VFIRX vs. SCHO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VFIRX (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares) and SCHO (Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, VFIRX returned 1.71%/yr vs 1.71%/yr for SCHO. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VFIRX charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for SCHO.

Performance

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VFIRX having a 0.44% return and SCHO slightly lower at 0.42%. Over a longer period, both investments have demonstrated similar performance, with their 10-year annualized returns being quite close: VFIRX at 1.71% and SCHO at 1.71%.

VFIRX

• 1D: -0.10%
• 1M: 0.12%
• YTD: 0.44%
• 6M: 0.65%
• 1Y: 3.58%
• 3Y*: 4.12%
• 5Y*: 1.51%
• 10Y*: 1.71%

SCHO

• 1D: -0.04%
• 1M: 0.06%
• YTD: 0.42%
• 6M: 0.78%
• 1Y: 3.39%
• 3Y*: 4.15%
• 5Y*: 1.80%
• 10Y*: 1.71%

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

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VFIRX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares	0.44%	5.47%	3.85%	3.66%	-4.61%	-0.80%	4.06%	3.71%	1.47%	0.40%
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF	0.42%	5.49%	3.65%	4.31%	-3.87%	-0.64%	3.11%	3.47%	1.37%	0.33%

Correlation

The correlation between VFIRX and SCHO is 0.80, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.80
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.82
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.85
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.78
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 6, 2010	0.75

The correlation between VFIRX and SCHO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.75 to 0.85 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

VFIRX vs. SCHO — Risk / Return Rank

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

VFIRX

VFIRX Risk / Return Rank: 42
VFIRX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
VFIRX Sortino Ratio Rank: 49
VFIRX Omega Ratio Rank: 43
VFIRX Calmar Ratio Rank: 43
VFIRX Martin Ratio Rank: 39

SCHO

SCHO Risk / Return Rank: 81
SCHO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 74
SCHO Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
SCHO Omega Ratio Rank: 81
SCHO Calmar Ratio Rank: 77
SCHO Martin Ratio Rank: 83

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.

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO). 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.

	VFIRX	SCHO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.68	2.48	-0.80
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.94	4.06	-1.12
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.50	-0.15
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.49	3.96	-1.47
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.39	17.03	-8.64
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFIRX Sharpe Ratio is 1.68, which is lower than the SCHO Sharpe Ratio of 2.48. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFIRX and SCHO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VFIRX	SCHO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.68	2.48	-0.80
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.57	0.91	-0.35
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.81	1.10	-0.30
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.16	0.99	+0.16

Drawdowns

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFIRX drawdown since its inception was -6.73%, which is greater than SCHO's maximum drawdown of -5.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIRX and SCHO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VFIRX	SCHO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-6.73%	-5.69%	-1.04%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.40%	-0.86%	-0.54%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.40%	-0.98%	-0.42%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-6.73%	-5.69%	-1.04%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-6.73%	-5.69%	-1.04%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.56%	-0.27%	-0.29%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.71%	-0.61%	-0.10%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.42%	0.20%	+0.22%

Volatility

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) has a higher volatility of 0.61% compared to Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) at 0.41%. This indicates that VFIRX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SCHO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VFIRX	SCHO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.61%	0.41%	+0.20%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.50%	0.90%	+0.60%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.08%	1.37%	+0.71%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.68%	1.98%	+0.70%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.12%	1.56%	+0.56%

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Expense Ratio Comparison

VFIRX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than SCHO'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%.

Dividends

VFIRX vs. SCHO - Dividend Comparison

VFIRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.85%, less than SCHO's 3.91% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF	3.91%	4.06%	4.29%	3.76%	1.34%	0.41%	1.27%	2.27%	1.60%	1.12%	0.82%	0.68%
VFIRX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares	3.85%	3.99%	4.49%	4.07%	2.03%	0.60%	2.30%	2.49%	2.21%	1.25%	1.28%	0.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VFIRX and SCHO in my portfolio?

VFIRX and SCHO have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VFIRX or SCHO?

VFIRX has higher volatility (0.61%) compared to SCHO (0.41%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFIRX dropped -6.73% vs SCHO's -5.69%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SCHO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.48 vs 1.68), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.