VCSAX vs. FSTA
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) and Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA).
VCSAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jan 30, 2004. FSTA is a passively managed fund by Fidelity that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA IMI Consumer Staples Index. It was launched on Oct 21, 2013.
Performance
VCSAX vs. FSTA - Performance Comparison
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VCSAX vs. FSTA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCSAX Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares | 6.73% | 2.11% | 13.29% | 2.38% | -1.75% | 18.56% | 10.90% | 26.08% | -7.72% | 11.79% |
FSTA Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | 6.98% | 1.82% | 13.31% | 2.29% | -1.72% | 17.44% | 10.96% | 26.84% | -8.49% | 12.71% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VCSAX having a 6.73% return and FSTA slightly higher at 6.98%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VCSAX having a 7.79% annualized return and FSTA not far behind at 7.69%.
VCSAX
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -7.73%
- YTD
- 6.73%
- 6M
- 6.01%
- 1Y
- 4.71%
- 3Y*
- 7.58%
- 5Y*
- 7.46%
- 10Y*
- 7.79%
FSTA
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -7.53%
- YTD
- 6.98%
- 6M
- 6.22%
- 1Y
- 4.72%
- 3Y*
- 7.59%
- 5Y*
- 7.27%
- 10Y*
- 7.69%
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VCSAX vs. FSTA - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCSAX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than FSTA's 0.08% 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
VCSAX vs. FSTA — Risk / Return Rank
VCSAX
FSTA
VCSAX vs. FSTA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) and Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA). 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.
| VCSAX | FSTA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.46 | 0.35 | +0.11 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.76 | 0.60 | +0.16 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.07 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.62 | 0.68 | -0.05 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.56 | 1.67 | -0.11 |
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
| VCSAX | FSTA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.46 | 0.35 | +0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.56 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | 0.53 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.66 | 0.63 | +0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCSAX and FSTA is 0.99, 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
VCSAX vs. FSTA - Dividend Comparison
VCSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.15%, less than FSTA's 2.22% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCSAX Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares | 2.15% | 2.26% | 2.33% | 2.65% | 2.37% | 2.99% | 2.50% | 2.44% | 2.78% | 2.52% | 2.40% | 2.56% |
FSTA Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | 2.22% | 2.34% | 2.25% | 2.66% | 2.26% | 2.15% | 2.47% | 2.46% | 3.01% | 2.42% | 2.53% | 2.86% |
Drawdowns
VCSAX vs. FSTA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCSAX drawdown since its inception was -34.34%, which is greater than FSTA's maximum drawdown of -25.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCSAX and FSTA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCSAX | FSTA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.34% | -25.13% | -9.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.28% | -9.29% | +0.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.56% | -16.58% | +0.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.08% | -25.13% | +0.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.73% | -7.53% | -0.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.72% | -3.51% | -0.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.72% | 3.77% | -0.05% |
Volatility
VCSAX vs. FSTA - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund Admiral Shares (VCSAX) and Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA) have volatilities of 3.99% and 3.90%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCSAX | FSTA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.99% | 3.90% | +0.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.98% | 8.96% | +0.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.74% | 13.69% | +0.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.00% | 12.94% | +0.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.60% | 14.50% | +0.10% |