VFTAX vs. VFSAX

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

VFTAX (Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VFSAX (Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VFTAX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the FTSE US Choice Index, while VFSAX is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 5 years, VFTAX returned 11.71%/yr vs 4.93%/yr for VFSAX. Their 0.75 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. VFTAX charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.16%/yr for VFSAX.

Performance

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFTAX) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFSAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VFTAX achieves a 8.49% return, which is significantly higher than VFSAX's 5.46% return.

VFTAX

• 1D: 1.93%
• 1M: -0.60%
• 6M: 8.19%
• YTD: 8.49%
• 1Y: 19.97%
• 3Y*: 19.19%
• 5Y*: 11.71%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 16.33%

VFSAX

• 1D: 1.89%
• 1M: -2.42%
• 6M: -0.76%
• YTD: 5.46%
• 1Y: 16.33%
• 3Y*: 12.71%
• 5Y*: 4.93%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 8.35%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
VFSAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
VFTAX Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VFTAX Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares	8.49%	17.25%	25.97%	31.78%	-24.22%	27.70%	22.63%	23.59%
VFSAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares	5.46%	29.89%	2.58%	15.13%	-21.30%	12.68%	11.90%	13.47%

Correlation

The correlation between VFTAX and VFSAX is 0.76, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.76
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.70
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.73
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 7, 2019	0.75

The correlation between VFTAX and VFSAX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.70 to 0.76 - a consistent structural relationship.

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VFTAX	VFSAX
Technology	44.7%	14.6%
Communication Services	12.4%	2.1%
Consumer Cyclical	11.4%	9.1%
Financial Services	11.2%	10.6%
Healthcare	9.7%	6.0%
Consumer Defensive	3.7%	3.6%
Industrials	3.2%	19.2%
Real Estate	2.0%	7.1%
Basic Materials	1.5%	12.0%
Utilities	0.1%	2.3%
Energy	0.0%	4.0%

Return for Risk

VFTAX vs. VFSAX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

VFTAX

VFTAX Risk / Return Rank: 41
VFTAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 43
VFTAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
VFTAX Omega Ratio Rank: 41
VFTAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 36
VFTAX Martin Ratio Rank: 42

VFSAX

VFSAX Risk / Return Rank: 33
VFSAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
VFSAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 33
VFSAX Omega Ratio Rank: 34
VFSAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 32
VFSAX Martin Ratio Rank: 30

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFTAX) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFSAX). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	VFTAX	VFSAX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.20	1.05	+0.15
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.71	1.52	+0.19
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.22	1.20	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.48	1.36	+0.12
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.84	4.35	+1.49

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFTAX Sharpe Ratio is 1.20, which is comparable to the VFSAX Sharpe Ratio of 1.05. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFTAX and VFSAX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFTAX drawdown since its inception was -34.20%, smaller than the maximum VFSAX drawdown of -39.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFTAX and VFSAX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VFTAX	VFSAX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.20%	-39.86%	+5.66%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.84%	-11.48%	-0.36%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.18%	-14.73%	-5.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.12%	-33.81%	+4.69%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.84%	-6.62%	+3.78%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.19%	-9.16%	+2.97%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.99%	3.58%	-0.59%

Volatility

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFTAX) is 4.08%, while Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFSAX) has a volatility of 5.02%. This indicates that VFTAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFSAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VFTAX	VFSAX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.08%	5.02%	-0.94%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.64%	13.01%	-1.37%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.55%	14.83%	-0.28%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.55%	15.28%	+3.27%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.71%	17.06%	+3.65%

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VFTAX has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is lower than VFSAX's 0.16% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VFTAX vs. VFSAX - Dividend Comparison

VFTAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%, less than VFSAX's 3.24% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VFSAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares	3.24%	3.31%	3.36%	3.06%	2.22%	2.67%	1.85%	3.19%
VFTAX Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Admiral Shares	0.83%	0.85%	0.99%	1.10%	1.34%	0.94%	1.21%	1.43%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VFTAX and VFSAX in my portfolio?

VFTAX and VFSAX have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VFTAX or VFSAX?

VFSAX has higher volatility (5.02%) compared to VFTAX (4.08%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFTAX dropped -34.20% vs VFSAX's -39.86%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VFTAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.20 vs 1.05), 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.