VSBSX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSBSX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
VSBSX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 28, 2009. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993.
Performance
VSBSX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VSBSX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSBSX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.29% | 5.08% | 4.39% | 4.23% | -3.87% | -0.69% | 3.09% | 3.51% | 1.52% | 0.35% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -3.65% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSBSX achieves a 0.29% return, which is significantly higher than SPY's -3.65% return. Over the past 10 years, VSBSX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 1.74%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 14.06% annualized return.
VSBSX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.31%
- YTD
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 1.25%
- 1Y
- 3.68%
- 3Y*
- 4.11%
- 5Y*
- 1.84%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
SPY
- 1D
- 0.75%
- 1M
- -4.28%
- YTD
- -3.65%
- 6M
- -1.42%
- 1Y
- 18.14%
- 3Y*
- 18.48%
- 5Y*
- 11.86%
- 10Y*
- 14.06%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VSBSX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSBSX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than SPY's 0.09% 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
VSBSX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
VSBSX
SPY
VSBSX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSBSX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
| VSBSX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.60 | 0.96 | +1.65 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 4.12 | 1.49 | +2.63 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.56 | 1.23 | +0.33 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.52 | 1.53 | +2.98 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 17.41 | 7.27 | +10.15 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VSBSX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.60 | 0.96 | +1.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 | 0.70 | +0.26 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.14 | 0.79 | +0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.07 | 0.56 | +0.51 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSBSX and SPY is -0.16. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
VSBSX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
VSBSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.57%, more than SPY's 1.13% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSBSX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.57% | 3.98% | 4.50% | 3.29% | 1.12% | 0.63% | 1.72% | 2.26% | 1.80% | 1.10% | 0.76% | 0.71% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.13% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
VSBSX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSBSX drawdown since its inception was -5.77%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSBSX and SPY.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VSBSX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.77% | -55.19% | +49.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.84% | -12.05% | +11.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.77% | -24.50% | +18.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.77% | -33.72% | +27.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.43% | -5.53% | +5.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.59% | -9.09% | +8.50% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.22% | 2.54% | -2.32% |
Volatility
VSBSX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSBSX) is 0.53%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 5.35%. This indicates that VSBSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VSBSX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.53% | 5.35% | -4.82% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.84% | 9.50% | -8.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.44% | 19.06% | -17.62% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.94% | 17.06% | -15.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.53% | 17.92% | -16.39% |