FSSAX vs. VBK
Compare and contrast key facts about Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK).
FSSAX is managed by Franklin Templeton. It was launched on May 1, 2000. VBK is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap Growth Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004.
Performance
FSSAX vs. VBK - Performance Comparison
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FSSAX vs. VBK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSSAX Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund | -7.69% | 7.88% | 13.02% | 31.05% | -30.29% | -0.24% | 41.68% | 42.14% | -3.08% | 21.32% |
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 0.16% | 8.50% | 16.50% | 21.45% | -28.44% | 5.66% | 35.44% | 32.75% | -5.70% | 21.87% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSSAX achieves a -7.69% return, which is significantly lower than VBK's 0.16% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with FSSAX having a 10.94% annualized return and VBK not far behind at 10.46%.
FSSAX
- 1D
- -1.36%
- 1M
- -9.02%
- YTD
- -7.69%
- 6M
- -1.97%
- 1Y
- 14.20%
- 3Y*
- 10.07%
- 5Y*
- -0.60%
- 10Y*
- 10.94%
VBK
- 1D
- 4.37%
- 1M
- -5.52%
- YTD
- 0.16%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 20.70%
- 3Y*
- 12.47%
- 5Y*
- 2.16%
- 10Y*
- 10.46%
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FSSAX vs. VBK - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSSAX has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is higher than VBK's 0.07% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FSSAX vs. VBK — Risk / Return Rank
FSSAX
VBK
FSSAX vs. VBK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK). 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.
| FSSAX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.53 | 0.85 | -0.32 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.92 | 1.34 | -0.42 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.18 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.59 | 1.38 | -0.80 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.43 | 5.52 | -3.09 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FSSAX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.53 | 0.85 | -0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.02 | 0.09 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.32 | 0.40 | -0.08 |
Correlation
The correlation between FSSAX and VBK is 0.95, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
FSSAX vs. VBK - Dividend Comparison
FSSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.28%, more than VBK's 0.52% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSSAX Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund | 8.28% | 7.64% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.54% | 16.49% | 9.31% | 12.17% | 22.72% | 1.77% | 0.00% | 1.92% |
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 0.52% | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.68% | 0.55% | 0.36% | 0.44% | 0.57% | 0.79% | 0.82% | 1.08% | 0.98% |
Drawdowns
FSSAX vs. VBK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSSAX drawdown since its inception was -59.61%, roughly equal to the maximum VBK drawdown of -58.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSSAX and VBK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSSAX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.61% | -58.68% | -0.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.18% | -14.56% | +0.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -42.58% | -38.39% | -4.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.80% | -38.70% | -4.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.99% | -7.57% | -4.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.83% | -10.22% | -4.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.75% | 3.65% | +0.10% |
Volatility
FSSAX vs. VBK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) is 6.78%, while Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) has a volatility of 8.73%. This indicates that FSSAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VBK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSSAX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.78% | 8.73% | -1.95% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.63% | 15.41% | -1.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.14% | 24.44% | -0.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.29% | 23.49% | +0.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.91% | 22.80% | +1.11% |