VDE vs. ETHA
VDE (Vanguard Energy ETF) and ETHA (iShares Ethereum Trust ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VDE is a Energy Equities fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index, while ETHA is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Ether Dollar Reference Rate - New York Variant. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, VDE returned 35.15% vs -34.33% for ETHA. At a 0.14 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VDE charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for ETHA.
Performance
VDE vs. ETHA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VDE achieves a 29.66% return, which is significantly higher than ETHA's -43.96% return.
VDE
- 1D
- 0.77%
- 1M
- -1.49%
- YTD
- 29.66%
- 6M
- 28.33%
- 1Y
- 35.15%
- 3Y*
- 16.71%
- 5Y*
- 20.05%
- 10Y*
- 9.39%
ETHA
- 1D
- -1.02%
- 1M
- -27.59%
- YTD
- -43.96%
- 6M
- -45.98%
- 1Y
- -34.33%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VDE vs. ETHA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
VDE Vanguard Energy ETF | 29.66% | 7.11% | -4.34% |
ETHA iShares Ethereum Trust ETF | -43.96% | -11.31% | -4.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between VDE and ETHA is 0.04, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2024 | 0.14 |
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Return for Risk
VDE vs. ETHA — Risk / Return Rank
VDE
ETHA
VDE vs. ETHA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). 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.
| VDE | ETHA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.93 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 0.94 | +0.36 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.20 | -0.57 | +3.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.95 | -0.98 | +9.93 |
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Drawdowns
VDE vs. ETHA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VDE drawdown since its inception was -74.20%, which is greater than ETHA's maximum drawdown of -67.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VDE and ETHA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VDE | ETHA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -74.20% | -67.56% | -6.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.80% | -67.56% | +55.76% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.41% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -69.29% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.26% | -65.65% | +57.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.95% | -33.25% | +13.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.21% | 39.22% | -35.01% |
Volatility
VDE vs. ETHA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) is 7.15%, while iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) has a volatility of 17.30%. This indicates that VDE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ETHA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VDE | ETHA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.15% | 17.30% | -10.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.59% | 46.58% | -29.99% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.46% | 69.29% | -48.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.45% | 72.65% | -46.20% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.93% | 72.65% | -42.72% |
VDE vs. ETHA - Expense Ratio Comparison
VDE has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than ETHA's 0.25% 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
VDE vs. ETHA - Dividend Comparison
VDE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.42%, while ETHA has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ETHA iShares Ethereum Trust ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VDE Vanguard Energy ETF | 2.42% | 3.11% | 3.23% | 3.34% | 3.65% | 4.13% | 4.76% | 3.42% | 3.35% | 2.90% | 2.31% | 3.17% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VDE and ETHA have a correlation of 0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ETHA has higher volatility (17.30%) compared to VDE (7.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VDE dropped -74.20% vs ETHA's -67.56%.
On 1-year performance, VDE leads with 35.15% vs -34.33% for ETHA. On fees, VDE is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, VDE has been the lower-risk option at 7.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, VDE has performed better with a 35.15% return vs -34.33%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VDE is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for ETHA.
VDE has the higher dividend yield at 2.42%, compared with 0.00% for ETHA.
VDE is categorized as Energy Equities, while ETHA is Cryptocurrency. VDE tracks MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index, while ETHA tracks CME CF Ether Dollar Reference Rate - New York Variant. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VDE and 0.25% for ETHA.
VDE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.85 vs -0.56), 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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