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.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Performance Comparison
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VFSTX vs. VCSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | -0.40% | 6.75% | 4.98% | 6.06% | -5.84% | -0.70% | 5.16% | 5.75% | 0.87% | 2.02% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.13% | 6.77% | 4.91% | 6.20% | -5.62% | -0.63% | 5.13% | 7.02% | 0.92% | 2.17% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSTX achieves a -0.40% return, which is significantly lower than VCSH's 0.13% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has underperformed VCSH with an annualized return of 2.49%, while VCSH has yielded a comparatively higher 2.72% annualized return.
VFSTX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -1.42%
- YTD
- -0.40%
- 6M
- 0.73%
- 1Y
- 4.26%
- 3Y*
- 5.14%
- 5Y*
- 2.21%
- 10Y*
- 2.49%
VCSH
- 1D
- 0.29%
- 1M
- -0.83%
- YTD
- 0.13%
- 6M
- 1.37%
- 1Y
- 4.93%
- 3Y*
- 5.36%
- 5Y*
- 2.37%
- 10Y*
- 2.72%
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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%.
Return for Risk
VFSTX vs. VCSH — Risk / Return Rank
VFSTX
VCSH
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends 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.
| VFSTX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.90 | 2.17 | -0.28 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.11 | 3.19 | -0.08 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.45 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.90 | 3.52 | -0.62 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.78 | 14.44 | -2.66 |
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
| VFSTX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.90 | 2.17 | -0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 | 0.83 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.02 | 0.81 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.51 | 1.01 | +0.49 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VCSH 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.
Dividends
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.20%, less than VCSH's 4.41% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 4.20% | 4.48% | 4.06% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.70% | 2.24% | 2.83% | 2.68% | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.99% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.41% | 4.35% | 3.96% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% |
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.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSTX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.35% | -12.86% | +3.51% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -1.40% | -0.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.35% | -9.48% | +0.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.35% | -12.86% | +3.51% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.42% | -0.83% | -0.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.12% | -0.97% | -0.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.34% | +0.08% |
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VCSH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) is 0.75%, while Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) has a volatility of 0.94%. This indicates that VFSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSTX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.75% | 0.94% | -0.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 1.29% | +0.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.51% | 2.28% | +0.23% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 2.86% | +0.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.46% | 3.35% | -0.89% |