VCLAX vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
VCLAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
VCLAX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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VCLAX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLAX Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | -0.99% | 4.97% | 2.77% | 7.60% | -9.99% | 1.50% | 5.68% | 8.91% | 0.76% | 6.93% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -4.42% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLAX achieves a -0.99% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's -4.42% return. Over the past 10 years, VCLAX has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 2.49%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.05% annualized return.
VCLAX
- 1D
- 0.27%
- 1M
- -3.17%
- YTD
- -0.99%
- 6M
- 0.88%
- 1Y
- 4.08%
- 3Y*
- 3.71%
- 5Y*
- 1.18%
- 10Y*
- 2.49%
VOO
- 1D
- 2.86%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- -4.42%
- 6M
- -1.84%
- 1Y
- 17.67%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.05%
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VCLAX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLAX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% 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
VCLAX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
VCLAX
VOO
VCLAX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| VCLAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.90 | 0.98 | -0.08 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.22 | 1.50 | -0.27 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.23 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.98 | 1.53 | -0.55 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.00 | 7.29 | -4.30 |
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
| VCLAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 | 0.98 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 | 0.70 | -0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.55 | 0.78 | -0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.92 | 0.83 | +0.09 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLAX and VOO is -0.09. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
VCLAX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
VCLAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.63%, more than VOO's 1.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLAX Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.63% | 4.41% | 3.95% | 3.07% | 2.74% | 2.60% | 3.28% | 3.24% | 3.41% | 3.32% | 3.56% | 3.58% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.19% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
VCLAX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLAX drawdown since its inception was -15.72%, smaller than the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLAX and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCLAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.72% | -33.99% | +18.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.34% | -11.98% | +6.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.72% | -24.52% | +8.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.72% | -33.99% | +18.27% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.17% | -6.29% | +3.12% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.19% | -3.72% | +1.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.75% | 2.52% | -0.77% |
Volatility
VCLAX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) is 1.26%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that VCLAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCLAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.26% | 5.29% | -4.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.96% | 9.44% | -7.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.44% | 18.10% | -12.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.52% | 16.82% | -12.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.54% | 17.99% | -13.45% |