VSCSX vs. SWSBX
VSCSX (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and SWSBX (Schwab Short-Term Bond Index Fund) are both Short-Term Bond funds - VSCSX tracks the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index while SWSBX tracks the Bloomberg US Government/Credit 1-5 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VSCSX returned 2.35%/yr vs 1.19%/yr for SWSBX. Their correlation of 0.83 means they have usually moved in the same direction. Both charge a 0.06% expense ratio.
Performance
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSCSX achieves a 0.79% return, which is significantly higher than SWSBX's 0.05% return.
VSCSX
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- -0.14%
- 6M
- 0.46%
- YTD
- 0.79%
- 1Y
- 3.08%
- 3Y*
- 5.55%
- 5Y*
- 2.35%
- 10Y*
- 2.64%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.88%
SWSBX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -0.52%
- 6M
- -0.09%
- YTD
- 0.05%
- 1Y
- 2.00%
- 3Y*
- 4.09%
- 5Y*
- 1.19%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 1.84%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCSX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.79% | 6.75% | 5.36% | 6.11% | -5.72% | -0.43% | 5.06% | 6.85% | 0.88% | 1.74% |
SWSBX Schwab Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 0.05% | 6.06% | 3.42% | 3.95% | -5.89% | -1.28% | 4.47% | 4.96% | 1.34% | 0.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSCSX and SWSBX is 0.83, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.83 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.86 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.89 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 23, 2017 | 0.83 |
The correlation between VSCSX and SWSBX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.83 to 0.89 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VSCSX vs. SWSBX — Risk / Return Rank
VSCSX
SWSBX
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - 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 Schwab Short-Term Bond Index Fund (SWSBX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VSCSX | SWSBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.83 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.24 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.62 | 1.65 | +0.97 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.01 | 4.65 | +5.36 |
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Drawdowns
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSCSX drawdown since its inception was -9.36%, roughly equal to the maximum SWSBX drawdown of -9.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSCSX and SWSBX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSCSX | SWSBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.36% | -9.06% | -0.30% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.36% | -1.54% | +0.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.36% | -1.79% | +0.43% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.27% | -8.88% | -0.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.36% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.28% | -0.92% | +0.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.97% | -1.78% | +0.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 0.55% | -0.19% |
Volatility
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) and Schwab Short-Term Bond Index Fund (SWSBX) have volatilities of 0.50% and 0.50%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSCSX | SWSBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.50% | 0.50% | 0.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.43% | 1.72% | -0.29% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.78% | 2.20% | -0.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.73% | 3.00% | -0.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.37% | 2.46% | -0.09% |
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VSCSX and SWSBX have an expense ratio of 0.06%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VSCSX vs. SWSBX - Dividend Comparison
VSCSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.05%, more than SWSBX's 3.81% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SWSBX Schwab Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 3.81% | 4.09% | 3.66% | 2.36% | 1.11% | 0.97% | 1.82% | 2.41% | 2.12% | 1.56% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VSCSX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.05% | 4.32% | 4.27% | 3.07% | 1.98% | 1.78% | 2.25% | 2.85% | 2.66% | 2.26% | 1.93% | 2.21% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VSCSX and SWSBX have a correlation of 0.83, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SWSBX has higher volatility (0.50%) compared to VSCSX (0.50%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSCSX dropped -9.36% vs SWSBX's -9.06%.
VSCSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.00 vs 1.17), 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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