VFIAX vs. VSCGX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX).
VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. VSCGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
VFIAX vs. VSCGX - Performance Comparison
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VFIAX vs. VSCGX - 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% |
VSCGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund | -0.30% | 12.87% | 11.65% | 12.72% | -15.00% | 6.04% | 11.51% | 15.69% | -2.95% | 10.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFIAX achieves a -3.55% return, which is significantly lower than VSCGX's -0.30% return. Over the past 10 years, VFIAX has outperformed VSCGX with an annualized return of 14.17%, while VSCGX has yielded a comparatively lower 6.18% annualized return.
VFIAX
- 1D
- 0.12%
- 1M
- -4.07%
- YTD
- -3.55%
- 6M
- -1.41%
- 1Y
- 23.47%
- 3Y*
- 18.45%
- 5Y*
- 11.93%
- 10Y*
- 14.17%
VSCGX
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- -2.18%
- YTD
- -0.30%
- 6M
- 1.03%
- 1Y
- 12.42%
- 3Y*
- 10.45%
- 5Y*
- 4.81%
- 10Y*
- 6.18%
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VFIAX vs. VSCGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIAX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than VSCGX's 0.12% 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%.
Return for Risk
VFIAX vs. VSCGX — Risk / Return Rank
VFIAX
VSCGX
VFIAX vs. VSCGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX). 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 | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.96 | 1.54 | -0.58 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.47 | 2.21 | -0.73 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.31 | -0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.51 | 2.18 | -0.67 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.11 | 8.69 | -1.58 |
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 | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 | 1.54 | -0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | 0.63 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.85 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.83 | -0.40 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIAX and VSCGX is 0.86, 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
VFIAX vs. VSCGX - Dividend Comparison
VFIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.17%, less than VSCGX's 5.56% 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% |
VSCGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund | 5.56% | 5.50% | 11.03% | 5.23% | 2.79% | 4.18% | 3.28% | 2.62% | 3.81% | 1.65% | 2.43% | 3.21% |
Drawdowns
VFIAX vs. VSCGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIAX drawdown since its inception was -55.20%, which is greater than VSCGX's maximum drawdown of -30.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIAX and VSCGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIAX | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.20% | -30.62% | -24.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -5.19% | -3.71% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.53% | -20.15% | -4.38% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.83% | -20.15% | -13.68% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.45% | -3.39% | -2.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.45% | -3.01% | -6.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.57% | 1.30% | +1.27% |
Volatility
VFIAX vs. VSCGX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) has a higher volatility of 5.30% compared to Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX) at 3.11%. This indicates that VFIAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSCGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFIAX | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.30% | 3.11% | +2.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.55% | 4.61% | +4.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.32% | 7.24% | +11.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.90% | 7.63% | +9.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.04% | 7.32% | +10.72% |