% return. Over the past 10 years, AOM has underperformed VSMGX with an annualized return of 5.86%, while VSMGX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.13% annualized return.
AOM
- 1D
- 0.36%
- 1M
- -2.76%
- YTD
- -0.40%
- 6M
- 1.26%
- 1Y
- 11.52%
- 3Y*
- 9.29%
- 5Y*
- 4.29%
- 10Y*
- 5.86%
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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AOM vs. VSMGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AOM 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
AOM vs. VSMGX — Risk / Return Rank
AOM
VSMGX
AOM vs. VSMGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM) 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.
| AOM | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.40 | 1.45 | -0.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.03 | 2.08 | -0.05 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.30 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.19 | 2.05 | +0.14 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.80 | 8.78 | +0.02 |
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
| AOM | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.40 | 1.45 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | 0.66 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.74 | 0.79 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.67 | 0.67 | -0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between AOM and VSMGX is 0.89, 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
AOM vs. VSMGX - Dividend Comparison
AOM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.99%, less than VSMGX's 5.30% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOM iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF | 2.99% | 2.98% | 3.10% | 2.79% | 2.27% | 1.56% | 2.02% | 2.66% | 2.53% | 3.31% | 2.14% | 1.98% |
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
AOM vs. VSMGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AOM drawdown since its inception was -19.96%, smaller than the maximum VSMGX drawdown of -41.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AOM and VSMGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AOM | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.96% | -41.13% | +21.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.35% | -7.24% | +1.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.96% | -22.29% | +2.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.96% | -22.43% | +2.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.30% | -4.94% | +1.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.72% | -4.86% | +2.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.33% | 1.69% | -0.36% |
Volatility
AOM vs. VSMGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM) is 3.26%, while Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) has a volatility of 4.14%. This indicates that AOM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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
| AOM | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.26% | 4.14% | -0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.89% | 6.30% | -1.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.24% | 10.24% | -2.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.09% | 10.12% | -2.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.90% | 10.32% | -2.42% |