VGHAX vs. VFSTX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX).
VGHAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982.
Performance
VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Performance Comparison
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VGHAX vs. VFSTX - 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% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | -0.21% | 6.75% | 4.98% | 6.06% | -5.84% | -0.70% | 5.16% | 5.75% | 0.87% | 2.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGHAX achieves a -3.02% return, which is significantly lower than VFSTX's -0.21% return. Over the past 10 years, VGHAX has outperformed VFSTX with an annualized return of 9.49%, while VFSTX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.51% 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%
VFSTX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- YTD
- -0.21%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 4.46%
- 3Y*
- 5.21%
- 5Y*
- 2.23%
- 10Y*
- 2.51%
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VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGHAX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VFSTX's 0.20% 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. VFSTX — Risk / Return Rank
VGHAX
VFSTX
VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX). 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 | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.75 | 1.81 | -1.06 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.13 | 2.93 | -1.80 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.40 | -0.25 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 2.90 | -1.53 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.42 | 11.58 | -8.16 |
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 | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.75 | 1.81 | -1.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 0.76 | -0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | 1.02 | -0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.60 | 1.51 | -0.90 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGHAX and VFSTX is -0.05. 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
VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Dividend Comparison
VGHAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.88%, more than VFSTX's 4.19% 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% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 4.19% | 4.48% | 4.06% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.70% | 2.24% | 2.83% | 2.68% | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.99% |
Drawdowns
VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGHAX drawdown since its inception was -36.85%, which is greater than VFSTX's maximum drawdown of -9.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGHAX and VFSTX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGHAX | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.85% | -9.35% | -27.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.19% | -1.71% | -7.48% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.92% | -9.35% | -7.57% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -27.17% | -9.35% | -17.82% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.01% | -1.23% | -4.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.61% | -1.12% | -4.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.67% | 0.43% | +3.24% |
Volatility
VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) has a higher volatility of 5.81% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) at 0.78%. This indicates that VGHAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFSTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGHAX | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.81% | 0.78% | +5.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.63% | 1.50% | +9.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.66% | 2.51% | +15.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.01% | 2.94% | +15.07% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.58% | 2.46% | +15.12% |