VGHAX vs. VFIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX).
VGHAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Performance Comparison
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VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGHAX Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares | -3.02% | 19.72% | 9.10% | 5.51% | -1.00% | 12.82% | 12.62% | 22.99% | 1.07% | 19.64% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.35% | 17.83% | 24.97% | 26.24% | -18.16% | 28.65% | 18.32% | 31.46% | -4.45% | 21.78% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGHAX achieves a -3.02% return, which is significantly higher than VFIAX's -4.35% return. Over the past 10 years, VGHAX has underperformed VFIAX with an annualized return of 9.49%, while VFIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 14.04% annualized return.
VGHAX
- 1D
- 3.05%
- 1M
- -4.71%
- YTD
- -3.02%
- 6M
- 6.85%
- 1Y
- 14.74%
- 3Y*
- 10.37%
- 5Y*
- 8.69%
- 10Y*
- 9.49%
VFIAX
- 1D
- 2.92%
- 1M
- -5.03%
- YTD
- -4.35%
- 6M
- -2.16%
- 1Y
- 17.30%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.04%
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VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGHAX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VFIAX'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
VGHAX vs. VFIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VGHAX
VFIAX
VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX). 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.
| VGHAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.75 | 0.97 | -0.22 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.13 | 1.49 | -0.36 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.23 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 1.52 | -0.16 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.42 | 7.29 | -3.88 |
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
| VGHAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.75 | 0.97 | -0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 0.70 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | 0.78 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.60 | 0.44 | +0.17 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGHAX and VFIAX is 0.77, 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
VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Dividend Comparison
VGHAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.88%, more than VFIAX's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGHAX Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares | 6.88% | 6.07% | 22.84% | 7.22% | 5.49% | 7.05% | 8.02% | 11.87% | 9.15% | 7.36% | 8.60% | 8.21% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.18% | 1.12% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGHAX drawdown since its inception was -36.85%, smaller than the maximum VFIAX drawdown of -55.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGHAX and VFIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGHAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.85% | -55.20% | +18.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.19% | -12.12% | +2.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.92% | -24.53% | +7.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -27.17% | -33.83% | +6.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.01% | -6.24% | +0.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.61% | -9.46% | +3.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.67% | 2.52% | +1.15% |
Volatility
VGHAX vs. VFIAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) has a higher volatility of 5.81% compared to Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) at 5.35%. This indicates that VGHAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGHAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.81% | 5.35% | +0.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.63% | 9.53% | +1.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.66% | 18.32% | -0.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.01% | 16.91% | +1.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.58% | 18.05% | -0.47% |