VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC
VAS.AX (Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF) is Australia Equities fund tracking the S&P/ASX 300 Index, while ^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index. Over the past 10 years, VAS.AX returned 8.30%/yr vs 14.27%/yr for ^GSPC. At a 0.04 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
VAS.AX is traded in AUD, while ^GSPC is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the ^GSPC values have been converted to AUD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VAS.AX achieves a 1.86% return, which is significantly lower than ^GSPC's 5.58% return. Over the past 10 years, VAS.AX has underperformed ^GSPC with an annualized return of 8.30%, while ^GSPC has yielded a comparatively higher 14.27% annualized return.
VAS.AX
- 1D
- 0.13%
- 1M
- -0.77%
- 6M
- 1.35%
- YTD
- 1.86%
- 1Y
- 4.90%
- 3Y*
- 9.38%
- 5Y*
- 6.75%
- 10Y*
- 8.30%
^GSPC
- 1D
- 0.12%
- 1M
- 1.38%
- 6M
- 4.49%
- YTD
- 5.58%
- 1Y
- 12.98%
- 3Y*
- 18.01%
- 5Y*
- 13.12%
- 10Y*
- 14.27%
VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VAS.AX Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF | 1.86% | 10.66% | 9.60% | 11.05% | -2.40% | 17.39% | 1.90% | 23.77% | -3.99% | 10.39% |
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 5.58% | 7.94% | 35.72% | 24.32% | -14.12% | 34.33% | 6.05% | 29.48% | 3.81% | 10.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between VAS.AX and ^GSPC is -0.01, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 1, 2009 | 0.04 |
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Return for Risk
VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC — Risk / Return Rank
VAS.AX
^GSPC
VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS.AX) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VAS.AX | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.82 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.24 | -0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.65 | 1.11 | -0.46 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.54 | 3.10 | -1.56 |
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Drawdowns
VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VAS.AX drawdown since its inception was -35.75%, smaller than the maximum ^GSPC drawdown of -41.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VAS.AX and ^GSPC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VAS.AX | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.75% | -41.07% | +5.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.56% | -11.69% | +3.13% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.23% | -17.74% | +4.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.18% | -22.01% | +6.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.75% | -24.71% | -11.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.89% | -0.60% | -2.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.80% | -11.02% | +6.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.68% | 4.20% | -0.52% |
Volatility
VAS.AX vs. ^GSPC - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS.AX) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) have volatilities of 2.37% and 2.48%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VAS.AX | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.37% | 2.48% | -0.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.05% | 7.91% | +2.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.14% | 10.19% | +1.95% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.76% | 14.61% | -1.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.39% | 16.32% | -1.93% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VAS.AX and ^GSPC have a correlation of -0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
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