VO vs. SCHM
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and Schwab US Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM).
VO and SCHM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Mid Cap Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. SCHM is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones US Total Stock Market Mid-Cap. It was launched on Jan 13, 2011. Both VO and SCHM 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
VO vs. SCHM - Performance Comparison
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VO vs. SCHM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | -0.05% | 11.62% | 15.31% | 16.03% | -18.73% | 24.70% | 18.10% | 30.98% | -9.24% | 19.28% |
SCHM Schwab US Mid-Cap ETF | 4.18% | 10.17% | 11.98% | 16.69% | -17.07% | 19.36% | 15.26% | 27.48% | -8.77% | 19.60% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VO achieves a -0.05% return, which is significantly lower than SCHM's 4.18% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VO having a 10.74% annualized return and SCHM not far behind at 10.30%.
VO
- 1D
- 0.63%
- 1M
- -5.18%
- YTD
- -0.05%
- 6M
- -0.76%
- 1Y
- 13.07%
- 3Y*
- 12.85%
- 5Y*
- 6.79%
- 10Y*
- 10.74%
SCHM
- 1D
- 0.94%
- 1M
- -5.24%
- YTD
- 4.18%
- 6M
- 5.69%
- 1Y
- 20.54%
- 3Y*
- 13.06%
- 5Y*
- 6.01%
- 10Y*
- 10.30%
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VO vs. SCHM - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VO and SCHM have an expense ratio of 0.04%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VO vs. SCHM — Risk / Return Rank
VO
SCHM
VO vs. SCHM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and Schwab US Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM). 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.
| VO | SCHM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.75 | 0.98 | -0.23 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.15 | 1.49 | -0.34 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.21 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.06 | 1.49 | -0.43 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.83 | 6.50 | -1.67 |
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
| VO | SCHM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.75 | 0.98 | -0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.39 | 0.31 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 | 0.51 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.55 | -0.06 |
Correlation
The correlation between VO and SCHM is 0.97, 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
VO vs. SCHM - Dividend Comparison
VO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.50%, more than SCHM's 1.40% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 1.50% | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 1.45% | 1.48% | 1.82% | 1.35% | 1.45% | 1.47% |
SCHM Schwab US Mid-Cap ETF | 1.40% | 1.46% | 1.43% | 1.50% | 1.67% | 1.13% | 1.31% | 1.48% | 1.56% | 1.27% | 1.51% | 1.54% |
Drawdowns
VO vs. SCHM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VO drawdown since its inception was -58.87%, which is greater than SCHM's maximum drawdown of -42.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VO and SCHM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VO | SCHM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.87% | -42.43% | -16.44% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.74% | -14.16% | +1.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.57% | -26.46% | -1.11% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.37% | -42.43% | +3.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.53% | -5.44% | -0.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.91% | -5.71% | -2.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.79% | 3.24% | -0.45% |
Volatility
VO vs. SCHM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) is 4.83%, while Schwab US Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM) has a volatility of 6.80%. This indicates that VO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SCHM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VO | SCHM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.83% | 6.80% | -1.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.73% | 12.07% | -2.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.57% | 21.15% | -3.58% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.61% | 19.51% | -1.90% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.94% | 20.41% | -1.47% |