PGEOX vs. VSMGX
Compare and contrast key facts about George Putnam Balanced Fund (PGEOX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX).
PGEOX is managed by Putnam. It was launched on Nov 5, 1937. VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Performance Comparison
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PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PGEOX George Putnam Balanced Fund | -2.12% | 14.02% | 20.65% | 19.93% | -17.59% | 13.80% | 9.25% | 22.61% | -3.03% | 15.02% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | -1.04% | 16.26% | 15.03% | 15.70% | -16.01% | 10.08% | 13.59% | 19.37% | -4.91% | 13.66% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PGEOX achieves a -2.12% return, which is significantly lower than VSMGX's -1.04% return. Over the past 10 years, PGEOX has outperformed VSMGX with an annualized return of 9.24%, while VSMGX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.13% annualized return.
PGEOX
- 1D
- 1.97%
- 1M
- -3.41%
- YTD
- -2.12%
- 6M
- -0.19%
- 1Y
- 14.34%
- 3Y*
- 15.19%
- 5Y*
- 8.00%
- 10Y*
- 9.24%
VSMGX
- 1D
- 1.81%
- 1M
- -4.25%
- YTD
- -1.04%
- 6M
- 0.93%
- 1Y
- 14.43%
- 3Y*
- 13.22%
- 5Y*
- 6.60%
- 10Y*
- 8.13%
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PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PGEOX has a 0.94% expense ratio, which is higher than VSMGX's 0.13% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PGEOX vs. VSMGX — Risk / Return Rank
PGEOX
VSMGX
PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for George Putnam Balanced Fund (PGEOX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX). 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.
| PGEOX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.28 | 1.45 | -0.17 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.86 | 2.08 | -0.21 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.30 | -0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.90 | 2.05 | -0.15 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.97 | 8.78 | +0.19 |
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
| PGEOX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.28 | 1.45 | -0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | 0.66 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 | 0.79 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.67 | -0.25 |
Correlation
The correlation between PGEOX and VSMGX is 0.89, 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
PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Dividend Comparison
PGEOX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.96%, more than VSMGX's 5.30% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PGEOX George Putnam Balanced Fund | 7.96% | 8.13% | 7.99% | 1.10% | 0.89% | 7.75% | 1.05% | 5.22% | 9.04% | 1.10% | 1.18% | 1.13% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | 5.30% | 5.25% | 11.49% | 4.01% | 2.66% | 3.86% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 4.11% | 1.09% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
Drawdowns
PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PGEOX drawdown since its inception was -50.63%, which is greater than VSMGX's maximum drawdown of -41.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PGEOX and VSMGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PGEOX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.63% | -41.13% | -9.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.97% | -7.24% | -0.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.36% | -22.29% | +0.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -23.00% | -22.43% | -0.57% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.86% | -4.94% | +1.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.78% | -4.86% | -6.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.69% | 1.69% | 0.00% |
Volatility
PGEOX vs. VSMGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for George Putnam Balanced Fund (PGEOX) is 3.85%, while Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) has a volatility of 4.14%. This indicates that PGEOX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSMGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PGEOX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.85% | 4.14% | -0.29% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.41% | 6.30% | +0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.58% | 10.24% | +1.34% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.40% | 10.12% | +1.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.59% | 10.32% | +1.27% |