VGSH vs. DBE
VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) and DBE (Invesco DB Energy Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - VGSH is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while DBE is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the DBIQ Optimum Yield Energy Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VGSH returned 1.74%/yr vs 12.03%/yr for DBE. At a correlation of -0.14, they often move in opposite directions. VGSH charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.78%/yr for DBE.
Performance
VGSH vs. DBE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGSH achieves a 0.48% return, which is significantly lower than DBE's 83.68% return. Over the past 10 years, VGSH has underperformed DBE with an annualized return of 1.74%, while DBE has yielded a comparatively higher 12.03% annualized return.
VGSH
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.48%
- 6M
- 0.74%
- 1Y
- 3.43%
- 3Y*
- 4.15%
- 5Y*
- 1.81%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
DBE
- 1D
- 2.33%
- 1M
- -5.45%
- YTD
- 83.68%
- 6M
- 74.95%
- 1Y
- 84.41%
- 3Y*
- 23.42%
- 5Y*
- 19.66%
- 10Y*
- 12.03%
VGSH vs. DBE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.48% | 5.07% | 4.00% | 4.31% | -3.86% | -0.60% | 3.04% | 3.52% | 1.55% | 0.04% |
DBE Invesco DB Energy Fund | 83.68% | -2.17% | 2.96% | -12.14% | 33.77% | 57.56% | -25.91% | 19.72% | -12.95% | 5.21% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGSH and DBE is -0.37, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.37 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.16 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009 | -0.14 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between VGSH and DBE has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.14 to -0.37, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
VGSH vs. DBE — Risk / Return Rank
VGSH
DBE
VGSH vs. DBE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) and Invesco DB Energy Fund (DBE). 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.
| VGSH | DBE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.47 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.57 | 1.40 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.90 | 5.89 | -1.99 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.52 | 11.53 | +3.99 |
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
| VGSH | DBE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.68 | 2.43 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 | 0.67 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.11 | 0.43 | +0.68 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.01 | 0.09 | +0.92 |
Drawdowns
VGSH vs. DBE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGSH drawdown since its inception was -5.70%, smaller than the maximum DBE drawdown of -86.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGSH and DBE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGSH | DBE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.70% | -86.69% | +80.99% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.88% | -14.41% | +13.53% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.97% | -23.89% | +22.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.66% | -38.74% | +33.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.70% | -60.84% | +55.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.29% | -30.27% | +29.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.60% | -57.31% | +56.71% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.22% | 7.35% | -7.13% |
Volatility
VGSH vs. DBE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) is 0.35%, while Invesco DB Energy Fund (DBE) has a volatility of 12.95%. This indicates that VGSH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DBE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGSH | DBE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.35% | 12.95% | -12.60% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.88% | 30.86% | -29.98% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.29% | 34.97% | -33.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.97% | 29.39% | -27.42% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.57% | 28.33% | -26.76% |
VGSH vs. DBE - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGSH has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than DBE's 0.78% expense ratio.
Dividends
VGSH vs. DBE - Dividend Comparison
VGSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.87%, more than DBE's 2.10% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DBE Invesco DB Energy Fund | 2.10% | 3.86% | 6.32% | 3.87% | 0.75% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.79% | 1.67% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 3.87% | 4.00% | 4.18% | 3.31% | 1.15% | 0.66% | 1.74% | 2.28% | 1.79% | 1.10% | 0.84% | 0.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGSH and DBE have a correlation of -0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DBE has higher volatility (12.95%) compared to VGSH (0.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGSH dropped -5.70% vs DBE's -86.69%.
On 10-year performance, DBE leads with 12.03% vs 1.74% for VGSH. On fees, VGSH is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VGSH has been the lower-risk option at 0.35%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, DBE has performed better with a 12.03% return vs 1.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGSH is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.78% for DBE.
VGSH has the higher dividend yield at 3.87%, compared with 2.10% for DBE.
VGSH is categorized as Government Bonds, while DBE is Oil & Gas. VGSH tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while DBE tracks DBIQ Optimum Yield Energy Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VGSH and 0.78% for DBE.
VGSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.68 vs 2.43), 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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