VEXRX vs. EMCAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) and Empiric 2500 Fund (EMCAX).
VEXRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. EMCAX is managed by Empiric Funds. It was launched on Nov 6, 1995.
Performance
VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Performance Comparison
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VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VEXRX Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares | 0.74% | 7.19% | 17.40% | 19.90% | -23.23% | 16.07% | 31.51% | 31.42% | -2.34% | 22.64% |
EMCAX Empiric 2500 Fund | 0.40% | 2.37% | 13.89% | 12.43% | -16.06% | 16.07% | 27.81% | 19.10% | -4.64% | 21.82% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VEXRX achieves a 0.74% return, which is significantly higher than EMCAX's 0.40% return. Over the past 10 years, VEXRX has outperformed EMCAX with an annualized return of 12.25%, while EMCAX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.72% annualized return.
VEXRX
- 1D
- 0.83%
- 1M
- -3.38%
- YTD
- 0.74%
- 6M
- 2.03%
- 1Y
- 16.19%
- 3Y*
- 12.41%
- 5Y*
- 4.55%
- 10Y*
- 12.25%
EMCAX
- 1D
- 0.97%
- 1M
- -4.60%
- YTD
- 0.40%
- 6M
- -0.85%
- 1Y
- 6.35%
- 3Y*
- 8.87%
- 5Y*
- 2.42%
- 10Y*
- 9.72%
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VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VEXRX has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is lower than EMCAX's 1.96% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VEXRX vs. EMCAX — Risk / Return Rank
VEXRX
EMCAX
VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) and Empiric 2500 Fund (EMCAX). 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.
| VEXRX | EMCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.82 | 0.43 | +0.38 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.29 | 0.75 | +0.53 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.09 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.31 | 0.81 | +0.50 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.45 | 3.28 | +2.17 |
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
| VEXRX | EMCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.82 | 0.43 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 | 0.13 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 0.48 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.44 | -0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between VEXRX and EMCAX is 0.89, 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
VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Dividend Comparison
VEXRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.48%, more than EMCAX's 0.13% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VEXRX Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares | 7.48% | 7.54% | 12.72% | 0.89% | 5.22% | 16.17% | 6.76% | 5.08% | 11.13% | 11.46% | 4.63% | 10.89% |
EMCAX Empiric 2500 Fund | 0.13% | 0.13% | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.51% | 7.46% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VEXRX drawdown since its inception was -57.26%, which is greater than EMCAX's maximum drawdown of -51.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VEXRX and EMCAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VEXRX | EMCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -57.26% | -51.81% | -5.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.16% | -8.60% | -1.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.67% | -30.60% | -2.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.86% | -42.79% | +2.93% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.99% | -5.31% | -0.68% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.00% | -13.33% | +3.33% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.40% | 2.52% | +0.88% |
Volatility
VEXRX vs. EMCAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) has a higher volatility of 7.42% compared to Empiric 2500 Fund (EMCAX) at 5.55%. This indicates that VEXRX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EMCAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VEXRX | EMCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.42% | 5.55% | +1.87% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.20% | 10.53% | +2.67% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.26% | 17.53% | +4.73% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.31% | 18.18% | +3.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.80% | 20.21% | +1.59% |