VFSNX vs. FSTSX
VFSNX (Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares) and FSTSX (Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund) are both Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities funds. Over the past 10 years, VFSNX returned 8.21%/yr vs 9.90%/yr for FSTSX. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VFSNX charges 0.11%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for FSTSX.
Performance
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSNX achieves a 11.76% return, which is significantly higher than FSTSX's 7.71% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSNX has underperformed FSTSX with an annualized return of 8.21%, while FSTSX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.90% annualized return.
VFSNX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- 1.81%
- YTD
- 11.76%
- 6M
- 14.55%
- 1Y
- 28.61%
- 3Y*
- 17.18%
- 5Y*
- 6.19%
- 10Y*
- 8.21%
FSTSX
- 1D
- 0.47%
- 1M
- 2.77%
- YTD
- 7.71%
- 6M
- 10.35%
- 1Y
- 18.27%
- 3Y*
- 15.84%
- 5Y*
- 6.40%
- 10Y*
- 9.90%
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSNX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | 11.76% | 29.97% | 2.63% | 15.18% | -21.26% | 12.74% | 11.92% | 21.72% | -18.46% | 30.30% |
FSTSX Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund | 7.71% | 27.49% | 4.97% | 18.36% | -26.25% | 18.29% | 19.61% | 28.24% | -13.19% | 34.44% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSNX and FSTSX is 0.87, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 7, 2009 | 0.91 |
The correlation between VFSNX and FSTSX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VFSNX vs. FSTSX — Risk / Return Rank
VFSNX
FSTSX
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFSNX) and Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund (FSTSX). 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.
| VFSNX | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.83 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.23 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.46 | 1.59 | +0.87 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.47 | 5.37 | +4.09 |
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
| VFSNX | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.11 | 1.28 | +0.83 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.41 | 0.39 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.52 | 0.62 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.59 | 0.62 | -0.03 |
Drawdowns
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSNX drawdown since its inception was -43.65%, which is greater than FSTSX's maximum drawdown of -38.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSNX and FSTSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSNX | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.65% | -38.91% | -4.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.47% | -11.22% | -0.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.70% | -14.47% | -0.23% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.75% | -38.91% | +5.16% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.65% | -38.91% | -4.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.09% | -1.08% | -0.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.49% | -7.89% | -1.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.98% | 3.30% | -0.32% |
Volatility
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFSNX) and Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund (FSTSX) have volatilities of 4.30% and 4.43%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSNX | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.30% | 4.43% | -0.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.19% | 11.06% | +0.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.40% | 13.93% | -0.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.03% | 16.42% | -1.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.76% | 15.94% | -0.18% |
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSNX has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than FSTSX'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
VFSNX vs. FSTSX - Dividend Comparison
VFSNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.01%, less than FSTSX's 14.15% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSTSX Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund | 14.15% | 15.24% | 10.22% | 3.34% | 6.38% | 13.22% | 0.81% | 4.27% | 10.99% | 6.30% | 4.01% | 7.32% |
VFSNX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | 3.01% | 3.36% | 3.41% | 3.11% | 2.26% | 2.70% | 1.90% | 3.25% | 2.81% | 2.85% | 2.93% | 2.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VFSNX and FSTSX have a correlation of 0.87, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FSTSX has higher volatility (4.43%) compared to VFSNX (4.30%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFSNX dropped -43.65% vs FSTSX's -38.91%.
VFSNX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.11 vs 1.28), 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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