VFIAX vs. VO
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO).
VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. VO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Mid Cap Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004.
Performance
VFIAX vs. VO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFIAX achieves a -3.55% return, which is significantly lower than VO's 0.29% return. Over the past 10 years, VFIAX has outperformed VO with an annualized return of 14.17%, while VO has yielded a comparatively lower 10.86% annualized return.
VFIAX
- 1D
- 0.12%
- 1M
- -2.25%
- YTD
- -3.55%
- 6M
- -1.41%
- 1Y
- 31.29%
- 3Y*
- 18.45%
- 5Y*
- 11.93%
- 10Y*
- 14.17%
VO
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- -1.90%
- YTD
- 0.29%
- 6M
- -1.02%
- 1Y
- 25.65%
- 3Y*
- 13.03%
- 5Y*
- 6.87%
- 10Y*
- 10.86%
VFIAX vs. VO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | -3.55% | 17.83% | 24.97% | 26.24% | -18.16% | 28.65% | 18.32% | 31.46% | -4.45% | 21.78% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 0.29% | 11.62% | 15.31% | 16.03% | -18.73% | 24.70% | 18.10% | 30.98% | -9.24% | 19.28% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIAX and VO is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification — they'll tend to fall together during downturns. For meaningful risk reduction, look for holdings with correlations below 0.5.
VFIAX vs. VO - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VFIAX and VO have an expense ratio of 0.04%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
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Return for Risk
VFIAX vs. VO — Risk / Return Rank
VFIAX
VO
VFIAX vs. VO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO). 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.
| VFIAX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.96 | 0.71 | +0.25 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.47 | 1.10 | +0.37 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.16 | +0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.51 | 1.06 | +0.45 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.11 | 4.79 | +2.32 |
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
| VFIAX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 | 0.71 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | 0.39 | +0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.58 | +0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.48 | -0.05 |
Drawdowns
VFIAX vs. VO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIAX drawdown since its inception was -55.20%, smaller than the maximum VO drawdown of -58.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIAX and VO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIAX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.20% | -58.87% | +3.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -8.17% | -0.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.53% | -27.57% | +3.04% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.83% | -39.37% | +5.54% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.45% | -5.21% | -0.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.45% | -7.91% | -1.54% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.57% | 2.81% | -0.24% |
Volatility
VFIAX vs. VO - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) has a higher volatility of 5.30% compared to Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) at 4.82%. This indicates that VFIAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFIAX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.30% | 4.82% | +0.48% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.55% | 9.74% | -0.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.32% | 17.57% | +0.75% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.90% | 17.60% | -0.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.04% | 18.93% | -0.89% |
Dividends
VFIAX vs. VO - Dividend Comparison
VFIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.17%, less than VO's 1.49% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.17% | 1.12% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 1.45% | 1.48% | 1.82% | 1.35% | 1.45% | 1.47% |