VCSTX vs. VTCAX
Compare and contrast key facts about VALIC Company I Science & Technology Fund (VCSTX) and Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX).
VCSTX is managed by VALIC. It was launched on Apr 28, 1994. VTCAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Mar 11, 2005.
Performance
VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Performance Comparison
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VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCSTX VALIC Company I Science & Technology Fund | -9.97% | 22.57% | 32.60% | 55.45% | -38.09% | 11.89% | 57.90% | 39.12% | -9.29% | 41.36% |
VTCAX Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares | -10.02% | 26.27% | 33.10% | 44.73% | -38.78% | 14.09% | 28.95% | 28.03% | -16.51% | -5.57% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VCSTX having a -9.97% return and VTCAX slightly lower at -10.02%. Over the past 10 years, VCSTX has outperformed VTCAX with an annualized return of 17.13%, while VTCAX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.09% annualized return.
VCSTX
- 1D
- -1.96%
- 1M
- -10.13%
- YTD
- -9.97%
- 6M
- -10.33%
- 1Y
- 25.55%
- 3Y*
- 23.36%
- 5Y*
- 9.15%
- 10Y*
- 17.13%
VTCAX
- 1D
- 0.56%
- 1M
- -9.34%
- YTD
- -10.02%
- 6M
- -6.89%
- 1Y
- 18.31%
- 3Y*
- 22.92%
- 5Y*
- 7.15%
- 10Y*
- 8.09%
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VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCSTX has a 0.94% expense ratio, which is higher than VTCAX's 0.10% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VCSTX vs. VTCAX — Risk / Return Rank
VCSTX
VTCAX
VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VALIC Company I Science & Technology Fund (VCSTX) and Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX). 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.
| VCSTX | VTCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.91 | 0.94 | -0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.42 | 1.48 | -0.06 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.20 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.94 | 1.11 | -0.16 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.87 | 4.16 | -1.28 |
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
| VCSTX | VTCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 | 0.94 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.34 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.39 | +0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.20 | 0.41 | -0.21 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCSTX and VTCAX is 0.72, 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
VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Dividend Comparison
VCSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.28%, more than VTCAX's 1.09% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCSTX VALIC Company I Science & Technology Fund | 8.28% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 16.31% | 42.68% | 11.14% | 8.13% | 19.76% | 0.00% | 6.21% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VTCAX Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.09% | 0.95% | 1.06% | 1.04% | 0.88% | 1.20% | 0.73% | 0.89% | 2.77% | 3.84% | 2.68% | 3.55% |
Drawdowns
VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCSTX drawdown since its inception was -89.61%, which is greater than VTCAX's maximum drawdown of -57.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCSTX and VTCAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCSTX | VTCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -89.61% | -57.11% | -32.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.03% | -13.56% | -3.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -44.91% | -46.58% | +1.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.91% | -46.58% | +1.67% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.03% | -13.08% | -3.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -47.36% | -11.96% | -35.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.58% | 3.61% | +1.97% |
Volatility
VCSTX vs. VTCAX - Volatility Comparison
VALIC Company I Science & Technology Fund (VCSTX) has a higher volatility of 8.30% compared to Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX) at 5.02%. This indicates that VCSTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTCAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCSTX | VTCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.30% | 5.02% | +3.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.26% | 11.16% | +6.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.56% | 20.09% | +7.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.71% | 21.23% | +5.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.32% | 20.95% | +4.37% |