RWMGX vs. VFIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class R-6 (RWMGX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX).
RWMGX is managed by American Funds. VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Performance Comparison
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RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RWMGX American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class R-6 | -3.10% | 17.56% | 19.35% | 17.58% | -8.17% | 28.84% | 8.02% | 25.78% | -5.91% | 20.38% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.35% | 17.83% | 24.97% | 26.24% | -18.16% | 28.65% | 18.32% | 31.46% | -4.45% | 21.78% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RWMGX achieves a -3.10% return, which is significantly higher than VFIAX's -4.35% return. Over the past 10 years, RWMGX has underperformed VFIAX with an annualized return of 12.45%, while VFIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 14.04% annualized return.
RWMGX
- 1D
- 2.22%
- 1M
- -5.83%
- YTD
- -3.10%
- 6M
- -1.25%
- 1Y
- 13.30%
- 3Y*
- 16.48%
- 5Y*
- 11.52%
- 10Y*
- 12.45%
VFIAX
- 1D
- 2.92%
- 1M
- -5.03%
- YTD
- -4.35%
- 6M
- -2.16%
- 1Y
- 17.30%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.04%
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RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
RWMGX has a 0.27% expense ratio, which is higher than VFIAX's 0.04% 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%.
Return for Risk
RWMGX vs. VFIAX — Risk / Return Rank
RWMGX
VFIAX
RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class R-6 (RWMGX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX). 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.
| RWMGX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.89 | 0.97 | -0.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.37 | 1.49 | -0.12 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.23 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.38 | 1.52 | -0.14 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.17 | 7.29 | -1.13 |
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
| RWMGX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.89 | 0.97 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.82 | 0.70 | +0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 | 0.78 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.79 | 0.44 | +0.35 |
Correlation
The correlation between RWMGX and VFIAX is 0.96, 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
RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Dividend Comparison
RWMGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.74%, more than VFIAX's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RWMGX American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class R-6 | 10.74% | 10.36% | 10.36% | 6.42% | 6.63% | 6.33% | 3.35% | 6.91% | 4.67% | 7.52% | 6.66% | 6.55% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.18% | 1.12% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RWMGX drawdown since its inception was -34.64%, smaller than the maximum VFIAX drawdown of -55.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RWMGX and VFIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RWMGX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.64% | -55.20% | +20.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.36% | -12.12% | +1.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.46% | -24.53% | +6.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.64% | -33.83% | -0.81% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.32% | -6.24% | -0.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.14% | -9.46% | +6.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.32% | 2.52% | -0.20% |
Volatility
RWMGX vs. VFIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class R-6 (RWMGX) is 4.41%, while Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) has a volatility of 5.35%. This indicates that RWMGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| RWMGX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.41% | 5.35% | -0.94% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.28% | 9.53% | -1.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.30% | 18.32% | -3.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.13% | 16.91% | -2.78% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.33% | 18.05% | -1.72% |