FSSAX vs. VBITX
FSSAX (Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund) and VBITX (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares) are both mutual funds - FSSAX is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Franklin Templeton, while VBITX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, FSSAX returned 12.24%/yr vs 1.88%/yr for VBITX. At a correlation of -0.08, they often move in opposite directions. FSSAX charges 0.78%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for VBITX.
Performance
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSSAX achieves a 14.22% return, which is significantly higher than VBITX's 0.45% return. Over the past 10 years, FSSAX has outperformed VBITX with an annualized return of 12.24%, while VBITX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.88% annualized return.
FSSAX
- 1D
- 0.36%
- 1M
- 3.57%
- 6M
- 9.26%
- YTD
- 14.22%
- 1Y
- 27.59%
- 3Y*
- 15.12%
- 5Y*
- 3.99%
- 10Y*
- 12.24%
VBITX
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- 6M
- 0.65%
- YTD
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 3.37%
- 3Y*
- 4.44%
- 5Y*
- 1.59%
- 10Y*
- 1.88%
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSSAX Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund | 14.22% | 7.88% | 13.02% | 31.05% | -30.29% | -0.24% | 41.68% | 42.14% | -3.08% | 21.32% |
VBITX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.45% | 6.11% | 3.77% | 4.43% | -5.61% | -1.18% | 4.72% | 4.89% | 1.38% | 1.20% |
Correlation
The correlation between FSSAX and VBITX is 0.24, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2011 | -0.08 |
The correlation between FSSAX and VBITX shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (all time) to 0.24 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FSSAX vs. VBITX — Risk / Return Rank
FSSAX
VBITX
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX). 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.
| FSSAX | VBITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.42 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.31 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.42 | 2.32 | +0.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.17 | 6.95 | +2.22 |
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Drawdowns
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSSAX drawdown since its inception was -59.61%, which is greater than VBITX's maximum drawdown of -8.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSSAX and VBITX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSSAX | VBITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.61% | -8.65% | -50.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.99% | -1.54% | -10.45% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.48% | -1.54% | -27.94% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -42.58% | -8.61% | -33.97% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.80% | -8.65% | -34.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.19% | -0.49% | -1.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.68% | -1.18% | -13.50% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.15% | 0.52% | +2.63% |
Volatility
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Volatility Comparison
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) has a higher volatility of 4.39% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) at 0.66%. This indicates that FSSAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBITX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSSAX | VBITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.39% | 0.66% | +3.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.33% | 1.71% | +12.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.14% | 2.28% | +16.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.43% | 2.97% | +21.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.89% | 2.41% | +21.48% |
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSSAX has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is higher than VBITX's 0.05% expense ratio.
Dividends
FSSAX vs. VBITX - Dividend Comparison
FSSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.69%, more than VBITX's 4.03% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSSAX Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund | 6.69% | 7.64% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.54% | 16.49% | 9.31% | 12.17% | 22.72% | 1.77% | 0.00% | 1.92% |
VBITX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 4.03% | 3.85% | 3.39% | 1.99% | 1.48% | 1.24% | 1.80% | 2.26% | 2.03% | 1.69% | 1.52% | 1.44% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FSSAX and VBITX have a correlation of 0.24, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FSSAX has higher volatility (4.39%) compared to VBITX (0.66%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FSSAX dropped -59.61% vs VBITX's -8.65%.
VBITX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.58 vs 1.52), 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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