SWSSX vs. VSCPX
SWSSX (Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares) and VSCPX (Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares) are both Small Cap Blend Equities funds. Over the past 10 years, SWSSX returned 11.20%/yr vs 11.39%/yr for VSCPX. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. SWSSX charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VSCPX.
Performance
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SWSSX achieves a 18.71% return, which is significantly higher than VSCPX's 14.95% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SWSSX having a 11.20% annualized return and VSCPX not far ahead at 11.39%.
SWSSX
- 1D
- 0.92%
- 1M
- 5.00%
- YTD
- 18.71%
- 6M
- 17.43%
- 1Y
- 41.24%
- 3Y*
- 18.69%
- 5Y*
- 6.65%
- 10Y*
- 11.20%
VSCPX
- 1D
- 0.80%
- 1M
- 4.24%
- YTD
- 14.95%
- 6M
- 14.90%
- 1Y
- 29.69%
- 3Y*
- 17.33%
- 5Y*
- 7.36%
- 10Y*
- 11.39%
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SWSSX Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares | 18.71% | 12.88% | 11.57% | 17.07% | -20.43% | 14.77% | 20.12% | 25.63% | -11.19% | 14.76% |
VSCPX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares | 14.95% | 8.86% | 12.98% | 19.52% | -17.59% | 17.75% | 19.09% | 27.40% | -9.31% | 16.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between SWSSX and VSCPX is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 14, 2010 | 0.98 |
The correlation between SWSSX and VSCPX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.97 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SWSSX vs. VSCPX — Risk / Return Rank
SWSSX
VSCPX
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares (SWSSX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VSCPX). 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.
| SWSSX | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.34 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.97 | 3.52 | +0.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.11 | 12.99 | +1.12 |
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
| SWSSX | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.28 | 1.94 | +0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 | 0.36 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 | 0.53 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.36 | 0.54 | -0.18 |
Drawdowns
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SWSSX drawdown since its inception was -60.34%, which is greater than VSCPX's maximum drawdown of -41.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SWSSX and VSCPX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SWSSX | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.34% | -41.81% | -18.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.00% | -8.97% | -2.03% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.50% | -25.25% | -2.25% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.93% | -28.13% | -3.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.81% | -41.81% | 0.00% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.13% | 0.00% | -0.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.73% | -6.49% | -4.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.09% | 2.42% | +0.67% |
Volatility
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Volatility Comparison
Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares (SWSSX) has a higher volatility of 5.61% compared to Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VSCPX) at 4.40%. This indicates that SWSSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSCPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SWSSX | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.61% | 4.40% | +1.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.60% | 11.72% | +1.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.15% | 16.27% | +2.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.59% | 20.72% | +1.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.09% | 21.57% | +2.52% |
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Expense Ratio Comparison
SWSSX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is higher than VSCPX'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
SWSSX vs. VSCPX - Dividend Comparison
SWSSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, less than VSCPX's 1.20% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SWSSX Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares | 1.08% | 1.29% | 1.66% | 1.49% | 1.32% | 8.88% | 2.55% | 6.12% | 10.45% | 5.22% | 4.10% | 6.92% |
VSCPX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares | 1.20% | 1.35% | 1.32% | 1.56% | 1.56% | 1.26% | 1.16% | 1.41% | 1.69% | 1.37% | 1.52% | 1.51% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, SWSSX and VSCPX 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.
SWSSX has higher volatility (5.61%) compared to VSCPX (4.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SWSSX dropped -60.34% vs VSCPX's -41.81%.
SWSSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.28 vs 1.94), 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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