VSCSX vs. GLD
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD).
VSCSX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 18, 2010. GLD is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold Price PM. It was launched on Nov 18, 2004.
Performance
VSCSX vs. GLD - Performance Comparison
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VSCSX vs. GLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCSX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.08% | 6.75% | 5.36% | 6.11% | -5.72% | -0.43% | 5.06% | 6.85% | 0.88% | 2.46% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 8.57% | 63.68% | 26.66% | 12.69% | -0.77% | -4.15% | 24.81% | 17.86% | -1.94% | 12.81% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSCSX achieves a -0.08% return, which is significantly lower than GLD's 8.57% return. Over the past 10 years, VSCSX has underperformed GLD with an annualized return of 2.73%, while GLD has yielded a comparatively higher 13.92% annualized return.
VSCSX
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- YTD
- -0.08%
- 6M
- 1.17%
- 1Y
- 4.67%
- 3Y*
- 5.44%
- 5Y*
- 2.41%
- 10Y*
- 2.73%
GLD
- 1D
- 3.79%
- 1M
- -11.05%
- YTD
- 8.57%
- 6M
- 21.05%
- 1Y
- 49.33%
- 3Y*
- 32.92%
- 5Y*
- 21.58%
- 10Y*
- 13.92%
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VSCSX vs. GLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSCSX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than GLD's 0.40% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VSCSX vs. GLD — Risk / Return Rank
VSCSX
GLD
VSCSX vs. GLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). 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.
| VSCSX | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.41 | 1.79 | +0.63 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.58 | 2.21 | +1.37 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.50 | 1.33 | +0.17 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.63 | 2.68 | +0.95 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.67 | 9.90 | +4.77 |
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
| VSCSX | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.41 | 1.79 | +0.63 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 | 1.22 | -0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.16 | 0.88 | +0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.35 | 0.62 | +0.73 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSCSX and GLD is 0.30, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VSCSX vs. GLD - Dividend Comparison
VSCSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.02%, while GLD has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCSX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.02% | 4.32% | 4.27% | 3.07% | 1.98% | 1.78% | 2.25% | 2.85% | 2.66% | 2.26% | 1.93% | 2.21% |
GLD SPDR Gold Shares | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VSCSX vs. GLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSCSX drawdown since its inception was -9.36%, smaller than the maximum GLD drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSCSX and GLD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSCSX | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.36% | -45.56% | +36.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.36% | -19.21% | +17.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.36% | -21.03% | +11.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.36% | -22.00% | +12.64% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.04% | -13.23% | +12.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.98% | -16.17% | +15.19% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.34% | 5.20% | -4.86% |
Volatility
VSCSX vs. GLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) is 0.81%, while SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a volatility of 11.06%. This indicates that VSCSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSCSX | GLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.81% | 11.06% | -10.25% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.19% | 24.30% | -23.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.98% | 27.80% | -25.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.70% | 17.74% | -15.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.36% | 15.87% | -13.51% |