VRTGX vs. VIOO
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRTGX) and Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF (VIOO).
VRTGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on May 25, 2011. VIOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
VRTGX vs. VIOO - Performance Comparison
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VRTGX vs. VIOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRTGX Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares | -2.79% | 12.97% | 15.26% | 18.80% | -26.30% | 2.82% | 34.81% | 28.84% | -9.21% | 22.27% |
VIOO Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF | 4.04% | 6.04% | 8.48% | 16.16% | -16.26% | 26.79% | 11.47% | 22.68% | -8.65% | 13.16% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRTGX achieves a -2.79% return, which is significantly lower than VIOO's 4.04% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VRTGX having a 9.83% annualized return and VIOO not far ahead at 9.90%.
VRTGX
- 1D
- 4.27%
- 1M
- -7.24%
- YTD
- -2.79%
- 6M
- -1.59%
- 1Y
- 23.68%
- 3Y*
- 12.32%
- 5Y*
- 1.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.83%
VIOO
- 1D
- 0.53%
- 1M
- -4.14%
- YTD
- 4.04%
- 6M
- 5.50%
- 1Y
- 20.96%
- 3Y*
- 10.70%
- 5Y*
- 4.20%
- 10Y*
- 9.90%
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VRTGX vs. VIOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VRTGX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than VIOO's 0.10% 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%.
Return for Risk
VRTGX vs. VIOO — Risk / Return Rank
VRTGX
VIOO
VRTGX vs. VIOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRTGX) and Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF (VIOO). 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.
| VRTGX | VIOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.94 | 0.93 | +0.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.46 | 1.43 | +0.02 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.19 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.54 | 1.45 | +0.09 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.21 | 5.76 | -0.55 |
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
| VRTGX | VIOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 | 0.93 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 | 0.20 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 | 0.43 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 0.54 | -0.08 |
Correlation
The correlation between VRTGX and VIOO is 0.90, 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
VRTGX vs. VIOO - Dividend Comparison
VRTGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.73%, less than VIOO's 1.31% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRTGX Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.73% | 0.57% | 0.62% | 0.85% | 0.78% | 0.54% | 0.53% | 0.90% | 0.85% | 0.75% | 1.07% | 0.84% |
VIOO Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF | 1.31% | 1.36% | 1.48% | 1.47% | 1.51% | 1.16% | 1.09% | 1.37% | 1.32% | 1.11% | 1.06% | 1.26% |
Drawdowns
VRTGX vs. VIOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRTGX drawdown since its inception was -41.97%, roughly equal to the maximum VIOO drawdown of -44.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRTGX and VIOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VRTGX | VIOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.97% | -44.15% | +2.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.80% | -14.66% | -0.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.48% | -27.93% | -12.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.97% | -44.15% | +2.18% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.16% | -5.30% | -5.86% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.53% | -7.40% | -3.13% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.36% | 3.68% | +0.68% |
Volatility
VRTGX vs. VIOO - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRTGX) has a higher volatility of 8.82% compared to Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF (VIOO) at 6.32%. This indicates that VRTGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VIOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VRTGX | VIOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.82% | 6.32% | +2.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.59% | 13.11% | +3.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.39% | 22.67% | +2.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.53% | 21.50% | +3.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.45% | 22.98% | +1.47% |