BRK-B vs. BSV

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while BSV (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) is Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.22%/yr vs 1.94%/yr for BSV. At a correlation of -0.13, they often move in opposite directions.

Performance

BRK-B vs. BSV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.67% return, which is significantly lower than BSV's 0.42% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed BSV with an annualized return of 13.22%, while BSV has yielded a comparatively lower 1.94% annualized return.

BRK-B

• 1D: 0.71%
• 1M: 1.36%
• YTD: -2.67%
• 6M: -2.06%
• 1Y: 0.35%
• 3Y*: 13.30%
• 5Y*: 11.27%
• 10Y*: 13.22%

BSV

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.41%
• YTD: 0.42%
• 6M: 0.75%
• 1Y: 3.67%
• 3Y*: 4.57%
• 5Y*: 1.63%
• 10Y*: 1.94%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BRK-B vs. BSV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-2.67%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares	0.42%	6.00%	3.78%	4.90%	-5.49%	-1.09%	4.70%	4.98%	1.34%	1.20%

Correlation

The correlation between BRK-B and BSV is 0.07, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.07
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.05
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.04
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	-0.09
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 10, 2007	-0.13

The correlation between BRK-B and BSV shifts across timeframes, from -0.13 (all time) to 0.07 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BRK-B vs. BSV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 39
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 42
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 34
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 33
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 42
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 42

BSV

BSV Risk / Return Rank: 71
BSV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
BSV Sortino Ratio Rank: 84
BSV Omega Ratio Rank: 76
BSV Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
BSV Martin Ratio Rank: 60

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BRK-B vs. BSV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV). 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.

	BRK-B	BSV	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.02	2.01	-2.03
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.08	3.23	-3.16
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.01	1.39	-0.38
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.02	2.79	-2.81
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.05	9.42	-9.47

BRK-B vs. BSV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRK-B Sharpe Ratio is -0.02, which is lower than the BSV Sharpe Ratio of 2.01. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRK-B and BSV, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BRK-B vs. BSV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than BSV's maximum drawdown of -8.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and BSV.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRK-B	BSV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.86%	-8.54%	-45.32%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.42%	-1.29%	-8.13%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.95%	-1.53%	-13.42%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.58%	-8.54%	-18.04%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.57%	-8.54%	-21.03%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.36%	-0.50%	-8.86%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.07%	-0.97%	-10.10%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.53%	0.38%	+4.15%

Volatility

BRK-B vs. BSV - Volatility Comparison

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a higher volatility of 3.95% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV) at 0.57%. This indicates that BRK-B's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BSV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRK-B	BSV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.95%	0.57%	+3.38%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.78%	1.28%	+9.50%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.38%	1.79%	+12.59%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.12%	2.73%	+14.39%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.44%	2.38%	+17.06%

Dividends

BRK-B vs. BSV - Dividend Comparison

BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while BSV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.99%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares	3.99%	3.83%	3.38%	2.46%	1.50%	1.45%	1.79%	2.29%	1.99%	1.65%	1.48%	1.40%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRK-B and BSV in my portfolio?

BRK-B and BSV have a correlation of 0.07, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BRK-B or BSV?

BRK-B has higher volatility (3.95%) compared to BSV (0.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs BSV's -8.54%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BSV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.01 vs -0.02), 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.