MERDX vs. VBK
Compare and contrast key facts about Meridian Growth Fund (MERDX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK).
MERDX is managed by Meridian. It was launched on Aug 1, 1984. 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
MERDX vs. VBK - Performance Comparison
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MERDX vs. VBK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MERDX Meridian Growth Fund | -10.55% | -6.25% | 6.42% | 15.29% | -29.13% | 15.58% | 24.93% | 27.67% | -7.30% | 25.64% |
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, MERDX achieves a -10.55% return, which is significantly lower than VBK's 0.16% return. Over the past 10 years, MERDX has underperformed VBK with an annualized return of 5.88%, while VBK has yielded a comparatively higher 10.46% annualized return.
MERDX
- 1D
- -1.13%
- 1M
- -9.36%
- YTD
- -10.55%
- 6M
- -10.85%
- 1Y
- -8.85%
- 3Y*
- -2.55%
- 5Y*
- -5.02%
- 10Y*
- 5.88%
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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MERDX vs. VBK - Expense Ratio Comparison
MERDX has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than VBK's 0.07% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
MERDX vs. VBK — Risk / Return Rank
MERDX
VBK
MERDX vs. VBK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Meridian Growth Fund (MERDX) 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.
| MERDX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.48 | 0.85 | -1.33 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.56 | 1.34 | -1.90 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.93 | 1.18 | -0.25 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.48 | 1.38 | -1.86 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.37 | 5.52 | -6.89 |
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
| MERDX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.48 | 0.85 | -1.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.24 | 0.09 | -0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 | 0.46 | -0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.43 | 0.40 | +0.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between MERDX and VBK is 0.92, 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
MERDX vs. VBK - Dividend Comparison
MERDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.09%, more than VBK's 0.52% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MERDX Meridian Growth Fund | 10.09% | 9.03% | 0.24% | 0.00% | 13.80% | 15.49% | 0.88% | 9.15% | 16.44% | 7.07% | 0.57% | 12.17% |
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
MERDX vs. VBK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MERDX drawdown since its inception was -48.45%, smaller than the maximum VBK drawdown of -58.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MERDX and VBK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MERDX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -48.45% | -58.68% | +10.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.50% | -14.56% | +0.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -37.93% | -38.39% | +0.46% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.64% | -38.70% | -1.94% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -32.68% | -7.57% | -25.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.22% | -10.22% | 0.00% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.67% | 3.65% | +2.02% |
Volatility
MERDX vs. VBK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Meridian Growth Fund (MERDX) is 5.71%, while Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) has a volatility of 8.73%. This indicates that MERDX 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
| MERDX | VBK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.71% | 8.73% | -3.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.04% | 15.41% | -3.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.35% | 24.44% | -1.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.37% | 23.49% | -2.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.27% | 22.80% | -1.53% |