BRK-B vs. VGCAX
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while VGCAX (Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares) is Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 5 years, BRK-B returned 11.27%/yr vs 1.34%/yr for VGCAX. At a correlation of -0.00, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
BRK-B vs. VGCAX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.67% return, which is significantly lower than VGCAX's 1.10% return.
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- 0.35%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.22%
VGCAX
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- 0.68%
- YTD
- 1.10%
- 6M
- 1.56%
- 1Y
- 5.50%
- 3Y*
- 6.27%
- 5Y*
- 1.34%
- 10Y*
- —
BRK-B vs. VGCAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -2.67% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | -5.49% |
VGCAX Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 1.10% | 7.30% | 3.99% | 9.22% | -13.43% | -0.64% | 10.81% | 13.05% | 0.96% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and VGCAX is 0.08, 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 | 0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.10 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 15, 2018 | -0.00 |
The correlation between BRK-B and VGCAX shifts across timeframes, from -0.00 (all time) to 0.10 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. VGCAX — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
VGCAX
BRK-B vs. VGCAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VGCAX). 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 | VGCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.30 | -0.29 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 1.89 | -1.91 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | 6.28 | -6.33 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. VGCAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than VGCAX's maximum drawdown of -18.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and VGCAX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | VGCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -18.63% | -35.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -2.90% | -6.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -4.00% | -10.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -18.63% | -7.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.36% | -0.64% | -8.72% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -4.33% | -6.74% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.53% | 0.87% | +3.66% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. VGCAX - Volatility Comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a higher volatility of 3.95% compared to Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VGCAX) at 1.23%. This indicates that BRK-B's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGCAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | VGCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.95% | 1.23% | +2.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.78% | 2.64% | +8.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 3.32% | +11.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 5.07% | +12.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 4.84% | +14.60% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. VGCAX - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VGCAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.95%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VGCAX Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 4.95% | 4.91% | 4.65% | 4.48% | 2.72% | 3.16% | 4.65% | 6.88% | 0.36% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and VGCAX have a correlation of 0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BRK-B has higher volatility (3.95%) compared to VGCAX (1.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs VGCAX's -18.63%.
VGCAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.65 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.
Find the right allocation for BRK-B and VGCAX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer