VGWAX vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VGWAX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
VGWAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 2, 2017. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
VGWAX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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VGWAX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGWAX Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares | 1.04% | 17.48% | 6.27% | 12.54% | -7.07% | 13.51% | 7.51% | 22.16% | -5.05% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -4.42% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -7.40% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGWAX achieves a 1.04% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's -4.42% return.
VGWAX
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -6.46%
- YTD
- 1.04%
- 6M
- 5.86%
- 1Y
- 13.97%
- 3Y*
- 11.30%
- 5Y*
- 7.50%
- 10Y*
- —
VOO
- 1D
- 2.86%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- -4.42%
- 6M
- -1.84%
- 1Y
- 17.67%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.05%
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VGWAX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGWAX has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VGWAX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
VGWAX
VOO
VGWAX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VGWAX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| VGWAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.50 | 0.98 | +0.52 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.05 | 1.50 | +0.56 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.23 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.95 | 1.53 | +0.42 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.80 | 7.29 | +0.51 |
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
| VGWAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.50 | 0.98 | +0.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.83 | 0.70 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.78 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.74 | 0.83 | -0.09 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGWAX and VOO is 0.84, 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
VGWAX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
VGWAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.69%, more than VOO's 1.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGWAX Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares | 6.69% | 6.78% | 7.47% | 2.66% | 4.50% | 3.36% | 1.64% | 2.08% | 2.62% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.19% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
VGWAX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGWAX drawdown since its inception was -25.28%, smaller than the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGWAX and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGWAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -25.28% | -33.99% | +8.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.04% | -11.98% | +4.94% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.46% | -24.52% | +7.06% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.99% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.46% | -6.29% | -0.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.94% | -3.72% | +0.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.76% | 2.52% | -0.76% |
Volatility
VGWAX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VGWAX) is 3.38%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that VGWAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGWAX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.38% | 5.29% | -1.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.80% | 9.44% | -3.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.58% | 18.10% | -8.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 9.09% | 16.82% | -7.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.99% | 17.99% | -7.00% |