FSEC vs. VMBS
FSEC (Fidelity Investment Grade Securitized ETF) and VMBS (Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FSEC is a Intermediate Core Bond fund actively managed by Fidelity, while VMBS is a Mortgage Backed Securities fund tracking the Barclays Capital U.S. MBS Index. FSEC is actively managed, while VMBS is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FSEC returned 0.54%/yr vs 0.57%/yr for VMBS. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. FSEC charges 0.36%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VMBS.
Performance
FSEC vs. VMBS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with FSEC having a 0.86% return and VMBS slightly lower at 0.83%.
FSEC
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- 0.41%
- YTD
- 0.86%
- 6M
- 0.87%
- 1Y
- 6.18%
- 3Y*
- 4.82%
- 5Y*
- 0.54%
- 10Y*
- —
VMBS
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- 0.54%
- YTD
- 0.83%
- 6M
- 0.94%
- 1Y
- 6.16%
- 3Y*
- 4.49%
- 5Y*
- 0.57%
- 10Y*
- 1.34%
FSEC vs. VMBS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSEC Fidelity Investment Grade Securitized ETF | 0.86% | 8.33% | 2.40% | 5.22% | -12.62% | -0.62% |
VMBS Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.83% | 8.36% | 1.70% | 5.34% | -11.90% | -0.90% |
Correlation
The correlation between FSEC and VMBS is 0.84, 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 | 0.84 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 4, 2021 | 0.85 |
The correlation between FSEC and VMBS has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.84 to 0.87 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
FSEC vs. VMBS — Risk / Return Rank
FSEC
VMBS
FSEC vs. VMBS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fidelity Investment Grade Securitized ETF (FSEC) and Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (VMBS). 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.
| FSEC | VMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.26 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.46 | 2.30 | +0.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.72 | 7.33 | -0.61 |
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Drawdowns
FSEC vs. VMBS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSEC drawdown since its inception was -17.97%, roughly equal to the maximum VMBS drawdown of -17.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSEC and VMBS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSEC | VMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.97% | -17.47% | -0.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.52% | -2.68% | +0.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -7.32% | -7.65% | +0.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.97% | -17.12% | -0.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -17.47% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.20% | -1.16% | -0.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.58% | -2.49% | -4.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.92% | 0.84% | +0.08% |
Volatility
FSEC vs. VMBS - Volatility Comparison
Fidelity Investment Grade Securitized ETF (FSEC) has a higher volatility of 1.27% compared to Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (VMBS) at 1.19%. This indicates that FSEC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VMBS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSEC | VMBS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.27% | 1.19% | +0.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.26% | 3.28% | -0.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.30% | 4.31% | +0.99% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.78% | 6.78% | 0.00% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.60% | 5.41% | +1.19% |
FSEC vs. VMBS - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSEC has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is higher than VMBS's 0.04% expense ratio.
Dividends
FSEC vs. VMBS - Dividend Comparison
FSEC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.44%, more than VMBS's 4.18% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSEC Fidelity Investment Grade Securitized ETF | 4.44% | 4.22% | 3.22% | 3.41% | 2.21% | 0.96% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VMBS Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 4.18% | 4.20% | 3.94% | 3.31% | 2.35% | 1.02% | 2.01% | 2.77% | 2.72% | 2.16% | 2.10% | 2.12% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FSEC and VMBS have a correlation of 0.84, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FSEC has higher volatility (1.27%) compared to VMBS (1.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FSEC dropped -17.97% vs VMBS's -17.47%.
On 5-year performance, VMBS leads with 0.57% vs 0.54% for FSEC. On fees, VMBS 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, VMBS has performed better with a 0.57% return vs 0.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VMBS is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for FSEC.
FSEC has the higher dividend yield at 4.44%, compared with 4.18% for VMBS.
FSEC is categorized as Intermediate Core Bond, while VMBS is Mortgage Backed Securities. They also come from different issuers: Fidelity and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.36% for FSEC and 0.04% for VMBS.
VMBS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.44 vs 1.17), 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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