VGSH vs. MDFGX
VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) and MDFGX (BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund) are both funds - VGSH is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while MDFGX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund managed by BlackRock. Over the past 10 years, VGSH returned 1.73%/yr vs 16.67%/yr for MDFGX. At a correlation of -0.11, they often move in opposite directions. VGSH charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.97%/yr for MDFGX.
Performance
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGSH achieves a 0.57% return, which is significantly lower than MDFGX's 8.54% return. Over the past 10 years, VGSH has underperformed MDFGX with an annualized return of 1.73%, while MDFGX has yielded a comparatively higher 16.67% annualized return.
VGSH
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 0.57%
- 6M
- 0.83%
- 1Y
- 3.36%
- 3Y*
- 4.25%
- 5Y*
- 1.83%
- 10Y*
- 1.73%
MDFGX
- 1D
- 2.30%
- 1M
- -3.72%
- YTD
- 8.54%
- 6M
- 10.22%
- 1Y
- 20.45%
- 3Y*
- 22.77%
- 5Y*
- 10.48%
- 10Y*
- 16.67%
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.57% | 5.07% | 4.00% | 4.31% | -3.86% | -0.60% | 3.04% | 3.52% | 1.55% | 0.04% |
MDFGX BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund | 8.54% | 12.63% | 31.58% | 48.77% | -37.83% | 20.78% | 40.16% | 31.89% | 1.81% | 32.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGSH and MDFGX is 0.06, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | -0.11 |
The correlation between VGSH and MDFGX shifts across timeframes, from -0.11 (all time) to 0.06 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VGSH vs. MDFGX — Risk / Return Rank
VGSH
MDFGX
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) and BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund (MDFGX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VGSH | MDFGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.56 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.55 | 1.19 | +0.36 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.76 | 1.14 | +2.62 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.67 | 3.80 | +10.87 |
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Drawdowns
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGSH drawdown since its inception was -5.70%, smaller than the maximum MDFGX drawdown of -47.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGSH and MDFGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGSH | MDFGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.70% | -47.99% | +42.29% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.88% | -16.74% | +15.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.97% | -24.43% | +23.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.66% | -42.49% | +36.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.70% | -42.49% | +36.79% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.21% | -6.14% | +5.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.60% | -11.22% | +10.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.23% | 4.99% | -4.76% |
Volatility
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) is 0.37%, while BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund (MDFGX) has a volatility of 6.95%. This indicates that VGSH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MDFGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGSH | MDFGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.37% | 6.95% | -6.58% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.90% | 14.60% | -13.70% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.28% | 18.18% | -16.90% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.97% | 23.57% | -21.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.58% | 22.58% | -21.00% |
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGSH has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than MDFGX's 0.97% expense ratio.
Dividends
VGSH vs. MDFGX - Dividend Comparison
VGSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.87%, less than MDFGX's 17.98% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MDFGX BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund | 17.98% | 19.51% | 12.73% | 3.59% | 9.46% | 12.95% | 5.46% | 10.67% | 14.31% | 12.51% | 4.01% | 11.22% |
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 MDFGX have a correlation of 0.06, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MDFGX has higher volatility (6.95%) compared to VGSH (0.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGSH dropped -5.70% vs MDFGX's -47.99%.
VGSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.61 vs 1.05), 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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