VEXMX vs. VWUAX
VEXMX (Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund) and VWUAX (Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VEXMX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VWUAX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VEXMX returned 11.46%/yr vs 14.86%/yr for VWUAX. Their correlation of 0.87 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VEXMX charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for VWUAX.
Performance
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VEXMX achieves a 13.88% return, which is significantly higher than VWUAX's -2.88% return. Over the past 10 years, VEXMX has underperformed VWUAX with an annualized return of 11.46%, while VWUAX has yielded a comparatively higher 14.86% annualized return.
VEXMX
- 1D
- 1.41%
- 1M
- -2.64%
- 6M
- 11.23%
- YTD
- 13.88%
- 1Y
- 23.60%
- 3Y*
- 15.61%
- 5Y*
- 5.93%
- 10Y*
- 11.46%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.81%
VWUAX
- 1D
- 1.97%
- 1M
- -3.71%
- 6M
- -0.35%
- YTD
- -2.88%
- 1Y
- 2.46%
- 3Y*
- 16.27%
- 5Y*
- 3.29%
- 10Y*
- 14.86%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.75%
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 |
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VEXMX Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund | 13.88% | 10.93% | 15.05% | 26.79% | -26.56% | 12.31% | 32.43% | 27.87% | -9.48% | 17.94% |
VWUAX Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares | -2.88% | 15.49% | 31.79% | 45.32% | -39.58% | 2.43% | 58.80% | 48.42% | 0.77% | 31.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between VEXMX and VWUAX is 0.75, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.75 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.75 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.83 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.82 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 13, 2001 | 0.87 |
The correlation between VEXMX and VWUAX shifts across timeframes, from 0.75 (1 year) to 0.87 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VEXMX vs. VWUAX — Risk / Return Rank
VEXMX
VWUAX
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund (VEXMX) and Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares (VWUAX). 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.
| VEXMX | VWUAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.12 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.02 | +0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.00 | 0.03 | +1.97 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.79 | 0.09 | +6.70 |
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Drawdowns
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VEXMX drawdown since its inception was -58.17%, which is greater than VWUAX's maximum drawdown of -50.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VEXMX and VWUAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VEXMX | VWUAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.17% | -50.37% | -7.80% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.27% | -19.12% | +8.85% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.09% | -25.01% | -2.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.38% | -50.17% | +13.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.63% | -50.17% | +8.54% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.76% | -8.05% | +4.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.11% | -12.77% | +1.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.02% | 6.78% | -3.76% |
Volatility
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund (VEXMX) is 3.90%, while Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares (VWUAX) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that VEXMX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWUAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VEXMX | VWUAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.90% | 5.29% | -1.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.31% | 14.35% | -1.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.80% | 18.17% | -0.37% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.41% | 25.11% | -2.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.37% | 23.79% | -1.42% |
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VEXMX has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is lower than VWUAX'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
VEXMX vs. VWUAX - Dividend Comparison
VEXMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.90%, less than VWUAX's 9.78% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VEXMX Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund | 0.90% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 1.14% | 1.00% | 0.99% | 1.19% | 1.18% | 1.52% | 1.12% | 1.31% | 1.20% |
VWUAX Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares | 9.78% | 9.50% | 4.70% | 0.37% | 0.49% | 3.60% | 4.00% | 13.28% | 9.80% | 4.63% | 1.67% | 9.10% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VEXMX and VWUAX have a correlation of 0.75, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VWUAX has higher volatility (5.29%) compared to VEXMX (3.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VEXMX dropped -58.17% vs VWUAX's -50.37%.
VEXMX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.15 vs 0.03), 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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