VFSTX vs. VCIT
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT).
VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982. VCIT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Corp Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: VFSTX or VCIT.
Key characteristics
| VFSTX | VCIT | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 5.11% | 6.15% |
| 1Y Return | 9.33% | 13.58% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 1.38% | -0.60% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 2.12% | 1.67% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 2.21% | 3.18% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 3.11 | 2.07 |
| Daily Std Dev | 2.97% | 6.40% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.35% | -20.56% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.10% | -2.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VCIT is 0.71, 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.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VCIT - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, VFSTX achieves a 5.11% return, which is significantly lower than VCIT's 6.15% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has underperformed VCIT with an annualized return of 2.21%, while VCIT has yielded a comparatively higher 3.18% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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VFSTX vs. VCIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VCIT's 0.04% 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%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VFSTX vs. VCIT - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT). 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.
Dividends
VFSTX vs. VCIT - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.71%, less than VCIT's 4.06% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 3.71% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.98% | 2.23% | 2.82% | 2.68% | 1.82% | 2.06% | 2.00% | 1.97% | 2.06% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.06% | 3.72% | 3.03% | 2.87% | 2.78% | 3.37% | 3.61% | 3.21% | 3.29% | 3.34% | 3.34% | 4.00% |
Drawdowns
VFSTX vs. VCIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSTX drawdown since its inception was -9.35%, smaller than the maximum VCIT drawdown of -20.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSTX and VCIT. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VCIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) is 0.55%, while Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) has a volatility of 1.03%. This indicates that VFSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.