VCMDX vs. BICSX
VCMDX (Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Admiral Shares) and BICSX (BlackRock Commodity Strategies Portfolio) are both Commodities funds. Over the past 5 years, VCMDX returned 10.26%/yr vs 11.72%/yr for BICSX. Their correlation of 0.83 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VCMDX charges 0.16%/yr vs 0.72%/yr for BICSX.
Performance
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VCMDX having a 17.84% return and BICSX slightly lower at 17.14%.
VCMDX
- 1D
- -0.16%
- 1M
- 5.95%
- 6M
- 12.52%
- YTD
- 17.84%
- 1Y
- 30.13%
- 3Y*
- 11.96%
- 5Y*
- 10.26%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 12.09%
BICSX
- 1D
- -0.65%
- 1M
- 6.07%
- 6M
- 8.15%
- YTD
- 17.14%
- 1Y
- 36.46%
- 3Y*
- 15.13%
- 5Y*
- 11.72%
- 10Y*
- 8.85%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.91%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCMDX Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Admiral Shares | 17.84% | 18.20% | 5.27% | -7.45% | 13.83% | 34.82% | 5.07% | 2.74% |
BICSX BlackRock Commodity Strategies Portfolio | 17.14% | 28.70% | 4.38% | -4.32% | 11.90% | 22.44% | 6.80% | 2.70% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCMDX and BICSX is 0.86, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.86 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.84 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2019 | 0.83 |
The correlation between VCMDX and BICSX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.83 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VCMDX vs. BICSX — Risk / Return Rank
VCMDX
BICSX
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Admiral Shares (VCMDX) and BlackRock Commodity Strategies Portfolio (BICSX). 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.
| VCMDX | BICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.42 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.41 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.25 | 3.09 | -0.84 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.36 | 10.34 | -2.98 |
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Drawdowns
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCMDX drawdown since its inception was -26.67%, smaller than the maximum BICSX drawdown of -51.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCMDX and BICSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCMDX | BICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.67% | -51.59% | +24.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.39% | -11.71% | -1.68% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.39% | -11.71% | -1.68% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.45% | -22.35% | -3.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -35.82% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.37% | -5.36% | -2.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.81% | -20.37% | +9.56% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.08% | 3.49% | +0.59% |
Volatility
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Admiral Shares (VCMDX) has a higher volatility of 4.02% compared to BlackRock Commodity Strategies Portfolio (BICSX) at 3.28%. This indicates that VCMDX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BICSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCMDX | BICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.02% | 3.28% | +0.74% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.51% | 11.75% | +0.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.37% | 15.16% | +0.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.82% | 15.74% | +0.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.37% | 15.02% | +0.35% |
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCMDX has a 0.16% expense ratio, which is lower than BICSX's 0.72% expense ratio.
Dividends
VCMDX vs. BICSX - Dividend Comparison
VCMDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.91%, less than BICSX's 14.60% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BICSX BlackRock Commodity Strategies Portfolio | 14.60% | 3.09% | 3.60% | 9.39% | 9.05% | 2.68% | 0.80% | 2.03% | 2.12% | 0.65% | 0.94% |
VCMDX Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Admiral Shares | 12.91% | 15.21% | 2.19% | 2.50% | 14.21% | 30.56% | 0.50% | 0.60% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCMDX and BICSX have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCMDX has higher volatility (4.02%) compared to BICSX (3.28%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCMDX dropped -26.67% vs BICSX's -51.59%.
BICSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.40 vs 1.98), 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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