VCSH vs. IWP
VCSH (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF) and IWP (iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VCSH is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, while IWP is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell Midcap Growth Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VCSH returned 2.64%/yr vs 11.64%/yr for IWP. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VCSH charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for IWP.
Performance
VCSH vs. IWP - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCSH achieves a 0.82% return, which is significantly higher than IWP's 0.63% return. Over the past 10 years, VCSH has underperformed IWP with an annualized return of 2.64%, while IWP has yielded a comparatively higher 11.64% annualized return.
VCSH
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- 0.10%
- 6M
- 0.78%
- YTD
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 3.73%
- 3Y*
- 5.46%
- 5Y*
- 2.34%
- 10Y*
- 2.64%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.90%
IWP
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -3.07%
- 6M
- -2.52%
- YTD
- 0.63%
- 1Y
- -1.82%
- 3Y*
- 12.07%
- 5Y*
- 4.51%
- 10Y*
- 11.64%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.13%
VCSH vs. IWP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.82% | 6.77% | 4.91% | 6.20% | -5.62% | -0.63% | 5.13% | 7.02% | 0.92% | 2.17% |
IWP iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 0.63% | 8.45% | 21.86% | 25.70% | -26.90% | 12.60% | 35.25% | 35.04% | -4.89% | 24.93% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCSH and IWP is 0.35, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | 0.11 |
Over the past year, VCSH and IWP have become more correlated (0.35) than their long-term average of 0.11, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
VCSH vs. IWP — Risk / Return Rank
VCSH
IWP
VCSH vs. IWP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) and iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IWP). 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.
| VCSH | IWP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.00 | +0.37 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.67 | -0.12 | +2.80 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.74 | -0.35 | +11.09 |
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Drawdowns
VCSH vs. IWP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCSH drawdown since its inception was -12.86%, smaller than the maximum IWP drawdown of -56.92%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCSH and IWP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCSH | IWP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -12.86% | -56.92% | +44.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.40% | -14.79% | +13.39% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.40% | -25.20% | +23.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.48% | -38.62% | +29.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -12.86% | -38.62% | +25.76% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.27% | -6.02% | +5.75% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.96% | -9.65% | +8.69% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.35% | 5.19% | -4.84% |
Volatility
VCSH vs. IWP - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) is 0.59%, while iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IWP) has a volatility of 5.06%. This indicates that VCSH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCSH | IWP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.59% | 5.06% | -4.47% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.55% | 13.78% | -12.23% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.94% | 17.32% | -15.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.90% | 22.44% | -19.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.35% | 21.69% | -18.34% |
VCSH vs. IWP - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCSH has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than IWP's 0.23% 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%.
Dividends
VCSH vs. IWP - Dividend Comparison
VCSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.46%, more than IWP's 0.36% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWP iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF | 0.36% | 0.37% | 0.40% | 0.54% | 0.77% | 0.30% | 0.38% | 0.59% | 1.02% | 0.78% | 1.16% | 0.98% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.46% | 4.35% | 3.96% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCSH and IWP have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWP has higher volatility (5.06%) compared to VCSH (0.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCSH dropped -12.86% vs IWP's -56.92%.
On 10-year performance, IWP leads with 11.64% vs 2.64% for VCSH. On fees, VCSH is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, VCSH has been the lower-risk option at 0.59%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IWP has performed better with a 11.64% return vs 2.64%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCSH is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.23% for IWP.
VCSH has the higher dividend yield at 4.46%, compared with 0.36% for IWP.
VCSH is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while IWP is Mid Cap Growth Equities. VCSH tracks Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, while IWP tracks Russell Midcap Growth Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for VCSH and 0.23% for IWP.
VCSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.94 vs -0.11), 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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