SCHR vs. VGSH
SCHR (Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF) and VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds - SCHR tracks the Bloomberg US Treasury 3-10 Year Index while VGSH tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCHR returned 1.23%/yr vs 1.74%/yr for VGSH. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SCHR charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VGSH.
Performance
SCHR vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHR achieves a -0.43% return, which is significantly lower than VGSH's 0.48% return. Over the past 10 years, SCHR has underperformed VGSH with an annualized return of 1.23%, while VGSH has yielded a comparatively higher 1.74% annualized return.
SCHR
- 1D
- -0.16%
- 1M
- -0.15%
- YTD
- -0.43%
- 6M
- -0.59%
- 1Y
- 3.55%
- 3Y*
- 3.41%
- 5Y*
- 0.05%
- 10Y*
- 1.23%
VGSH
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.48%
- 6M
- 0.74%
- 1Y
- 3.43%
- 3Y*
- 4.15%
- 5Y*
- 1.81%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
SCHR vs. VGSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHR Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | -0.43% | 7.33% | 1.42% | 4.27% | -10.58% | -2.62% | 7.72% | 6.18% | 1.46% | 1.59% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.48% | 5.07% | 4.00% | 4.31% | -3.86% | -0.60% | 3.04% | 3.52% | 1.55% | 0.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHR and VGSH is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 6, 2010 | 0.75 |
The correlation between SCHR and VGSH shifts across timeframes, from 0.75 (all time) to 0.91 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SCHR vs. VGSH — Risk / Return Rank
SCHR
VGSH
SCHR vs. VGSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHR) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). 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.
| SCHR | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.85 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.57 | -0.39 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.27 | 3.90 | -2.62 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.82 | 15.52 | -11.70 |
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
| SCHR | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.04 | 2.68 | -1.64 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 | 0.93 | -0.92 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 | 1.11 | -0.83 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 1.01 | -0.57 |
Drawdowns
SCHR vs. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHR drawdown since its inception was -16.11%, which is greater than VGSH's maximum drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHR and VGSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCHR | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.11% | -5.70% | -10.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.79% | -0.88% | -1.91% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.35% | -0.97% | -3.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.07% | -5.66% | -9.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.11% | -5.70% | -10.41% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.37% | -0.29% | -2.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.64% | -0.60% | -3.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 0.22% | +0.71% |
Volatility
SCHR vs. VGSH - Volatility Comparison
Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHR) has a higher volatility of 1.08% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) at 0.35%. This indicates that SCHR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SCHR | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.08% | 0.35% | +0.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.35% | 0.88% | +1.47% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.43% | 1.29% | +2.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.38% | 1.97% | +3.41% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.47% | 1.57% | +2.90% |
SCHR vs. VGSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHR has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than VGSH's 0.03% 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
SCHR vs. VGSH - Dividend Comparison
SCHR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.92%, more than VGSH's 3.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHR Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 3.92% | 3.85% | 3.77% | 3.16% | 2.02% | 1.00% | 1.62% | 2.31% | 2.11% | 1.65% | 1.45% | 1.56% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 3.87% | 4.00% | 4.18% | 3.31% | 1.15% | 0.66% | 1.74% | 2.28% | 1.79% | 1.10% | 0.84% | 0.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, SCHR and VGSH move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
SCHR has higher volatility (1.08%) compared to VGSH (0.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHR dropped -16.11% vs VGSH's -5.70%.
On 10-year performance, VGSH leads with 1.74% vs 1.23% for SCHR. On fees, VGSH is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VGSH has been the lower-risk option at 0.35%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VGSH has performed better with a 1.74% return vs 1.23%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGSH is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.05% for SCHR.
SCHR has the higher dividend yield at 3.92%, compared with 3.87% for VGSH.
SCHR tracks Bloomberg US Treasury 3-10 Year Index, while VGSH tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for SCHR and 0.03% for VGSH.
VGSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.68 vs 1.04), 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.
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