VSCGX vs. VRTVX
VSCGX (Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund) and VRTVX (Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares) are both mutual funds - VSCGX is a Diversified Portfolio fund managed by Vanguard, while VRTVX is a Small Cap Value Equities fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VSCGX returned 6.62%/yr vs 10.48%/yr for VRTVX. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VSCGX charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for VRTVX.
Performance
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSCGX achieves a 5.65% return, which is significantly lower than VRTVX's 18.94% return. Over the past 10 years, VSCGX has underperformed VRTVX with an annualized return of 6.62%, while VRTVX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.48% annualized return.
VSCGX
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- 2.69%
- YTD
- 5.65%
- 6M
- 5.96%
- 1Y
- 14.61%
- 3Y*
- 12.39%
- 5Y*
- 5.61%
- 10Y*
- 6.62%
VRTVX
- 1D
- 0.95%
- 1M
- 4.04%
- YTD
- 18.94%
- 6M
- 18.07%
- 1Y
- 43.21%
- 3Y*
- 18.32%
- 5Y*
- 6.89%
- 10Y*
- 10.48%
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund | 5.65% | 12.87% | 11.65% | 12.72% | -15.00% | 6.04% | 11.51% | 15.69% | -2.95% | 10.02% |
VRTVX Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares | 18.94% | 12.21% | 8.07% | 14.71% | -14.52% | 28.06% | 4.81% | 22.40% | -12.83% | 7.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSCGX and VRTVX is 0.73, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 23, 2010 | 0.75 |
The correlation between VSCGX and VRTVX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.70 to 0.75 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VSCGX vs. VRTVX — Risk / Return Rank
VSCGX
VRTVX
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX) and Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRTVX). 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.
| VSCGX | VRTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.47 | 1.43 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.85 | 5.34 | -2.49 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.45 | 18.14 | -5.69 |
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
| VSCGX | VRTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.40 | 2.54 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.73 | 0.32 | +0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 | 0.44 | +0.46 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.85 | 0.48 | +0.38 |
Drawdowns
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSCGX drawdown since its inception was -30.62%, smaller than the maximum VRTVX drawdown of -45.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSCGX and VRTVX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSCGX | VRTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -30.62% | -45.98% | +15.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.19% | -8.54% | +3.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.71% | -26.85% | +20.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.15% | -26.85% | +6.70% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.15% | -45.98% | +25.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.25% | +0.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.00% | -7.78% | +4.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.18% | 2.51% | -1.33% |
Volatility
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX) is 2.17%, while Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRTVX) has a volatility of 4.90%. This indicates that VSCGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VRTVX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSCGX | VRTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.17% | 4.90% | -2.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.09% | 11.98% | -6.89% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.16% | 17.95% | -11.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.70% | 21.67% | -13.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.37% | 23.71% | -16.34% |
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSCGX has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is higher than VRTVX's 0.08% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VSCGX vs. VRTVX - Dividend Comparison
VSCGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.24%, more than VRTVX's 1.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRTVX Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.58% | 1.49% | 1.84% | 2.08% | 2.15% | 1.56% | 1.54% | 1.87% | 2.17% | 1.74% | 1.52% | 2.16% |
VSCGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund | 5.24% | 5.50% | 11.03% | 5.23% | 2.79% | 4.18% | 3.28% | 2.62% | 3.81% | 1.65% | 2.43% | 3.21% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VSCGX and VRTVX have a correlation of 0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VRTVX has higher volatility (4.90%) compared to VSCGX (2.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSCGX dropped -30.62% vs VRTVX's -45.98%.
VRTVX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.54 vs 2.40), 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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