VOO vs. BSV
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and BSV (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while BSV is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VOO returned 15.23%/yr vs 1.93%/yr for BSV. At a correlation of -0.08, they often move in opposite directions. Both charge a 0.03% expense ratio.
Performance
VOO vs. BSV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VOO achieves a 8.45% return, which is significantly higher than BSV's 0.11% return. Over the past 10 years, VOO has outperformed BSV with an annualized return of 15.23%, while BSV has yielded a comparatively lower 1.93% annualized return.
VOO
- 1D
- -2.59%
- 1M
- 0.50%
- YTD
- 8.45%
- 6M
- 8.18%
- 1Y
- 25.87%
- 3Y*
- 21.52%
- 5Y*
- 13.39%
- 10Y*
- 15.23%
BSV
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- -0.36%
- YTD
- 0.11%
- 6M
- 0.49%
- 1Y
- 3.38%
- 3Y*
- 4.36%
- 5Y*
- 1.58%
- 10Y*
- 1.93%
VOO vs. BSV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 8.45% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | 0.11% | 6.00% | 3.78% | 4.90% | -5.49% | -1.09% | 4.70% | 4.98% | 1.34% | 1.20% |
Correlation
The correlation between VOO and BSV is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2010 | -0.08 |
The correlation between VOO and BSV shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (all time) to 0.23 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VOO vs. BSV — Risk / Return Rank
VOO
BSV
VOO vs. BSV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV). 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.
| VOO | BSV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.35 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.92 | 2.63 | +0.29 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.53 | 9.17 | +4.36 |
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
| VOO | BSV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.15 | 1.87 | +0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.80 | 0.58 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 | 0.81 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.88 | 0.85 | +0.03 |
Drawdowns
VOO vs. BSV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VOO drawdown since its inception was -33.99%, which is greater than BSV's maximum drawdown of -8.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VOO and BSV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VOO | BSV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.99% | -8.54% | -25.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -1.29% | -7.61% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.69% | -1.53% | -17.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.52% | -8.54% | -15.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.99% | -8.54% | -25.45% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.90% | -0.81% | -2.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.69% | -0.97% | -2.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.92% | 0.37% | +1.55% |
Volatility
VOO vs. BSV - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a higher volatility of 3.74% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV) at 0.55%. This indicates that VOO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BSV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VOO | BSV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.74% | 0.55% | +3.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.30% | 1.28% | +8.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.10% | 1.81% | +10.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.84% | 2.73% | +14.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.02% | 2.37% | +15.65% |
VOO vs. BSV - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VOO and BSV have an expense ratio of 0.03%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VOO vs. BSV - Dividend Comparison
VOO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.05%, less than BSV's 4.00% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | 4.00% | 3.83% | 3.38% | 2.46% | 1.50% | 1.45% | 1.79% | 2.29% | 1.99% | 1.65% | 1.48% | 1.40% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.05% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VOO and BSV have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VOO has higher volatility (3.74%) compared to BSV (0.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VOO dropped -33.99% vs BSV's -8.54%.
On 10-year performance, VOO leads with 15.23% vs 1.93% for BSV. Both ETFs have the same 0.03% expense ratio. On volatility, BSV has been the lower-risk option at 0.55%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VOO has performed better with a 15.23% return vs 1.93%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VOO and BSV have the same expense ratio: 0.03% per year.
BSV has the higher dividend yield at 4.00%, compared with 1.05% for VOO.
VOO is categorized as S&P 500, while BSV is Short-Term Bond. VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, while BSV tracks Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index.
VOO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.15 vs 1.87), 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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