VBIAX vs. VSMGX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX).
VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Performance Comparison
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VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | -2.81% | 16.26% | 15.03% | 15.70% | -16.01% | 10.08% | 13.59% | 19.37% | -4.91% | 13.66% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBIAX achieves a -4.19% return, which is significantly lower than VSMGX's -2.81% return. Over the past 10 years, VBIAX has outperformed VSMGX with an annualized return of 8.77%, while VSMGX has yielded a comparatively lower 7.93% annualized return.
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%
VSMGX
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- -6.43%
- YTD
- -2.81%
- 6M
- -0.53%
- 1Y
- 12.75%
- 3Y*
- 12.54%
- 5Y*
- 6.40%
- 10Y*
- 7.93%
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VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBIAX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than VSMGX's 0.13% expense ratio. Despite the difference, 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
VBIAX vs. VSMGX — Risk / Return Rank
VBIAX
VSMGX
VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX). 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.
| VBIAX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.01 | 1.27 | -0.26 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.51 | 1.82 | -0.31 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.26 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.31 | 1.64 | -0.33 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.22 | 7.16 | -0.94 |
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
| VBIAX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.01 | 1.27 | -0.26 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.64 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.77 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.60 | 0.67 | -0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBIAX and VSMGX is 0.93, 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
VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Dividend Comparison
VBIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.84%, more than VSMGX's 5.40% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | 5.40% | 5.25% | 11.49% | 4.01% | 2.66% | 3.86% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 4.11% | 1.09% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
Drawdowns
VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBIAX drawdown since its inception was -35.90%, smaller than the maximum VSMGX drawdown of -41.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBIAX and VSMGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBIAX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.90% | -41.13% | +5.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.78% | -7.24% | -0.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.53% | -22.29% | +0.76% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.78% | -22.43% | -0.35% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.83% | -6.64% | +0.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.47% | -4.86% | +0.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.64% | 1.66% | -0.02% |
Volatility
VBIAX vs. VSMGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) is 3.07%, while Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) has a volatility of 3.58%. This indicates that VBIAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSMGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBIAX | VSMGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.07% | 3.58% | -0.51% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.93% | 6.05% | -0.12% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.27% | 10.11% | +1.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.02% | 10.09% | +0.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.17% | 10.30% | +0.87% |