VFSTX vs. VCSH
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH).
VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982. VCSH is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate 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 VCSH.
Key characteristics
| VFSTX | VCSH | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 5.11% | 5.22% |
| 1Y Return | 9.33% | 9.45% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 1.38% | 1.49% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 2.12% | 2.19% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 2.21% | 2.42% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 3.11 | 3.49 |
| Daily Std Dev | 2.97% | 2.66% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.35% | -12.86% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.10% | -0.06% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VCSH is 0.69, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VFSTX having a 5.11% return and VCSH slightly higher at 5.22%. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has underperformed VCSH with an annualized return of 2.21%, while VCSH has yielded a comparatively higher 2.42% 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. VCSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VCSH'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. VCSH - 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 Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH). 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. VCSH - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.71%, more than VCSH's 3.65% 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% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 3.65% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% | 2.01% | 2.05% |
Drawdowns
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSTX drawdown since its inception was -9.35%, smaller than the maximum VCSH drawdown of -12.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSTX and VCSH. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) has a higher volatility of 0.55% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) at 0.49%. This indicates that VFSTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.