BRK-B vs. VGSH

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) is Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.22%/yr vs 1.73%/yr for VGSH. At a correlation of -0.17, they often move in opposite directions.

Performance

BRK-B vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). 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 VGSH's 0.57% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed VGSH with an annualized return of 13.22%, while VGSH has yielded a comparatively lower 1.73% annualized return.

BRK-B

• 1D: 0.71%
• 1M: 0.77%
• YTD: -2.67%
• 6M: -2.06%
• 1Y: -0.22%
• 3Y*: 13.30%
• 5Y*: 11.27%
• 10Y*: 13.22%

VGSH

• 1D: -0.03%
• 1M: 0.13%
• YTD: 0.57%
• 6M: 0.83%
• 1Y: 3.31%
• 3Y*: 4.25%
• 5Y*: 1.83%
• 10Y*: 1.73%

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

BRK-B vs. VGSH - 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%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF	0.57%	5.07%	4.00%	4.31%	-3.86%	-0.60%	3.04%	3.52%	1.55%	0.04%

Correlation

The correlation between BRK-B and VGSH 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	0.01
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.00
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	-0.14
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009	-0.17

The correlation between BRK-B and VGSH shifts across timeframes, from -0.17 (all time) to 0.07 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BRK-B vs. VGSH — 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

VGSH

VGSH Risk / Return Rank: 88
VGSH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
VGSH Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
VGSH Omega Ratio Rank: 92
VGSH Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
VGSH Martin Ratio Rank: 84

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. VGSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). 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	VGSH	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.02	2.61	-2.63
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.08	4.30	-4.23
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.01	1.55	-0.54
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.02	3.76	-3.78
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.05	14.67	-14.72

BRK-B vs. VGSH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRK-B Sharpe Ratio is -0.02, which is lower than the VGSH Sharpe Ratio of 2.61. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRK-B and VGSH, 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. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than VGSH's maximum drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and VGSH.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRK-B	VGSH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.86%	-5.70%	-48.16%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.42%	-0.88%	-8.54%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.95%	-0.97%	-13.98%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.58%	-5.66%	-20.92%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.57%	-5.70%	-23.87%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.36%	-0.21%	-9.15%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.07%	-0.60%	-10.47%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.53%	0.23%	+4.30%

Volatility

BRK-B vs. VGSH - Volatility Comparison

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a higher volatility of 3.95% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) at 0.37%. This indicates that BRK-B's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRK-B	VGSH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.95%	0.37%	+3.58%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.78%	0.90%	+9.88%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.38%	1.28%	+13.10%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.12%	1.97%	+15.15%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.44%	1.58%	+17.86%

Dividends

BRK-B vs. VGSH - Dividend Comparison

BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VGSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.87%.

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%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF	3.87%	4.00%	4.18%	3.31%	1.15%	0.66%	1.74%	2.28%	1.79%	1.10%	0.84%	0.69%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

BRK-B and VGSH 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 VGSH?

BRK-B has higher volatility (3.95%) compared to VGSH (0.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs VGSH's -5.70%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VGSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.61 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.