CSCO vs. VGSH

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

CSCO (Cisco Systems, 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, CSCO returned 19.37%/yr vs 1.74%/yr for VGSH. At a correlation of -0.12, they often move in opposite directions.

Performance

CSCO vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) 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, CSCO achieves a 66.00% return, which is significantly higher than VGSH's 0.48% return. Over the past 10 years, CSCO has outperformed VGSH with an annualized return of 19.37%, while VGSH has yielded a comparatively lower 1.74% annualized return.

CSCO

• 1D: -1.17%
• 1M: 36.56%
• YTD: 66.00%
• 6M: 64.46%
• 1Y: 101.07%
• 3Y*: 40.06%
• 5Y*: 21.97%
• 10Y*: 19.37%

VGSH

• 1D: -0.03%
• 1M: 0.08%
• YTD: 0.48%
• 6M: 0.74%
• 1Y: 3.43%
• 3Y*: 4.15%
• 5Y*: 1.81%
• 10Y*: 1.74%

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

CSCO vs. VGSH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc.	66.00%	33.47%	21.00%	9.30%	-22.46%	45.76%	-3.49%	13.81%	16.57%	31.27%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF	0.48%	5.07%	4.00%	4.31%	-3.86%	-0.60%	3.04%	3.52%	1.55%	0.04%

Correlation

The correlation between CSCO and VGSH is -0.10, 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	-0.10
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.04
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.03
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	-0.09
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009	-0.12

The correlation between CSCO and VGSH shifts across timeframes, from -0.12 (all time) to 0.03 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

CSCO vs. VGSH — Risk / Return Rank

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

CSCO

CSCO Risk / Return Rank: 95
CSCO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
CSCO Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
CSCO Omega Ratio Rank: 95
CSCO Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
CSCO Martin Ratio Rank: 95

VGSH

VGSH Risk / Return Rank: 83
VGSH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
VGSH Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
VGSH Omega Ratio Rank: 88
VGSH Calmar Ratio Rank: 76
VGSH Martin Ratio Rank: 78

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.

CSCO vs. VGSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) 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.

	CSCO	VGSH	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.40	2.68	+0.73
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.99	4.43	-0.44
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.61	1.57	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	7.49	3.90	+3.59
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	21.00	15.52	+5.48
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CSCO vs. VGSH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CSCO Sharpe Ratio is 3.40, which is comparable to the VGSH Sharpe Ratio of 2.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CSCO 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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	CSCO	VGSH	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.40	2.68	+0.73
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.90	0.93	-0.03
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.75	1.11	-0.35
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.61	1.01	-0.40

Drawdowns

CSCO vs. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CSCO drawdown since its inception was -89.26%, which is greater than VGSH's maximum drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CSCO and VGSH.

Drawdown Indicators

	CSCO	VGSH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-89.26%	-5.70%	-83.56%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.57%	-0.88%	-12.69%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.16%	-0.97%	-19.19%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-36.68%	-5.66%	-31.02%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-41.95%	-5.70%	-36.25%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.17%	-0.29%	-0.88%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-40.14%	-0.60%	-39.54%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.83%	0.22%	+4.61%

Volatility

CSCO vs. VGSH - Volatility Comparison

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) has a higher volatility of 15.37% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) at 0.35%. This indicates that CSCO'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

	CSCO	VGSH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	15.37%	0.35%	+15.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	25.85%	0.88%	+24.97%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	29.87%	1.29%	+28.58%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	24.62%	1.97%	+22.65%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.76%	1.57%	+24.19%

Dividends

CSCO vs. VGSH - Dividend Comparison

CSCO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.30%, less than VGSH's 3.87% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc.	1.30%	2.12%	2.69%	3.07%	3.17%	2.32%	3.20%	2.88%	2.95%	2.95%	3.28%	3.02%
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 CSCO and VGSH in my portfolio?

CSCO and VGSH have a correlation of -0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CSCO or VGSH?

CSCO has higher volatility (15.37%) compared to VGSH (0.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CSCO dropped -89.26% vs VGSH's -5.70%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CSCO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.40 vs 2.68), 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.