QCSTIX vs. VTSAX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about CREF Total Global Stock Account Class R3 (QCSTIX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX).

QCSTIX is an actively managed fund by TIAA-CREF. It was launched on May 1, 1992. VTSAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.

Performance

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in CREF Total Global Stock Account Class R3 (QCSTIX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
QCSTIX CREF Total Global Stock Account Class R3	-4.78%	20.05%	0.00%
VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares	-6.75%	17.12%	-1.43%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QCSTIX achieves a -4.78% return, which is significantly higher than VTSAX's -6.75% return.

QCSTIX

• 1D: -0.39%
• 1M: -9.29%
• YTD: -4.78%
• 6M: -1.66%
• 1Y: 17.86%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VTSAX

• 1D: -0.46%
• 1M: -7.71%
• YTD: -6.75%
• 6M: -4.47%
• 1Y: 14.76%
• 3Y*: 16.69%
• 5Y*: 10.11%
• 10Y*: 13.27%

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

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VTSAX

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares

Return for Risk

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX — Risk / Return Rank

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

QCSTIX

QCSTIX Risk / Return Rank: 60
QCSTIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
QCSTIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
QCSTIX Omega Ratio Rank: 60
QCSTIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
QCSTIX Martin Ratio Rank: 59

VTSAX

VTSAX Risk / Return Rank: 46
VTSAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 41
VTSAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 45
VTSAX Omega Ratio Rank: 49
VTSAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
VTSAX 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.

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CREF Total Global Stock Account Class R3 (QCSTIX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX). 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.

	QCSTIX	VTSAX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.19	0.84	+0.35
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.65	1.29	+0.35
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	1.20	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.26	1.05	+0.22
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.68	5.08	+0.60
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QCSTIX Sharpe Ratio is 1.19, which is higher than the VTSAX Sharpe Ratio of 0.84. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QCSTIX and VTSAX, 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

	QCSTIX	VTSAX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.19	0.84	+0.35
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.59	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.72	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.77	0.43	+0.33

Correlation

The correlation between QCSTIX and VTSAX 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

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Dividend Comparison

QCSTIX has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VTSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.20%.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QCSTIX CREF Total Global Stock Account Class R3	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares	1.20%	1.11%	1.26%	1.42%	1.65%	1.20%	1.41%	1.76%	2.03%	1.71%	1.92%	1.98%

Drawdowns

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QCSTIX drawdown since its inception was -16.98%, smaller than the maximum VTSAX drawdown of -55.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QCSTIX and VTSAX.

Drawdown Indicators

	QCSTIX	VTSAX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-16.98%	-55.33%	+38.35%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.78%	-12.41%	+0.63%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-25.36%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-34.97%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.95%	-8.92%	-1.03%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.13%	-9.06%	+6.93%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.76%	2.56%	+0.20%

Volatility

QCSTIX vs. VTSAX - Volatility Comparison

CREF Total Global Stock Account Class R3 (QCSTIX) has a higher volatility of 5.41% compared to Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) at 4.39%. This indicates that QCSTIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTSAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QCSTIX	VTSAX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.41%	4.39%	+1.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.77%	9.33%	+0.44%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.19%	18.42%	-3.23%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.15%	17.32%	-2.17%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.15%	18.37%	-3.22%