VFSTX vs. VTI
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI).
VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982. VTI is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index. It was launched on Jun 27, 2016.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VTI - Performance Comparison
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VFSTX vs. VTI - 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% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | -4.01% | 17.10% | 23.81% | 26.05% | -19.52% | 25.68% | 21.08% | 30.67% | -5.23% | 21.21% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSTX achieves a -0.40% return, which is significantly higher than VTI's -4.01% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has underperformed VTI with an annualized return of 2.49%, while VTI has yielded a comparatively higher 13.60% 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%
VTI
- 1D
- 2.93%
- 1M
- -5.00%
- YTD
- -4.01%
- 6M
- -1.66%
- 1Y
- 18.11%
- 3Y*
- 17.84%
- 5Y*
- 10.46%
- 10Y*
- 13.60%
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VFSTX vs. VTI - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VTI'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
VFSTX vs. VTI — Risk / Return Rank
VFSTX
VTI
VFSTX vs. VTI - 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 Total Stock Market ETF (VTI). 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 | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.90 | 0.96 | +0.94 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.11 | 1.48 | +1.63 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.23 | +0.20 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.90 | 1.52 | +1.38 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.78 | 7.26 | +4.52 |
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 | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.90 | 0.96 | +0.94 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 | 0.60 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.02 | 0.75 | +0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.51 | 0.48 | +1.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VTI is -0.12. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
VFSTX vs. VTI - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.20%, more than VTI's 1.17% 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% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.17% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.66% | 1.21% | 1.42% | 1.78% | 2.04% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
Drawdowns
VFSTX vs. VTI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSTX drawdown since its inception was -9.35%, smaller than the maximum VTI drawdown of -55.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSTX and VTI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSTX | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.35% | -55.45% | +46.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -12.30% | +10.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.35% | -25.36% | +16.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.35% | -35.00% | +25.65% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.42% | -6.25% | +4.83% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.12% | -8.08% | +6.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 2.58% | -2.16% |
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VTI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) is 0.75%, while Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has a volatility of 5.45%. This indicates that VFSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSTX | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.75% | 5.45% | -4.70% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 9.73% | -8.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.51% | 19.01% | -16.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 17.42% | -14.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.46% | 18.29% | -15.83% |