ARGFX vs. VMFVX
Compare and contrast key facts about Ariel Fund (ARGFX) and Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMFVX).
ARGFX is managed by Ariel Investments. It was launched on Nov 6, 1986. VMFVX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 2, 2010.
Performance
ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Performance Comparison
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ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARGFX Ariel Fund | -4.69% | 14.08% | 11.56% | 15.78% | -18.68% | 30.29% | 10.05% | 24.64% | -13.59% | 15.99% |
VMFVX Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares | -1.26% | 7.57% | 10.59% | 16.49% | -7.03% | 30.54% | 3.68% | 26.18% | -11.90% | 12.27% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ARGFX achieves a -4.69% return, which is significantly lower than VMFVX's -1.26% return. Over the past 10 years, ARGFX has underperformed VMFVX with an annualized return of 8.99%, while VMFVX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.82% annualized return.
ARGFX
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- -12.05%
- YTD
- -4.69%
- 6M
- -1.68%
- 1Y
- 18.19%
- 3Y*
- 9.60%
- 5Y*
- 4.48%
- 10Y*
- 8.99%
VMFVX
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- -7.37%
- YTD
- -1.26%
- 6M
- 0.78%
- 1Y
- 10.31%
- 3Y*
- 10.10%
- 5Y*
- 7.00%
- 10Y*
- 9.82%
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ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Expense Ratio Comparison
ARGFX has a 1.00% expense ratio, which is higher than VMFVX's 0.08% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
ARGFX vs. VMFVX — Risk / Return Rank
ARGFX
VMFVX
ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ariel Fund (ARGFX) and Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMFVX). 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.
| ARGFX | VMFVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.75 | 0.52 | +0.22 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.20 | 0.88 | +0.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.12 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.01 | 0.61 | +0.40 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.32 | 2.33 | +0.98 |
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
| ARGFX | VMFVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.75 | 0.52 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | 0.36 | -0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 | 0.45 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.53 | 0.49 | +0.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between ARGFX and VMFVX is 0.93, 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
ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Dividend Comparison
ARGFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.38%, more than VMFVX's 1.91% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARGFX Ariel Fund | 12.38% | 11.80% | 5.49% | 5.09% | 9.01% | 5.56% | 5.33% | 5.81% | 10.35% | 6.30% | 6.56% | 16.28% |
VMFVX Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.91% | 1.88% | 1.81% | 1.58% | 2.04% | 1.81% | 2.48% | 1.94% | 2.01% | 1.56% | 1.42% | 1.73% |
Drawdowns
ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ARGFX drawdown since its inception was -71.02%, which is greater than VMFVX's maximum drawdown of -45.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARGFX and VMFVX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ARGFX | VMFVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.02% | -45.79% | -25.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.50% | -14.52% | -0.98% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.00% | -22.46% | -10.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.29% | -45.79% | +0.50% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.36% | -9.66% | -2.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.47% | -5.52% | -2.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.72% | 3.81% | +0.91% |
Volatility
ARGFX vs. VMFVX - Volatility Comparison
Ariel Fund (ARGFX) has a higher volatility of 6.00% compared to Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMFVX) at 4.65%. This indicates that ARGFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VMFVX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ARGFX | VMFVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.00% | 4.65% | +1.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.80% | 11.12% | +2.68% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.52% | 20.51% | +4.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.29% | 19.52% | +2.77% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.74% | 21.87% | +0.87% |