VGSTX vs. VGWIX
VGSTX (Vanguard STAR Fund) and VGWIX (Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares) are both Diversified Portfolio funds from Vanguard. Over the past 5 years, VGSTX returned 6.22%/yr vs 5.09%/yr for VGWIX. Their correlation of 0.81 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VGSTX charges 0.29%/yr vs 0.41%/yr for VGWIX.
Performance
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGSTX achieves a 6.00% return, which is significantly higher than VGWIX's 5.69% return.
VGSTX
- 1D
- 1.02%
- 1M
- -0.29%
- 6M
- 4.18%
- YTD
- 6.00%
- 1Y
- 14.88%
- 3Y*
- 12.97%
- 5Y*
- 6.22%
- 10Y*
- 9.31%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.80%
VGWIX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- 0.41%
- 6M
- 3.57%
- YTD
- 5.69%
- 1Y
- 11.81%
- 3Y*
- 9.52%
- 5Y*
- 5.09%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 5.20%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
VGSTX Vanguard STAR Fund | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGSTX Vanguard STAR Fund | 6.00% | 15.88% | 13.69% | 17.14% | -18.05% | 9.65% | 21.45% | 22.21% | -5.33% | 1.61% |
VGWIX Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares | 5.69% | 13.18% | 6.02% | 8.78% | -8.15% | 6.41% | 5.41% | 13.82% | -4.38% | 0.94% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGSTX and VGWIX is 0.74, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.74 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.76 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.78 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 18, 2017 | 0.81 |
The correlation between VGSTX and VGWIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.74 to 0.81 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VGSTX vs. VGWIX — Risk / Return Rank
VGSTX
VGWIX
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard STAR Fund (VGSTX) and Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares (VGWIX). 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.
| VGSTX | VGWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.72 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.43 | -0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.04 | 2.53 | -0.49 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.62 | 9.52 | -0.90 |
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Drawdowns
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGSTX drawdown since its inception was -38.62%, which is greater than VGWIX's maximum drawdown of -17.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGSTX and VGWIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGSTX | VGWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -38.62% | -17.74% | -20.88% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.76% | -4.59% | -2.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.77% | -4.59% | -7.18% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.55% | -15.95% | -9.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.55% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.94% | -0.12% | -0.82% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.02% | -2.65% | -1.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.60% | 1.22% | +0.38% |
Volatility
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard STAR Fund (VGSTX) has a higher volatility of 2.35% compared to Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares (VGWIX) at 1.34%. This indicates that VGSTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGWIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGSTX | VGWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.35% | 1.34% | +1.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.36% | 4.30% | +3.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.06% | 5.18% | +3.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.91% | 6.27% | +5.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.81% | 6.77% | +5.04% |
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGSTX has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is lower than VGWIX's 0.41% expense ratio.
Dividends
VGSTX vs. VGWIX - Dividend Comparison
VGSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.57%, more than VGWIX's 3.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGSTX Vanguard STAR Fund | 8.57% | 9.13% | 10.67% | 5.35% | 8.34% | 6.70% | 6.68% | 6.07% | 6.90% | 3.32% | 4.77% | 5.62% |
VGWIX Vanguard Global Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares | 3.80% | 3.88% | 3.77% | 3.03% | 1.41% | 2.27% | 1.89% | 2.17% | 4.25% | 0.29% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGSTX and VGWIX have a correlation of 0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VGSTX has higher volatility (2.35%) compared to VGWIX (1.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGSTX dropped -38.62% vs VGWIX's -17.74%.
VGWIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.25 vs 1.52), 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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