VSCIX vs. PSSMX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) and Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX).
VSCIX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 7, 1997. PSSMX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Dec 6, 2000.
Performance
VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Performance Comparison
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VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCIX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | -1.21% | 8.85% | 12.96% | 19.52% | -17.60% | 17.74% | 19.07% | 27.40% | -9.33% | 16.25% |
PSSMX Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund | 0.51% | 5.34% | 16.60% | 15.18% | -16.69% | 25.39% | 10.65% | 21.99% | -9.42% | 12.46% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSCIX achieves a -1.21% return, which is significantly lower than PSSMX's 0.51% return. Over the past 10 years, VSCIX has outperformed PSSMX with an annualized return of 10.16%, while PSSMX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.60% annualized return.
VSCIX
- 1D
- -0.97%
- 1M
- -8.09%
- YTD
- -1.21%
- 6M
- 0.59%
- 1Y
- 16.09%
- 3Y*
- 11.86%
- 5Y*
- 5.03%
- 10Y*
- 10.16%
PSSMX
- 1D
- -0.74%
- 1M
- -6.73%
- YTD
- 0.51%
- 6M
- 2.08%
- 1Y
- 16.53%
- 3Y*
- 11.57%
- 5Y*
- 4.74%
- 10Y*
- 9.60%
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VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSCIX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than PSSMX's 0.73% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VSCIX vs. PSSMX — Risk / Return Rank
VSCIX
PSSMX
VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) and Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX). 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.
| VSCIX | PSSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.75 | 0.76 | -0.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.19 | 1.22 | -0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.16 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.97 | 0.98 | -0.01 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.21 | 3.97 | +0.23 |
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
| VSCIX | PSSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.75 | 0.76 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.24 | 0.22 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 | 0.42 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 0.39 | 0.00 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSCIX and PSSMX 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
VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Dividend Comparison
VSCIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.39%, less than PSSMX's 9.93% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCIX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.39% | 1.34% | 1.31% | 1.55% | 1.55% | 1.25% | 1.15% | 1.40% | 1.68% | 1.36% | 1.50% | 1.49% |
PSSMX Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund | 9.93% | 9.98% | 15.91% | 3.75% | 10.45% | 8.23% | 1.67% | 6.56% | 13.08% | 6.03% | 6.15% | 8.07% |
Drawdowns
VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSCIX drawdown since its inception was -59.66%, roughly equal to the maximum PSSMX drawdown of -58.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSCIX and PSSMX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSCIX | PSSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.66% | -58.43% | -1.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.30% | -14.85% | +0.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.13% | -27.01% | -1.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.81% | -44.85% | +3.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.97% | -8.40% | -0.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.18% | -9.58% | -0.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.29% | 3.66% | -0.37% |
Volatility
VSCIX vs. PSSMX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) has a higher volatility of 5.90% compared to Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) at 5.53%. This indicates that VSCIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PSSMX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSCIX | PSSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.90% | 5.53% | +0.37% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.22% | 12.75% | -0.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.62% | 22.55% | -0.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.70% | 21.84% | -1.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.53% | 22.90% | -1.37% |