VASGX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
VASGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993.
Performance
VASGX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VASGX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VASGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund | -3.57% | 19.65% | 12.95% | 18.76% | -17.21% | 14.35% | 15.45% | 23.14% | -6.89% | 19.21% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -4.37% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VASGX achieves a -3.57% return, which is significantly higher than SPY's -4.37% return. Over the past 10 years, VASGX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 9.49%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 13.98% annualized return.
VASGX
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- -7.77%
- YTD
- -3.57%
- 6M
- -0.86%
- 1Y
- 15.75%
- 3Y*
- 13.37%
- 5Y*
- 7.16%
- 10Y*
- 9.49%
SPY
- 1D
- 2.91%
- 1M
- -4.94%
- YTD
- -4.37%
- 6M
- -1.82%
- 1Y
- 17.59%
- 3Y*
- 18.19%
- 5Y*
- 11.69%
- 10Y*
- 13.98%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VASGX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VASGX has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% 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%.
Return for Risk
VASGX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
VASGX
SPY
VASGX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
| VASGX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.20 | 0.93 | +0.27 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.73 | 1.45 | +0.28 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.22 | +0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.53 | 1.53 | 0.00 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.92 | 7.30 | -0.38 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VASGX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.20 | 0.93 | +0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.69 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.71 | 0.78 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.56 | -0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between VASGX and SPY is 0.91, 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
VASGX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
VASGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.25%, more than SPY's 1.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VASGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund | 4.25% | 4.09% | 6.15% | 3.00% | 2.10% | 3.54% | 3.54% | 2.34% | 4.36% | 2.13% | 2.23% | 4.54% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.14% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
VASGX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VASGX drawdown since its inception was -51.16%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VASGX and SPY.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VASGX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.16% | -55.19% | +4.03% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.40% | -12.05% | +2.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.43% | -24.50% | +0.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.53% | -33.72% | +5.19% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.17% | -6.24% | -1.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.29% | -9.09% | +1.80% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.07% | 2.52% | -0.45% |
Volatility
VASGX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) is 4.33%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 5.31%. This indicates that VASGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VASGX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.33% | 5.31% | -0.98% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.74% | 9.47% | -1.73% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.21% | 19.05% | -5.84% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.66% | 17.06% | -4.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.42% | 17.92% | -4.50% |