VGHCX vs. AHSAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) and Alger Health Sciences Fund (AHSAX).
VGHCX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on May 23, 1984. AHSAX is managed by Alger. It was launched on Apr 30, 2002.
Performance
VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Performance Comparison
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VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGHCX Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares | -5.90% | 19.63% | 8.99% | 5.46% | -1.05% | 14.36% | 12.57% | 22.93% | 1.03% | 19.59% |
AHSAX Alger Health Sciences Fund | -5.75% | 10.14% | 1.17% | -4.26% | -17.04% | 3.26% | 30.99% | 22.02% | 5.71% | 33.06% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VGHCX having a -5.90% return and AHSAX slightly higher at -5.75%. Over the past 10 years, VGHCX has outperformed AHSAX with an annualized return of 9.25%, while AHSAX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.21% annualized return.
VGHCX
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- -8.80%
- YTD
- -5.90%
- 6M
- 7.14%
- 1Y
- 9.73%
- 3Y*
- 9.19%
- 5Y*
- 7.98%
- 10Y*
- 9.25%
AHSAX
- 1D
- 0.28%
- 1M
- -8.71%
- YTD
- -5.75%
- 6M
- 7.29%
- 1Y
- 14.55%
- 3Y*
- 2.02%
- 5Y*
- -2.34%
- 10Y*
- 8.21%
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VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGHCX has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is lower than AHSAX's 1.05% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VGHCX vs. AHSAX — Risk / Return Rank
VGHCX
AHSAX
VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) and Alger Health Sciences Fund (AHSAX). 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.
| VGHCX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.53 | 0.91 | -0.38 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.83 | 1.35 | -0.51 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.10 | 1.17 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.14 | 1.50 | -0.36 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.80 | 4.92 | -2.12 |
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
| VGHCX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.53 | 0.91 | -0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.44 | -0.10 | +0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 | 0.35 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.93 | 0.31 | +0.62 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGHCX and AHSAX is 0.85, 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
VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Dividend Comparison
VGHCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.02%, while AHSAX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGHCX Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares | 7.02% | 6.00% | 22.72% | 7.17% | 5.44% | 8.31% | 7.96% | 11.82% | 9.10% | 7.30% | 8.54% | 8.16% |
AHSAX Alger Health Sciences Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 27.18% | 11.68% | 6.98% | 7.82% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGHCX drawdown since its inception was -36.93%, smaller than the maximum AHSAX drawdown of -46.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGHCX and AHSAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGHCX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.93% | -46.23% | +9.30% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.20% | -9.67% | +0.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.95% | -45.04% | +28.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -27.18% | -45.04% | +17.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.80% | -31.45% | +22.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.25% | -14.61% | +9.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.91% | 2.95% | +0.96% |
Volatility
VGHCX vs. AHSAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Health Care Fund Investor Shares (VGHCX) and Alger Health Sciences Fund (AHSAX) have volatilities of 4.82% and 4.84%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGHCX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.82% | 4.84% | -0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.26% | 11.50% | -1.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.43% | 16.42% | +1.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.05% | 24.29% | -6.24% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.62% | 23.37% | -5.75% |