VASGX vs. VBIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX).
VASGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994. VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
VASGX vs. VBIAX - Performance Comparison
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VASGX vs. VBIAX - 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% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.19% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 17.54% | -16.90% | 14.21% | 16.40% | 21.78% | -2.86% | 13.89% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VASGX achieves a -3.57% return, which is significantly higher than VBIAX's -4.19% return. Over the past 10 years, VASGX has outperformed VBIAX with an annualized return of 9.49%, while VBIAX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.77% 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%
VBIAX
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- -5.43%
- YTD
- -4.19%
- 6M
- -2.40%
- 1Y
- 10.89%
- 3Y*
- 11.56%
- 5Y*
- 6.33%
- 10Y*
- 8.77%
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VASGX vs. VBIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VASGX has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is higher than VBIAX's 0.07% 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. VBIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VASGX
VBIAX
VASGX vs. VBIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX). 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 | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.20 | 1.01 | +0.19 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.73 | 1.51 | +0.22 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.22 | +0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.53 | 1.31 | +0.21 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.92 | 6.22 | +0.70 |
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
| VASGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.20 | 1.01 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.58 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.71 | 0.79 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.60 | -0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between VASGX and VBIAX is 0.92, 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. VBIAX - Dividend Comparison
VASGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.25%, less than VBIAX's 5.84% 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% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.84% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
Drawdowns
VASGX vs. VBIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VASGX drawdown since its inception was -51.16%, which is greater than VBIAX's maximum drawdown of -35.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VASGX and VBIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VASGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.16% | -35.90% | -15.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.40% | -7.78% | -1.62% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.43% | -21.53% | -2.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.53% | -22.78% | -5.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.17% | -5.83% | -2.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.29% | -4.47% | -2.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.07% | 1.64% | +0.43% |
Volatility
VASGX vs. VBIAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) has a higher volatility of 4.33% compared to Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) at 3.07%. This indicates that VASGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VASGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.33% | 3.07% | +1.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.74% | 5.93% | +1.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.21% | 11.27% | +1.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.66% | 11.02% | +1.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.42% | 11.17% | +2.25% |