NAESX vs. VTSNX
NAESX (Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund) and VTSNX (Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares) are both mutual funds - NAESX is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VTSNX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, NAESX returned 11.16%/yr vs 9.80%/yr for VTSNX. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. NAESX charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for VTSNX.
Performance
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with NAESX having a 14.09% return and VTSNX slightly higher at 14.48%. Over the past 10 years, NAESX has outperformed VTSNX with an annualized return of 11.16%, while VTSNX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.80% annualized return.
NAESX
- 1D
- -0.68%
- 1M
- 2.33%
- YTD
- 14.09%
- 6M
- 13.47%
- 1Y
- 28.73%
- 3Y*
- 16.90%
- 5Y*
- 6.98%
- 10Y*
- 11.16%
VTSNX
- 1D
- -0.81%
- 1M
- 3.56%
- YTD
- 14.48%
- 6M
- 16.99%
- 1Y
- 31.53%
- 3Y*
- 19.50%
- 5Y*
- 8.48%
- 10Y*
- 9.80%
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NAESX Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund | 14.09% | 8.71% | 12.83% | 19.35% | -17.71% | 17.60% | 18.92% | 27.22% | -9.44% | 16.10% |
VTSNX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares | 14.48% | 32.24% | 5.38% | 15.29% | -15.99% | 8.64% | 11.27% | 21.69% | -14.41% | 27.54% |
Correlation
The correlation between NAESX and VTSNX is 0.73, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 4, 2011 | 0.76 |
The correlation between NAESX and VTSNX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.76 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
NAESX vs. VTSNX — Risk / Return Rank
NAESX
VTSNX
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund (NAESX) and Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSNX). 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.
| NAESX | VTSNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.42 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.20 | 2.88 | +0.32 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.81 | 11.36 | +0.45 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| NAESX | VTSNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.77 | 2.29 | -0.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.57 | -0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.52 | 0.62 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.43 | 0.42 | +0.01 |
Drawdowns
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NAESX drawdown since its inception was -59.77%, which is greater than VTSNX's maximum drawdown of -35.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NAESX and VTSNX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| NAESX | VTSNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.77% | -35.72% | -24.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.98% | -11.29% | +2.31% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.28% | -13.14% | -12.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.19% | -29.55% | +1.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.82% | -35.72% | -6.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.68% | -0.81% | +0.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.82% | -8.09% | -3.73% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.43% | 2.85% | -0.42% |
Volatility
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund (NAESX) is 4.44%, while Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSNX) has a volatility of 4.88%. This indicates that NAESX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTSNX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| NAESX | VTSNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.44% | 4.88% | -0.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.72% | 11.92% | -0.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.29% | 14.22% | +2.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.72% | 15.04% | +5.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.60% | 15.93% | +5.67% |
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NAESX has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is higher than VTSNX's 0.08% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
NAESX vs. VTSNX - Dividend Comparison
NAESX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, less than VTSNX's 2.64% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NAESX Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund | 1.08% | 1.22% | 1.19% | 1.43% | 1.41% | 1.12% | 1.05% | 1.27% | 1.53% | 1.24% | 1.39% | 1.35% |
VTSNX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Institutional Shares | 2.64% | 3.17% | 3.36% | 3.24% | 3.08% | 3.08% | 2.13% | 3.16% | 3.19% | 2.75% | 2.95% | 2.86% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NAESX and VTSNX have a correlation of 0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTSNX has higher volatility (4.88%) compared to NAESX (4.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NAESX dropped -59.77% vs VTSNX's -35.72%.
VTSNX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.29 vs 1.77), 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.
Find the right allocation for NAESX and VTSNX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer