HESGX vs. VFFSX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund (HESGX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX).

HESGX is managed by Horizon Investments. It was launched on Dec 27, 2019. VFFSX is managed by Vanguard.

Performance

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund (HESGX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
HESGX Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund	-5.20%	9.56%	22.41%	23.52%	-18.83%	27.45%	21.75%	-0.24%
VFFSX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares	-4.34%	17.87%	25.00%	26.28%	-18.14%	29.24%	18.35%	-0.27%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, HESGX achieves a -5.20% return, which is significantly lower than VFFSX's -4.34% return.

HESGX

• 1D: 2.89%
• 1M: -5.18%
• YTD: -5.20%
• 6M: -3.01%
• 1Y: 11.39%
• 3Y*: 14.46%
• 5Y*: 8.44%
• 10Y*: —

VFFSX

• 1D: 2.92%
• 1M: -5.03%
• YTD: -4.34%
• 6M: -2.14%
• 1Y: 17.34%
• 3Y*: 18.30%
• 5Y*: 11.78%
• 10Y*: —

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

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Expense Ratio Comparison

HESGX has a 1.02% expense ratio, which is higher than VFFSX's 0.01% expense ratio.

HESGX

Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund

VFFSX

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares

Return for Risk

HESGX vs. VFFSX — Risk / Return Rank

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

HESGX

HESGX Risk / Return Rank: 33
HESGX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 33
HESGX Sortino Ratio Rank: 28
HESGX Omega Ratio Rank: 28
HESGX Calmar Ratio Rank: 42
HESGX Martin Ratio Rank: 35

VFFSX

VFFSX Risk / Return Rank: 59
VFFSX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
VFFSX Sortino Ratio Rank: 53
VFFSX Omega Ratio Rank: 56
VFFSX Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
VFFSX Martin Ratio Rank: 76

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.

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund (HESGX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX). 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.

	HESGX	VFFSX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.85	0.98	-0.13
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.18	1.49	-0.32
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.17	1.23	-0.06
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.27	1.52	-0.25
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4.34	7.31	-2.98
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current HESGX Sharpe Ratio is 0.85, which is comparable to the VFFSX Sharpe Ratio of 0.98. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of HESGX and VFFSX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	HESGX	VFFSX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.85	0.98	-0.13
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.58	0.70	-0.12
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.71	0.77	-0.06

Correlation

The correlation between HESGX and VFFSX is 0.98, 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

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Dividend Comparison

HESGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 17.60%, more than VFFSX's 1.21% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
HESGX Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund	17.60%	16.68%	0.29%	0.61%	0.52%	2.51%	2.75%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VFFSX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares	1.21%	1.14%	1.24%	1.46%	1.70%	1.61%	1.56%	2.15%	2.09%	1.81%

Drawdowns

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum HESGX drawdown since its inception was -24.43%, smaller than the maximum VFFSX drawdown of -33.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HESGX and VFFSX.

Drawdown Indicators

	HESGX	VFFSX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-24.43%	-33.82%	+9.39%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.42%	-12.12%	+2.70%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.08%	-24.51%	+2.43%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.81%	-6.24%	-0.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.23%	-4.57%	-1.66%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.77%	2.52%	+0.25%

Volatility

HESGX vs. VFFSX - Volatility Comparison

Horizon ESG Defensive Core Fund (HESGX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX) have volatilities of 5.31% and 5.35%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	HESGX	VFFSX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.31%	5.35%	-0.04%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.48%	9.53%	-0.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.86%	18.32%	-4.46%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.57%	16.91%	-2.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.33%	18.52%	-2.19%