VFIRX vs. VEMAX
VFIRX (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares) and VEMAX (Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VFIRX is a Government Bonds fund managed by Vanguard, while VEMAX is a Emerging Markets Equities fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VFIRX returned 1.71%/yr vs 8.90%/yr for VEMAX. At a correlation of -0.14, they often move in opposite directions. VFIRX charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for VEMAX.
Performance
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFIRX achieves a 0.44% return, which is significantly lower than VEMAX's 12.58% return. Over the past 10 years, VFIRX has underperformed VEMAX with an annualized return of 1.71%, while VEMAX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.90% annualized return.
VFIRX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.02%
- YTD
- 0.44%
- 6M
- 0.75%
- 1Y
- 3.37%
- 3Y*
- 4.12%
- 5Y*
- 1.51%
- 10Y*
- 1.71%
VEMAX
- 1D
- -1.22%
- 1M
- 2.24%
- YTD
- 12.58%
- 6M
- 13.96%
- 1Y
- 29.94%
- 3Y*
- 18.14%
- 5Y*
- 5.20%
- 10Y*
- 8.90%
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - 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% |
VEMAX Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares | 12.58% | 24.76% | 11.34% | 8.82% | -17.79% | 0.85% | 15.24% | 20.29% | -14.59% | 31.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIRX and VEMAX is 0.09, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2006 | -0.14 |
The correlation between VFIRX and VEMAX shifts across timeframes, from -0.14 (all time) to 0.09 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VFIRX vs. VEMAX — Risk / Return Rank
VFIRX
VEMAX
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) and Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VEMAX). 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 | VEMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.03 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.40 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.56 | 2.83 | -0.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.61 | 10.53 | -1.93 |
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
| VFIRX | VEMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.74 | 2.17 | -0.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.34 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | 0.54 | +0.26 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.16 | 0.29 | +0.87 |
Drawdowns
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIRX drawdown since its inception was -6.73%, smaller than the maximum VEMAX drawdown of -66.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIRX and VEMAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIRX | VEMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.73% | -66.45% | +59.72% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.40% | -11.05% | +9.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.40% | -15.78% | +14.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.73% | -32.55% | +25.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -6.73% | -36.11% | +29.38% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.56% | -1.22% | +0.66% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.71% | -16.12% | +15.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 2.96% | -2.54% |
Volatility
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) is 0.57%, while Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VEMAX) has a volatility of 5.21%. This indicates that VFIRX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VEMAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFIRX | VEMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.57% | 5.21% | -4.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 11.87% | -10.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.07% | 14.37% | -12.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.68% | 15.39% | -12.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.12% | 16.46% | -14.34% |
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIRX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than VEMAX's 0.14% 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%.
Dividends
VFIRX vs. VEMAX - Dividend Comparison
VFIRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.85%, more than VEMAX's 2.36% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VEMAX Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares | 2.36% | 2.74% | 3.13% | 3.47% | 4.05% | 2.57% | 1.87% | 3.20% | 2.85% | 2.31% | 2.51% | 3.25% |
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
VFIRX and VEMAX have a correlation of 0.09, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VEMAX has higher volatility (5.21%) compared to VFIRX (0.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFIRX dropped -6.73% vs VEMAX's -66.45%.
VEMAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 1.74), 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.
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