SMLPX vs. VDE
Compare and contrast key facts about Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund (SMLPX) and Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE).
SMLPX is managed by Salient Funds. It was launched on Sep 18, 2012. VDE is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index. It was launched on Sep 23, 2004.
Performance
SMLPX vs. VDE - Performance Comparison
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SMLPX vs. VDE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMLPX Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund | 19.17% | 5.22% | 37.87% | 14.06% | 14.69% | 22.69% | -17.25% | 16.36% | -18.10% | -6.80% |
VDE Vanguard Energy ETF | 33.23% | 7.11% | 6.75% | 0.03% | 62.89% | 56.31% | -33.02% | 9.28% | -19.95% | -2.50% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SMLPX achieves a 19.17% return, which is significantly lower than VDE's 33.23% return. Over the past 10 years, SMLPX has outperformed VDE with an annualized return of 12.10%, while VDE has yielded a comparatively lower 10.83% annualized return.
SMLPX
- 1D
- -0.81%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- YTD
- 19.17%
- 6M
- 18.09%
- 1Y
- 17.74%
- 3Y*
- 25.36%
- 5Y*
- 19.51%
- 10Y*
- 12.10%
VDE
- 1D
- -3.61%
- 1M
- 4.27%
- YTD
- 33.23%
- 6M
- 34.21%
- 1Y
- 31.84%
- 3Y*
- 17.03%
- 5Y*
- 23.32%
- 10Y*
- 10.83%
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SMLPX vs. VDE - Expense Ratio Comparison
SMLPX has a 1.35% expense ratio, which is higher than VDE's 0.10% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
SMLPX vs. VDE — Risk / Return Rank
SMLPX
VDE
SMLPX vs. VDE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund (SMLPX) and Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE). 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.
| SMLPX | VDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.00 | 1.27 | -0.27 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.31 | 1.67 | -0.35 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.25 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.20 | 1.72 | -0.52 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.82 | 4.92 | -1.09 |
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
| SMLPX | VDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.00 | 1.27 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 | 0.88 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | 0.36 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.27 | 0.28 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between SMLPX and VDE is 0.78, 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
SMLPX vs. VDE - Dividend Comparison
SMLPX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.77%, more than VDE's 2.36% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMLPX Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund | 3.77% | 4.45% | 4.48% | 5.75% | 2.19% | 3.69% | 5.82% | 4.54% | 6.21% | 6.09% | 6.31% | 8.63% |
VDE Vanguard Energy ETF | 2.36% | 3.11% | 3.23% | 3.34% | 3.65% | 4.13% | 4.76% | 3.42% | 3.35% | 2.90% | 2.31% | 3.17% |
Drawdowns
SMLPX vs. VDE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SMLPX drawdown since its inception was -73.06%, roughly equal to the maximum VDE drawdown of -74.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMLPX and VDE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SMLPX | VDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -73.06% | -74.20% | +1.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.57% | -18.91% | +3.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.32% | -26.58% | +5.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -60.49% | -69.29% | +8.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.85% | -5.74% | +3.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -27.45% | -20.06% | -7.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.87% | 6.61% | -1.74% |
Volatility
SMLPX vs. VDE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund (SMLPX) is 3.34%, while Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) has a volatility of 6.29%. This indicates that SMLPX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VDE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SMLPX | VDE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.34% | 6.29% | -2.95% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.43% | 14.31% | -4.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.70% | 25.19% | -6.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.94% | 26.53% | -6.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.33% | 29.88% | -5.55% |