VFWSX vs. VOO
VFWSX (Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Institutional Shares) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both funds - VFWSX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, VFWSX returned 9.60%/yr vs 15.14%/yr for VOO. Their correlation of 0.81 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VFWSX charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VOO.
Performance
VFWSX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFWSX achieves a 13.49% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's 10.16% return. Over the past 10 years, VFWSX has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 9.60%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 15.14% annualized return.
VFWSX
- 1D
- 2.82%
- 1M
- 0.34%
- 6M
- 7.40%
- YTD
- 13.49%
- 1Y
- 28.85%
- 3Y*
- 17.20%
- 5Y*
- 9.20%
- 10Y*
- 9.60%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.43%
VOO
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 0.26%
- 6M
- 8.58%
- YTD
- 10.16%
- 1Y
- 21.58%
- 3Y*
- 19.42%
- 5Y*
- 12.83%
- 10Y*
- 15.14%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.78%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $3.82B | $3.78B | $5.44B |
VFWSX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFWSX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Institutional Shares | 13.49% | 32.38% | 5.45% | 15.59% | -15.48% | 8.11% | 11.37% | 21.58% | -13.97% | 27.24% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 10.16% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFWSX and VOO is 0.83, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.83 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.76 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.77 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 9, 2010 | 0.81 |
The correlation between VFWSX and VOO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.83 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VFWSX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
VFWSX
VOO
VFWSX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFWSX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| VFWSX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.20 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.28 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.41 | 2.21 | +0.20 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.95 | 9.44 | -0.49 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
VFWSX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFWSX drawdown since its inception was -61.60%, which is greater than VOO's maximum drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFWSX and VOO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VFWSX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -61.60% | -33.99% | -27.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.34% | -8.90% | -2.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.26% | -18.69% | +5.43% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.17% | -24.52% | -4.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.87% | -33.99% | -0.88% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.46% | -1.38% | -1.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.16% | -3.67% | -9.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.05% | 2.08% | +0.97% |
Volatility
VFWSX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFWSX) has a higher volatility of 5.49% compared to Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) at 3.54%. This indicates that VFWSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VFWSX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.49% | 3.54% | +1.95% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.32% | 10.10% | +4.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.20% | 12.82% | +3.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.52% | 16.93% | -1.41% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.98% | 18.01% | -2.03% |
VFWSX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFWSX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO'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%.
Dividends
VFWSX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
VFWSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.54%, more than VOO's 1.07% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFWSX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Institutional Shares | 2.54% | 3.08% | 3.23% | 3.31% | 3.10% | 3.06% | 1.99% | 3.10% | 3.28% | 2.67% | 2.97% | 2.97% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.07% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VFWSX and VOO have a correlation of 0.83, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VFWSX has higher volatility (5.49%) compared to VOO (3.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFWSX dropped -61.60% vs VOO's -33.99%.
VFWSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.69 vs 1.53), 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.
Find the right allocation for VFWSX and VOO
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer