TUSI vs. VGSH

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

TUSI (Touchstone Ultra Short Income ETF) and VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - TUSI is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Touchstone, while VGSH is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. TUSI is actively managed, while VGSH is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, TUSI returned 5.80%/yr vs 4.16%/yr for VGSH. At a 0.39 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. TUSI charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VGSH.

Performance

TUSI vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Touchstone Ultra Short Income ETF (TUSI) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TUSI achieves a 1.64% return, which is significantly higher than VGSH's 0.52% return.

TUSI

• 1D: 0.06%
• 1M: 0.36%
• YTD: 1.64%
• 6M: 2.01%
• 1Y: 4.73%
• 3Y*: 5.80%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VGSH

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.01%
• YTD: 0.52%
• 6M: 0.86%
• 1Y: 3.45%
• 3Y*: 4.16%
• 5Y*: 1.83%
• 10Y*: 1.74%

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

TUSI vs. VGSH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
TUSI Touchstone Ultra Short Income ETF	1.64%	5.09%	6.51%	6.53%	0.84%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF	0.52%	5.07%	4.00%	4.31%	-0.78%

Correlation

The correlation between TUSI and VGSH is 0.35, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.35
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.38
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 9, 2022	0.39

Return for Risk

TUSI vs. VGSH — Risk / Return Rank

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

TUSI

TUSI Risk / Return Rank: 98
TUSI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
TUSI Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
TUSI Omega Ratio Rank: 98
TUSI Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
TUSI Martin Ratio Rank: 98

VGSH

VGSH Risk / Return Rank: 83
VGSH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
VGSH Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
VGSH Omega Ratio Rank: 89
VGSH Calmar Ratio Rank: 75
VGSH Martin Ratio Rank: 78

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.

TUSI vs. VGSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Touchstone Ultra Short Income ETF (TUSI) 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.

	TUSI	VGSH	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	4.59	2.69	+1.90
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	7.87	4.45	+3.42
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.17	1.57	+0.60
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	19.72	3.81	+15.91
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	84.17	15.25	+68.91
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

TUSI vs. VGSH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TUSI Sharpe Ratio is 4.59, which is higher than the VGSH Sharpe Ratio of 2.69. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TUSI and VGSH, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	TUSI	VGSH	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.59	2.69	+1.90
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.93	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	1.11	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	5.62	1.02	+4.61

Drawdowns

TUSI vs. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TUSI drawdown since its inception was -0.40%, smaller than the maximum VGSH drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TUSI and VGSH.

Drawdown Indicators

	TUSI	VGSH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.40%	-5.70%	+5.30%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.24%	-0.88%	+0.64%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.39%	-0.97%	+0.58%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-5.66%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-5.70%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.02%	-0.26%	+0.24%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.04%	-0.60%	+0.56%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.06%	0.22%	-0.16%

Volatility

TUSI vs. VGSH - Volatility Comparison

Touchstone Ultra Short Income ETF (TUSI) has a higher volatility of 0.39% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) at 0.36%. This indicates that TUSI'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.

Volatility by Period

	TUSI	VGSH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.39%	0.36%	+0.03%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.66%	0.88%	-0.22%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.04%	1.29%	-0.25%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.96%	1.97%	-1.01%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.96%	1.57%	-0.61%

TUSI vs. VGSH - Expense Ratio Comparison

TUSI has a 0.25% 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

TUSI vs. VGSH - Dividend Comparison

TUSI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.57%, more than VGSH's 3.87% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
TUSI Touchstone Ultra Short Income ETF	4.57%	4.85%	5.50%	5.41%	1.38%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
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

Can I hold both TUSI and VGSH in my portfolio?

TUSI and VGSH have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TUSI or VGSH?

TUSI has higher volatility (0.39%) compared to VGSH (0.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TUSI dropped -0.40% vs VGSH's -5.70%.

Which ETF is better, TUSI or VGSH?

On 3-year performance, TUSI leads with 5.80% vs 4.16% for VGSH. On fees, VGSH is cheaper at 0.03% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, TUSI or VGSH?

Over the 3-year period, TUSI has performed better with a 5.80% return vs 4.16%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, TUSI or VGSH?

VGSH is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for TUSI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, TUSI or VGSH?

TUSI has the higher dividend yield at 4.57%, compared with 3.87% for VGSH.

What is the main difference between TUSI and VGSH?

TUSI is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while VGSH is Government Bonds. They also come from different issuers: Touchstone and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for TUSI and 0.03% for VGSH.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

TUSI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.59 vs 2.69), 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.