PRILX vs. VFFSX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Parnassus Core Equity Institutional Shares (PRILX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX).

PRILX is managed by Parnassus. VFFSX is managed by Vanguard.

Performance

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Performance Comparison

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

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PRILX Parnassus Core Equity Institutional Shares	-8.59%	11.91%	18.81%	25.25%	-18.47%	27.86%	21.50%	30.95%	-0.06%	15.57%
VFFSX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares	-7.06%	17.87%	25.00%	26.28%	-18.14%	29.24%	18.35%	31.88%	-4.42%	20.80%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PRILX achieves a -8.59% return, which is significantly lower than VFFSX's -7.06% return.

PRILX

• 1D: 0.02%
• 1M: -8.57%
• YTD: -8.59%
• 6M: -7.05%
• 1Y: 4.82%
• 3Y*: 12.26%
• 5Y*: 8.16%
• 10Y*: 12.21%

VFFSX

• 1D: -0.39%
• 1M: -7.68%
• YTD: -7.06%
• 6M: -4.59%
• 1Y: 14.44%
• 3Y*: 17.17%
• 5Y*: 11.40%
• 10Y*: —

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

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Expense Ratio Comparison

PRILX has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is higher than VFFSX's 0.01% expense ratio.

PRILX

Parnassus Core Equity Institutional Shares

VFFSX

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares

Return for Risk

PRILX vs. VFFSX — Risk / Return Rank

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

PRILX

PRILX Risk / Return Rank: 12
PRILX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 13
PRILX Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
PRILX Omega Ratio Rank: 13
PRILX Calmar Ratio Rank: 11
PRILX Martin Ratio Rank: 12

VFFSX

VFFSX Risk / Return Rank: 46
VFFSX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 41
VFFSX Sortino Ratio Rank: 45
VFFSX Omega Ratio Rank: 50
VFFSX Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
VFFSX Martin Ratio Rank: 53

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.

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Parnassus Core Equity Institutional Shares (PRILX) 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.

	PRILX	VFFSX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.32	0.84	-0.52
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.57	1.30	-0.73
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.08	1.20	-0.12
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.25	1.06	-0.80
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	0.93	5.14	-4.21
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PRILX Sharpe Ratio is 0.32, which is lower than the VFFSX Sharpe Ratio of 0.84. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PRILX 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

	PRILX	VFFSX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.32	0.84	-0.52
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.51	0.68	-0.17
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.71	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.62	0.75	-0.13

Correlation

The correlation between PRILX and VFFSX 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

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Dividend Comparison

PRILX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 20.85%, more than VFFSX's 1.24% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PRILX Parnassus Core Equity Institutional Shares	20.85%	19.16%	10.17%	6.18%	10.34%	7.94%	6.04%	8.23%	9.89%	7.37%	3.99%	9.84%
VFFSX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares	1.24%	1.14%	1.24%	1.46%	1.70%	1.61%	1.56%	2.15%	2.09%	1.81%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PRILX drawdown since its inception was -42.00%, which is greater than VFFSX's maximum drawdown of -33.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PRILX and VFFSX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PRILX	VFFSX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-42.00%	-33.82%	-8.18%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.61%	-12.12%	+0.51%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.18%	-24.51%	-1.67%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-30.02%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.59%	-8.90%	-2.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.68%	-4.57%	-0.11%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.16%	2.49%	+0.67%

Volatility

PRILX vs. VFFSX - Volatility Comparison

Parnassus Core Equity Institutional Shares (PRILX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX) have volatilities of 4.08% and 4.24%, 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

	PRILX	VFFSX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.08%	4.24%	-0.16%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.56%	9.08%	-0.52%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.67%	18.13%	-1.46%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.18%	16.86%	-0.68%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.19%	18.50%	-1.31%