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VGHAX vs. VFSTX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VGHAX vs. VFSTX

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VGHAX (Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares) and VFSTX (Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares) are both mutual funds - VGHAX is a Health & Biotech Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VFSTX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VGHAX returned 8.70%/yr vs 2.54%/yr for VFSTX. At a correlation of -0.04, they often move in opposite directions. VGHAX charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for VFSTX.

Performance

VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VGHAX achieves a -4.65% return, which is significantly lower than VFSTX's 0.77% return. Over the past 10 years, VGHAX has outperformed VFSTX with an annualized return of 8.70%, while VFSTX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.54% annualized return.

VGHAX

1D
-1.55%
1M
-1.39%
YTD
-4.65%
6M
-4.26%
1Y
16.26%
3Y*
8.39%
5Y*
7.23%
10Y*
8.70%

VFSTX

1D
0.00%
1M
0.30%
YTD
0.77%
6M
1.05%
1Y
4.69%
3Y*
5.52%
5Y*
2.30%
10Y*
2.54%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VGHAX
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares		-4.65%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		0.77%6.75%4.98%6.06%-5.84%-0.70%5.16%5.75%0.87%2.02%

Correlation

The correlation between VGHAX and VFSTX is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.31

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.25

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.23

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.11

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 13, 2001

-0.04

The correlation between VGHAX and VFSTX shifts across timeframes, from -0.04 (all time) to 0.31 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VGHAX
VFSTX

Healthcare

97.8%
100.0%

Consumer Defensive

1.2%

-

Financial Services

0.0%

-

Basic Materials

0.0%

-

Communication Services

-

100.0%

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Energy

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Real Estate

-

0.0%

Technology

-

0.1%

Utilities

-

-

Healthcare

VGHAX
97.8%
VFSTX
100.0%

Consumer Defensive

VGHAX
1.2%
VFSTX

-

Financial Services

VGHAX
0.0%
VFSTX

-

Basic Materials

VGHAX
0.0%
VFSTX

-

Communication Services

VGHAX

-

VFSTX
100.0%

Consumer Cyclical

VGHAX

-

VFSTX

-

Energy

VGHAX

-

VFSTX

-

Industrials

VGHAX

-

VFSTX

-

Real Estate

VGHAX

-

VFSTX
0.0%

Technology

VGHAX

-

VFSTX
0.1%

Utilities

VGHAX

-

VFSTX

-

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Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares

Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares

Often compared with VGHAX:
VGHAX vs. VHTVGHAX vs. VHCIXVGHAX vs. FPHAXVGHAX vs. XLVVGHAX vs. VIGAXVGHAX vs. VPCCXVGHAX vs. BPTRX
Often compared with VFSTX:
VFSTX vs. VCSHVFSTX vs. OSTIXVFSTX vs. VFICXVFSTX vs. VFIIXVFSTX vs. BSVVFSTX vs. BNDVFSTX vs. VCIT

Return for Risk

VGHAX vs. VFSTX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VGHAX
VGHAX Risk / Return Rank: 1717
Overall Rank
VGHAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1515
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VGHAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 1616
Sortino Ratio Rank
VGHAX Omega Ratio Rank: 1414
Omega Ratio Rank
VGHAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 2222
Calmar Ratio Rank
VGHAX Martin Ratio Rank: 1616
Martin Ratio Rank
VFSTX
VFSTX Risk / Return Rank: 5959
Overall Rank
VFSTX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4848
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VFSTX Sortino Ratio Rank: 7575
Sortino Ratio Rank
VFSTX Omega Ratio Rank: 6868
Omega Ratio Rank
VFSTX Calmar Ratio Rank: 5252
Calmar Ratio Rank
VFSTX Martin Ratio Rank: 5353
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

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.

VGHAXVFSTXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.08
2.04

-0.96

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.68
3.61

-1.93

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.19

1.46

-0.27

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.74

2.76

-1.02

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

4.63

10.82

-6.19

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VGHAX Sharpe Ratio is 1.08, which is lower than the VFSTX Sharpe Ratio of 2.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VGHAX and VFSTX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VGHAXVFSTXDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.08

2.04

-0.96

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.40

0.78

-0.38

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.50

1.03

-0.53

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.60

1.51

-0.91

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

VGHAXVFSTXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest 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 (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-16.05%

-1.71%

-14.34%

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 Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-7.60%

-0.26%

-7.34%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-5.61%

-1.12%

-4.49%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.44%

0.43%

+3.01%

Volatility

VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) has a higher volatility of 3.78% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) at 0.74%. 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

VGHAXVFSTXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.78%

0.74%

+3.04%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.35%

1.65%

+8.70%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

14.74%

2.31%

+12.43%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

18.12%

2.98%

+15.14%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

17.58%

2.48%

+15.10%

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%.

Dividends

VGHAX vs. VFSTX - Dividend Comparison

VGHAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.00%, more than VFSTX's 4.61% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VFSTX
Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares		4.61%4.48%4.06%3.05%1.93%1.70%2.24%2.83%2.68%2.00%2.04%1.99%
VGHAX
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares		7.00%6.07%22.84%7.22%5.49%7.05%8.02%11.87%9.15%7.36%8.60%8.21%

Frequently Asked Questions

VGHAX and VFSTX have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

VGHAX has higher volatility (3.78%) compared to VFSTX (0.74%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGHAX dropped -36.85% vs VFSTX's -9.35%.

VFSTX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.04 vs 1.08), 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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