AVSF vs. VCSH
AVSF (Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF) and VCSH (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AVSF is a Short-Term Bond fund actively managed by Avantis, while VCSH is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index. AVSF is actively managed, while VCSH is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVSF returned 1.87%/yr vs 2.36%/yr for VCSH. Their correlation of 0.95 suggests significant overlap in exposure. AVSF charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCSH.
Performance
AVSF vs. VCSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AVSF achieves a 0.40% return, which is significantly lower than VCSH's 0.62% return.
AVSF
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 0.40%
- 6M
- 0.58%
- 1Y
- 3.65%
- 3Y*
- 4.81%
- 5Y*
- 1.87%
- 10Y*
- —
VCSH
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- YTD
- 0.62%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 4.15%
- 3Y*
- 5.56%
- 5Y*
- 2.36%
- 10Y*
- 2.64%
AVSF vs. VCSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVSF Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF | 0.40% | 6.57% | 3.81% | 5.25% | -5.52% | -1.17% | 0.46% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.62% | 6.77% | 4.91% | 6.20% | -5.62% | -0.63% | 0.87% |
Correlation
The correlation between AVSF and VCSH 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 | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 15, 2020 | 0.95 |
The correlation between AVSF and VCSH has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
AVSF vs. VCSH — Risk / Return Rank
AVSF
VCSH
AVSF vs. VCSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF (AVSF) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH). 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.
| AVSF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.42 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.59 | 2.98 | -0.39 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.43 | 12.06 | -2.63 |
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Drawdowns
AVSF vs. VCSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AVSF drawdown since its inception was -8.85%, smaller than the maximum VCSH drawdown of -12.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVSF and VCSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AVSF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.85% | -12.86% | +4.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.42% | -1.40% | -0.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.42% | -1.40% | -0.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.85% | -9.48% | +0.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -12.86% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.58% | -0.34% | -0.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.19% | -0.96% | -1.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.39% | 0.35% | +0.04% |
Volatility
AVSF vs. VCSH - Volatility Comparison
Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF (AVSF) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) have volatilities of 0.67% and 0.68%, 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
| AVSF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.67% | 0.68% | -0.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.44% | 1.48% | -0.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.92% | 1.92% | 0.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.66% | 2.89% | -0.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.53% | 3.35% | -0.82% |
AVSF vs. VCSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
AVSF has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VCSH's 0.04% 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
AVSF vs. VCSH - Dividend Comparison
AVSF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.37%, less than VCSH's 4.45% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVSF Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF | 4.37% | 4.31% | 4.34% | 3.93% | 1.78% | 0.48% | 0.10% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.45% | 4.35% | 3.96% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.95, AVSF and VCSH 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.
VCSH has higher volatility (0.68%) compared to AVSF (0.67%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AVSF dropped -8.85% vs VCSH's -12.86%.
On 5-year performance, VCSH leads with 2.36% vs 1.87% for AVSF. On fees, VCSH is cheaper at 0.04% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, VCSH has performed better with a 2.36% return vs 1.87%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCSH is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for AVSF.
VCSH has the higher dividend yield at 4.45%, compared with 4.37% for AVSF.
AVSF is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while VCSH is Corporate Bonds. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for AVSF and 0.04% for VCSH.
VCSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 1.91), 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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