VFIFX vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
VFIFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jun 7, 2006. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
VFIFX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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VFIFX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIFX Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | -3.95% | 21.42% | 14.45% | 20.39% | -17.48% | 16.42% | 16.40% | 24.99% | -7.89% | 19.15% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -4.42% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFIFX achieves a -3.95% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's -4.42% return. Over the past 10 years, VFIFX has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 10.29%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.05% annualized return.
VFIFX
- 1D
- -0.28%
- 1M
- -8.41%
- YTD
- -3.95%
- 6M
- -1.01%
- 1Y
- 17.29%
- 3Y*
- 14.65%
- 5Y*
- 8.11%
- 10Y*
- 10.29%
VOO
- 1D
- 2.86%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- -4.42%
- 6M
- -1.84%
- 1Y
- 17.67%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.05%
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VFIFX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIFX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio. However, 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
VFIFX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
VFIFX
VOO
VFIFX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| VFIFX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.17 | 0.98 | +0.19 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.70 | 1.50 | +0.20 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.23 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.48 | 1.53 | -0.05 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.86 | 7.29 | -0.43 |
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
| VFIFX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.17 | 0.98 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.70 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 | 0.78 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.47 | 0.83 | -0.36 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIFX and VOO is 0.96, 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
VFIFX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
VFIFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.18%, more than VOO's 1.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIFX Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | 2.18% | 2.09% | 2.26% | 2.21% | 2.38% | 12.83% | 1.84% | 2.20% | 2.51% | 0.03% | 2.04% | 2.36% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.19% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
VFIFX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIFX drawdown since its inception was -51.68%, which is greater than VOO's maximum drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIFX and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIFX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.68% | -33.99% | -17.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.52% | -11.98% | +1.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.40% | -24.52% | -0.88% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -31.36% | -33.99% | +2.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.87% | -6.29% | -2.58% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.93% | -3.72% | -3.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.27% | 2.52% | -0.25% |
Volatility
VFIFX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) is 4.70%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that VFIFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFIFX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.70% | 5.29% | -0.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.53% | 9.44% | -0.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.79% | 18.10% | -3.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.07% | 16.82% | -2.75% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.05% | 17.99% | -2.94% |