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VIIIX vs. VFTNX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VIIIX vs. VFTNX

Last updated Aug 4, 2026
Documentation

VIIIX (Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares) and VFTNX (Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares) are both mutual funds - VIIIX is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while VFTNX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the FTSE US Choice Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VIIIX returned 15.23%/yr vs 15.62%/yr for VFTNX. Their 0.96 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. VIIIX charges 0.02%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VFTNX.

Performance

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VIIIX) and Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFTNX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VIIIX achieves a 10.12% return, which is significantly higher than VFTNX's 9.32% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VIIIX having a 15.23% annualized return and VFTNX not far ahead at 15.62%.

VIIIX

1D
0.71%
1M
0.14%
6M
7.96%
YTD
10.12%
1Y
21.48%
3Y*
19.82%
5Y*
12.98%
10Y*
15.23%
ALL TIME*
9.44%

VFTNX

1D
0.73%
1M
0.12%
6M
8.44%
YTD
9.32%
1Y
20.92%
3Y*
19.64%
5Y*
11.91%
10Y*
15.62%
ALL TIME*
7.82%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

VFTNX

Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares
$0.00$0.00$0.00

VIIIX

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares
$0.00$0.00$0.00

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VIIIX
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares		10.12%17.87%26.29%25.79%-18.14%28.69%18.41%31.48%-4.41%21.82%
VFTNX
Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares		9.32%17.32%26.01%31.77%-24.20%27.76%22.62%33.96%-3.41%24.19%

Correlation

The correlation between VIIIX and VFTNX is 0.99 - they have historically moved very closely together. At this level, their price movements offset little of one another.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.99

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.99

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.99

Correlation (10Y)
Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.

0.99

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since May 31, 2000

0.96

The correlation between VIIIX and VFTNX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.96 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VIIIX
VFTNX

Technology

38.6%
44.7%

Financial Services

11.4%
11.2%

Communication Services

9.9%
12.4%

Consumer Cyclical

9.5%
11.4%

Healthcare

8.9%
9.7%

Industrials

8.5%
3.2%

Consumer Defensive

4.5%
3.7%

Energy

3.0%
0.0%

Utilities

2.2%
0.1%

Real Estate

1.8%
2.0%

Basic Materials

1.7%
1.5%

Technology

VIIIX
38.6%
VFTNX
44.7%

Financial Services

VIIIX
11.4%
VFTNX
11.2%

Communication Services

VIIIX
9.9%
VFTNX
12.4%

Consumer Cyclical

VIIIX
9.5%
VFTNX
11.4%

Healthcare

VIIIX
8.9%
VFTNX
9.7%

Industrials

VIIIX
8.5%
VFTNX
3.2%

Consumer Defensive

VIIIX
4.5%
VFTNX
3.7%

Energy

VIIIX
3.0%
VFTNX
0.0%

Utilities

VIIIX
2.2%
VFTNX
0.1%

Real Estate

VIIIX
1.8%
VFTNX
2.0%

Basic Materials

VIIIX
1.7%
VFTNX
1.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares

Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares

Often compared with VIIIX:
VIIIX vs. VIGIXVIIIX vs. SPYVIIIX vs. OIEJXVIIIX vs. VTSNXVIIIX vs. VTIVIIIX vs. VEMPXVIIIX vs. VFIFX
Often compared with VFTNX:
VFTNX vs. VFTAXVFTNX vs. VOOGVFTNX vs. VTIVFTNX vs. VWUAXVFTNX vs. VFIAXVFTNX vs. VIVIXVFTNX vs. AMIGX

Return for Risk

VIIIX vs. VFTNX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
VIIIX
VIIIX Risk / Return Rank: 5959
Overall Rank
VIIIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5656
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VIIIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 5252
Sortino Ratio Rank
VIIIX Omega Ratio Rank: 5252
Omega Ratio Rank
VIIIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 6161
Calmar Ratio Rank
VIIIX Martin Ratio Rank: 7474
Martin Ratio Rank
VFTNX
VFTNX Risk / Return Rank: 3838
Overall Rank
VFTNX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4040
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VFTNX Sortino Ratio Rank: 3838
Sortino Ratio Rank
VFTNX Omega Ratio Rank: 3838
Omega Ratio Rank
VFTNX Calmar Ratio Rank: 3535
Calmar Ratio Rank
VFTNX Martin Ratio Rank: 4141
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VIIIX) and Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFTNX). 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.

VIIIXVFTNXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.53
1.29

+0.23

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.12
1.82

+0.30

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.27

1.23

+0.04

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.21

1.59

+0.62

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.47

6.28

+3.19

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VIIIX Sharpe Ratio is 1.53, which is comparable to the VFTNX Sharpe Ratio of 1.29. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VIIIX and VFTNX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VIIIX drawdown since its inception was -55.18%, smaller than the maximum VFTNX drawdown of -64.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VIIIX and VFTNX.

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Drawdown Indicators

VIIIXVFTNXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-55.18%

-64.04%

+8.86%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.90%

-11.83%

+2.93%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-18.75%

-20.18%

+1.43%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-24.50%

-29.11%

+4.61%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-33.79%

-34.22%

+0.43%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-1.42%

-2.12%

+0.70%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-9.97%

-15.62%

+5.65%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.07%

2.99%

-0.92%

Volatility

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VIIIX) is 3.52%, while Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares (VFTNX) has a volatility of 4.15%. This indicates that VIIIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFTNX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VIIIXVFTNXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.52%

4.15%

-0.63%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.11%

11.65%

-1.54%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.87%

14.58%

-1.71%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.00%

18.54%

-1.54%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.07%

19.09%

-1.02%

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VIIIX has a 0.02% expense ratio, which is lower than VFTNX's 0.03% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VIIIX vs. VFTNX - Dividend Comparison

VIIIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.49%, more than VFTNX's 0.89% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VFTNX
Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional Shares		0.89%0.90%1.01%1.12%1.37%0.95%1.23%1.46%1.81%1.49%1.82%1.60%
VIIIX
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares		2.49%2.11%3.66%2.66%3.39%4.79%3.07%2.86%2.45%1.84%2.38%2.47%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.99, VIIIX and VFTNX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

VFTNX has higher volatility (4.15%) compared to VIIIX (3.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VIIIX dropped -55.18% vs VFTNX's -64.04%.

VIIIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.53 vs 1.29), 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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