VGCAX vs. BRK-B
VGCAX (Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares) is Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 5 years, VGCAX returned 1.34%/yr vs 11.27%/yr for BRK-B. At a correlation of -0.00, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
VGCAX vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGCAX achieves a 1.10% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's -2.67% return.
VGCAX
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- 0.68%
- YTD
- 1.10%
- 6M
- 1.56%
- 1Y
- 5.50%
- 3Y*
- 6.27%
- 5Y*
- 1.34%
- 10Y*
- —
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- 0.35%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.22%
VGCAX vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGCAX Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 1.10% | 7.30% | 3.99% | 9.22% | -13.43% | -0.64% | 10.81% | 13.05% | 0.96% |
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -2.67% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | -5.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGCAX and BRK-B is 0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.10 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 15, 2018 | -0.00 |
The correlation between VGCAX and BRK-B shifts across timeframes, from -0.00 (all time) to 0.10 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VGCAX vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank
VGCAX
BRK-B
VGCAX vs. BRK-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VGCAX) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). 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.
| VGCAX | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.01 | +0.29 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.89 | -0.02 | +1.91 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.28 | -0.05 | +6.33 |
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Drawdowns
VGCAX vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGCAX drawdown since its inception was -18.63%, smaller than the maximum BRK-B drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGCAX and BRK-B.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGCAX | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.63% | -53.86% | +35.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.90% | -9.42% | +6.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.00% | -14.95% | +10.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.63% | -26.58% | +7.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -29.57% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.64% | -9.36% | +8.72% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.33% | -11.07% | +6.74% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.87% | 4.53% | -3.66% |
Volatility
VGCAX vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VGCAX) is 1.23%, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a volatility of 3.95%. This indicates that VGCAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGCAX | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.23% | 3.95% | -2.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.64% | 10.78% | -8.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.32% | 14.38% | -11.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.07% | 17.12% | -12.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.84% | 19.44% | -14.60% |
Dividends
VGCAX vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison
VGCAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.95%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VGCAX Vanguard Global Credit Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 4.95% | 4.91% | 4.65% | 4.48% | 2.72% | 3.16% | 4.65% | 6.88% | 0.36% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGCAX and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BRK-B has higher volatility (3.95%) compared to VGCAX (1.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGCAX dropped -18.63% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.
VGCAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.65 vs -0.02), 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.
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