AOM vs. VSMGX
AOM (iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF) and VSMGX (Vanguard LifeStrategy 60/40 Fund) are both funds - AOM is a Diversified Portfolio fund tracking the S&P Target Risk Moderate, while VSMGX is a Allocation--50% to 70% Equity fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, AOM returned 6.31%/yr vs 9.07%/yr for VSMGX. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. AOM charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for VSMGX.
Performance
AOM vs. VSMGX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AOM achieves a 4.39% return, which is significantly lower than VSMGX's 7.75% return. Over the past 10 years, AOM has underperformed VSMGX with an annualized return of 6.31%, while VSMGX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.07% annualized return.
AOM
- 1D
- -0.76%
- 1M
- 0.20%
- YTD
- 4.39%
- 6M
- 4.21%
- 1Y
- 12.96%
- 3Y*
- 10.58%
- 5Y*
- 4.63%
- 10Y*
- 6.31%
VSMGX
- 1D
- -0.19%
- 1M
- 1.25%
- YTD
- 7.75%
- 6M
- 7.38%
- 1Y
- 18.53%
- 3Y*
- 15.70%
- 5Y*
- 7.72%
- 10Y*
- 9.07%
AOM vs. VSMGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOM iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF | 4.39% | 13.28% | 7.95% | 12.38% | -14.54% | 6.93% | 10.02% | 15.58% | -3.88% | 11.63% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy 60/40 Fund | 7.75% | 16.26% | 15.03% | 15.70% | -16.01% | 10.08% | 13.59% | 19.37% | -4.91% | 13.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between AOM and VSMGX is 0.95, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 11, 2008 | 0.89 |
The correlation between AOM and VSMGX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.89 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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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 60/40 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.
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.
| AOM | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.42 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.55 | 2.90 | -0.35 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.96 | 12.43 | -1.48 |
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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 | -5.11% | -6.64% | +1.53% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.85% | -9.62% | +2.77% |
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 | -1.04% | -0.45% | -0.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.69% | -4.83% | +2.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.19% | 1.55% | -0.36% |
Volatility
AOM vs. VSMGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM) is 2.78%, while Vanguard LifeStrategy 60/40 Fund (VSMGX) has a volatility of 3.47%. 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 | 2.78% | 3.47% | -0.69% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.70% | 7.30% | -1.60% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.94% | 8.73% | -1.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.21% | 10.27% | -2.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.94% | 10.40% | -2.46% |
AOM vs. VSMGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AOM has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VSMGX's 0.10% 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%.
Dividends
AOM vs. VSMGX - Dividend Comparison
AOM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.00%, less than VSMGX's 4.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOM iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF | 3.00% | 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 60/40 Fund | 4.87% | 5.25% | 11.49% | 4.01% | 2.66% | 3.86% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 4.11% | 1.09% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.95, AOM and VSMGX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VSMGX has higher volatility (3.47%) compared to AOM (2.78%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AOM dropped -19.96% vs VSMGX's -41.13%.
VSMGX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.21 vs 1.88), 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.
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