VEXRX vs. NEAIX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) and Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class (NEAIX).

VEXRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. NEAIX is an actively managed fund by Needham. It was launched on Dec 30, 2016.

Performance

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) and Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class (NEAIX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VEXRX Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares	-0.08%	7.19%	17.40%	19.90%	-23.23%	16.07%	31.51%	31.42%	-2.34%	21.81%
NEAIX Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class	12.01%	26.99%	14.86%	38.37%	-27.02%	38.46%	52.49%	44.68%	-15.64%	10.07%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VEXRX achieves a -0.08% return, which is significantly lower than NEAIX's 12.01% return.

VEXRX

• 1D: 3.79%
• 1M: -5.77%
• YTD: -0.08%
• 6M: 1.70%
• 1Y: 17.15%
• 3Y*: 12.10%
• 5Y*: 4.38%
• 10Y*: 12.16%

NEAIX

• 1D: 4.32%
• 1M: -7.73%
• YTD: 12.01%
• 6M: 14.41%
• 1Y: 61.23%
• 3Y*: 27.45%
• 5Y*: 15.66%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VEXRX has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is lower than NEAIX's 1.20% expense ratio.

NEAIX

Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class

VEXRX

Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares

Return for Risk

VEXRX vs. NEAIX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VEXRX

VEXRX Risk / Return Rank: 40
VEXRX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
VEXRX Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
VEXRX Omega Ratio Rank: 32
VEXRX Calmar Ratio Rank: 46
VEXRX Martin Ratio Rank: 49

NEAIX

NEAIX Risk / Return Rank: 93
NEAIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
NEAIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
NEAIX Omega Ratio Rank: 87
NEAIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
NEAIX Martin Ratio Rank: 96

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) and Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class (NEAIX). 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	NEAIX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.79	2.17	-1.38
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.26	2.74	-1.48
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.17	1.38	-0.21
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.21	4.33	-3.12
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.07	15.43	-10.36
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VEXRX Sharpe Ratio is 0.79, which is lower than the NEAIX Sharpe Ratio of 2.17. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VEXRX and NEAIX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VEXRX	NEAIX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.79	2.17	-1.38
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.21	0.65	-0.44
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.56	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.44	0.75	-0.31

Correlation

The correlation between VEXRX and NEAIX is 0.85, 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. NEAIX - Dividend Comparison

VEXRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.55%, more than NEAIX's 1.80% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VEXRX Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares	7.55%	7.54%	12.72%	0.89%	5.22%	16.17%	6.76%	5.08%	11.13%	11.46%	4.63%	10.89%
NEAIX Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class	1.80%	2.01%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	6.84%	3.80%	10.42%	16.35%	5.14%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VEXRX drawdown since its inception was -57.26%, which is greater than NEAIX's maximum drawdown of -35.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VEXRX and NEAIX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VEXRX	NEAIX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-57.26%	-35.93%	-21.33%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.14%	-13.98%	-0.16%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.67%	-35.93%	+3.26%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-39.86%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.76%	-7.73%	+0.97%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.00%	-8.73%	-1.27%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.38%	3.92%	-0.54%

Volatility

VEXRX vs. NEAIX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) is 7.50%, while Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class (NEAIX) has a volatility of 11.64%. This indicates that VEXRX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NEAIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VEXRX	NEAIX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.50%	11.64%	-4.14%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.17%	19.83%	-6.66%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.25%	28.92%	-6.67%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.32%	24.33%	-3.01%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.81%	24.46%	-2.65%