VB vs. BRK-B
VB (Vanguard Small-Cap ETF) is Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Small Cap Index, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, VB returned 11.61%/yr vs 13.22%/yr for BRK-B. A 0.54 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
VB vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VB achieves a 15.33% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's -2.67% return. Over the past 10 years, VB has underperformed BRK-B with an annualized return of 11.61%, while BRK-B has yielded a comparatively higher 13.22% annualized return.
VB
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 3.75%
- YTD
- 15.33%
- 6M
- 13.69%
- 1Y
- 28.72%
- 3Y*
- 16.14%
- 5Y*
- 6.98%
- 10Y*
- 11.61%
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 0.77%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- -0.22%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.22%
VB vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VB Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 15.33% | 8.87% | 14.17% | 18.22% | -17.51% | 17.57% | 19.19% | 27.34% | -9.34% | 16.26% |
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -2.67% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
Correlation
The correlation between VB and BRK-B is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 2004 | 0.54 |
Over the past year, the correlation between VB and BRK-B has dropped to 0.19 - well below their long-term average of 0.54, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
VB vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank
VB
BRK-B
VB vs. BRK-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). 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.
| VB | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.75 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.01 | +0.29 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.21 | -0.02 | +3.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.80 | -0.05 | +11.85 |
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Drawdowns
VB vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VB drawdown since its inception was -59.56%, which is greater than BRK-B's maximum drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VB and BRK-B.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VB | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.56% | -53.86% | -5.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.98% | -9.42% | +0.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.36% | -14.95% | -10.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.15% | -26.58% | -1.57% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.05% | -29.57% | -12.48% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -9.36% | +9.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.43% | -11.07% | +2.64% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.44% | 4.53% | -2.09% |
Volatility
VB vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) has a higher volatility of 5.41% compared to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) at 3.95%. This indicates that VB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VB | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.41% | 3.95% | +1.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.24% | 10.78% | +1.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.68% | 14.38% | +2.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.80% | 17.12% | +3.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.44% | 19.44% | +2.00% |
Dividends
VB vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison
VB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.18%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VB Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 1.18% | 1.33% | 1.30% | 1.55% | 1.59% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.67% | 1.35% | 1.50% | 1.48% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VB and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VB has higher volatility (5.41%) compared to BRK-B (3.95%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VB dropped -59.56% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.
VB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.73 vs -0.02), 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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