VIS vs. XAR
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) and SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR).
VIS and XAR are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VIS is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index. It was launched on Sep 23, 2004. XAR is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry. It was launched on Sep 28, 2011. Both VIS and XAR are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
VIS vs. XAR - Performance Comparison
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VIS vs. XAR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIS Vanguard Industrials ETF | 4.90% | 18.57% | 16.85% | 22.50% | -8.57% | 20.80% | 12.34% | 30.09% | -14.01% | 21.47% |
XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 5.33% | 46.15% | 23.32% | 23.79% | -5.02% | 2.31% | 6.18% | 39.33% | -4.58% | 33.00% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VIS achieves a 4.90% return, which is significantly lower than XAR's 5.33% return. Over the past 10 years, VIS has underperformed XAR with an annualized return of 13.16%, while XAR has yielded a comparatively higher 18.07% annualized return.
VIS
- 1D
- 3.42%
- 1M
- -8.44%
- YTD
- 4.90%
- 6M
- 5.93%
- 1Y
- 27.43%
- 3Y*
- 19.38%
- 5Y*
- 11.84%
- 10Y*
- 13.16%
XAR
- 1D
- 4.85%
- 1M
- -10.20%
- YTD
- 5.33%
- 6M
- 8.19%
- 1Y
- 58.67%
- 3Y*
- 30.25%
- 5Y*
- 15.56%
- 10Y*
- 18.07%
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VIS vs. XAR - Expense Ratio Comparison
VIS has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than XAR's 0.35% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VIS vs. XAR — Risk / Return Rank
VIS
XAR
VIS vs. XAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) and SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR). 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.
| VIS | XAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.35 | 2.09 | -0.74 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.95 | 2.76 | -0.80 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.35 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.23 | 3.34 | -1.11 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.80 | 11.77 | -2.98 |
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
| VIS | XAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.35 | 2.09 | -0.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.68 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | 0.74 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.83 | -0.33 |
Correlation
The correlation between VIS and XAR is 0.79, 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
VIS vs. XAR - Dividend Comparison
VIS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.97%, more than XAR's 0.35% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIS Vanguard Industrials ETF | 0.97% | 1.01% | 1.23% | 1.36% | 1.52% | 1.11% | 1.38% | 1.68% | 1.90% | 1.60% | 1.81% | 1.94% |
XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.35% | 0.40% | 0.66% | 0.54% | 0.50% | 0.83% | 0.63% | 0.75% | 1.19% | 0.76% | 1.09% | 2.31% |
Drawdowns
VIS vs. XAR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VIS drawdown since its inception was -63.51%, which is greater than XAR's maximum drawdown of -46.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VIS and XAR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VIS | XAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.51% | -46.37% | -17.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.63% | -17.22% | +4.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.96% | -32.40% | +9.44% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.42% | -46.37% | +3.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.29% | -13.20% | +3.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.42% | -6.76% | -1.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.20% | 4.88% | -1.68% |
Volatility
VIS vs. XAR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) is 7.06%, while SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) has a volatility of 10.26%. This indicates that VIS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XAR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VIS | XAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.06% | 10.26% | -3.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.65% | 21.34% | -8.69% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.47% | 28.28% | -7.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.18% | 22.91% | -4.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.33% | 24.34% | -4.01% |