VFISX vs. VGSH
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares (VFISX) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH).
VFISX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 28, 1991. VGSH is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009.
Performance
VFISX vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VFISX vs. VGSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFISX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares | -0.13% | 5.36% | 3.75% | 3.54% | -4.71% | -0.88% | 3.95% | 3.60% | 1.36% | 0.38% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.28% | 5.07% | 4.00% | 4.31% | -3.86% | -0.60% | 3.04% | 3.52% | 1.55% | 0.04% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFISX achieves a -0.13% return, which is significantly lower than VGSH's 0.28% return. Over the past 10 years, VFISX has underperformed VGSH with an annualized return of 1.57%, while VGSH has yielded a comparatively higher 1.74% annualized return.
VFISX
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -1.10%
- YTD
- -0.13%
- 6M
- 0.90%
- 1Y
- 3.32%
- 3Y*
- 3.68%
- 5Y*
- 1.36%
- 10Y*
- 1.57%
VGSH
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- -0.49%
- YTD
- 0.28%
- 6M
- 1.37%
- 1Y
- 3.75%
- 3Y*
- 3.98%
- 5Y*
- 1.79%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VFISX vs. VGSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFISX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VGSH'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
VFISX vs. VGSH — Risk / Return Rank
VFISX
VGSH
VFISX vs. VGSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares (VFISX) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). 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.
| VFISX | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.66 | 2.62 | -0.96 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.75 | 4.21 | -1.46 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.57 | -0.22 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.85 | 4.26 | -1.41 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.23 | 16.28 | -6.04 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VFISX | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.66 | 2.62 | -0.96 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 | 0.92 | -0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.75 | 1.11 | -0.36 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.53 | 1.02 | +0.51 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFISX and VGSH is 0.74, 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
VFISX vs. VGSH - Dividend Comparison
VFISX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.49%, less than VGSH's 3.95% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFISX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares | 3.49% | 3.89% | 4.38% | 3.95% | 1.93% | 0.52% | 2.20% | 2.39% | 2.10% | 1.15% | 1.18% | 0.83% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 3.95% | 4.00% | 4.18% | 3.31% | 1.15% | 0.66% | 1.74% | 2.28% | 1.79% | 1.10% | 0.84% | 0.69% |
Drawdowns
VFISX vs. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFISX drawdown since its inception was -6.86%, which is greater than VGSH's maximum drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFISX and VGSH.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VFISX | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.86% | -5.70% | -1.16% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.40% | -0.88% | -0.52% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.86% | -5.70% | -1.16% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -6.86% | -5.70% | -1.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.10% | -0.49% | -0.61% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.65% | -0.60% | -0.05% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.39% | 0.23% | +0.16% |
Volatility
VFISX vs. VGSH - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares (VFISX) has a higher volatility of 0.70% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) at 0.52%. This indicates that VFISX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VFISX | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.70% | 0.52% | +0.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.40% | 0.84% | +0.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.23% | 1.44% | +0.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.64% | 1.96% | +0.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.10% | 1.57% | +0.53% |