VBK vs. FLQS
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) and Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (FLQS).
VBK and FLQS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VBK is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap Growth Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. FLQS is a passively managed fund by Franklin Templeton that tracks the performance of the LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity Index. It was launched on Apr 26, 2017. Both VBK and FLQS are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
VBK vs. FLQS - Performance Comparison
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VBK vs. FLQS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 0.16% | 8.50% | 16.50% | 21.45% | -28.44% | 5.66% | 35.44% | 32.75% | -5.70% | 13.53% |
FLQS Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF | -0.70% | 5.04% | 8.34% | 21.28% | -16.88% | 26.58% | 10.51% | 18.34% | -5.86% | 7.41% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBK achieves a 0.16% return, which is significantly higher than FLQS's -0.70% return.
VBK
- 1D
- 4.37%
- 1M
- -5.52%
- YTD
- 0.16%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 20.70%
- 3Y*
- 12.47%
- 5Y*
- 2.16%
- 10Y*
- 10.46%
FLQS
- 1D
- 1.70%
- 1M
- -5.45%
- YTD
- -0.70%
- 6M
- -2.00%
- 1Y
- 9.91%
- 3Y*
- 9.43%
- 5Y*
- 4.39%
- 10Y*
- —
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VBK vs. FLQS - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBK has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than FLQS's 0.35% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VBK vs. FLQS — Risk / Return Rank
VBK
FLQS
VBK vs. FLQS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) and Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (FLQS). 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.
| VBK | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.85 | 0.52 | +0.34 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.34 | 0.88 | +0.46 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.11 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.38 | 0.87 | +0.51 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.52 | 3.00 | +2.52 |
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
| VBK | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.85 | 0.52 | +0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 | 0.23 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.40 | 0.35 | +0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBK and FLQS is 0.80, 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
VBK vs. FLQS - Dividend Comparison
VBK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.52%, less than FLQS's 1.45% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 0.52% | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.68% | 0.55% | 0.36% | 0.44% | 0.57% | 0.79% | 0.82% | 1.08% | 0.98% |
FLQS Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF | 1.45% | 1.16% | 1.29% | 1.75% | 1.40% | 0.95% | 1.20% | 1.41% | 1.27% | 1.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VBK vs. FLQS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBK drawdown since its inception was -58.68%, which is greater than FLQS's maximum drawdown of -42.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBK and FLQS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBK | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.68% | -42.16% | -16.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.56% | -12.41% | -2.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.39% | -28.05% | -10.34% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.70% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.57% | -6.55% | -1.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.22% | -8.14% | -2.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 3.59% | +0.06% |
Volatility
VBK vs. FLQS - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) has a higher volatility of 8.73% compared to Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (FLQS) at 5.22%. This indicates that VBK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FLQS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBK | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.73% | 5.22% | +3.51% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.41% | 10.90% | +4.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.44% | 19.33% | +5.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.49% | 19.35% | +4.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.80% | 21.81% | +0.99% |