VSCSX vs. VSBSX
VSCSX (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VSBSX (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VSCSX is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, while VSBSX is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Spliced Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VSCSX returned 2.64%/yr vs 1.75%/yr for VSBSX. Their correlation of 0.81 means they have usually moved in the same direction. Both charge a 0.06% expense ratio.
Performance
VSCSX vs. VSBSX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VSCSX having a 0.84% return and VSBSX slightly lower at 0.81%. Over the past 10 years, VSCSX has outperformed VSBSX with an annualized return of 2.64%, while VSBSX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.75% annualized return.
VSCSX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -0.09%
- 6M
- 0.47%
- YTD
- 0.84%
- 1Y
- 3.13%
- 3Y*
- 5.51%
- 5Y*
- 2.36%
- 10Y*
- 2.64%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.89%
VSBSX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- 0.15%
- 6M
- 0.61%
- YTD
- 0.81%
- 1Y
- 2.66%
- 3Y*
- 4.39%
- 5Y*
- 1.92%
- 10Y*
- 1.75%
- ALL TIME*
- 1.41%
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. VSBSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSCSX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.84% | 6.75% | 5.36% | 6.11% | -5.72% | -0.43% | 5.06% | 6.85% | 0.88% | 2.46% |
VSBSX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.81% | 5.08% | 4.39% | 4.23% | -3.87% | -0.69% | 3.09% | 3.51% | 1.52% | 0.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSCSX and VSBSX is 0.89, 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. | 0.89 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.89 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.83 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | 0.81 |
The correlation between VSCSX and VSBSX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.81 to 0.89 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VSCSX vs. VSBSX — Risk / Return Rank
VSCSX
VSBSX
VSCSX vs. VSBSX - 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 Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSBSX). 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 | VSBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.35 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 1.50 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.69 | 3.74 | -1.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.30 | 14.92 | -4.62 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
VSCSX vs. VSBSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSCSX drawdown since its inception was -9.36%, which is greater than VSBSX's maximum drawdown of -5.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSCSX and VSBSX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VSCSX | VSBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.36% | -5.77% | -3.59% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.36% | -0.84% | -0.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.36% | -0.84% | -0.52% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.36% | -5.77% | -3.59% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.36% | -5.77% | -3.59% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.23% | 0.00% | -0.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.97% | -0.59% | -0.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 0.21% | +0.15% |
Volatility
VSCSX vs. VSBSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) has a higher volatility of 0.51% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSBSX) at 0.36%. This indicates that VSCSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSBSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VSCSX | VSBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.51% | 0.36% | +0.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.43% | 0.99% | +0.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.79% | 1.30% | +0.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.73% | 1.96% | +0.77% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.37% | 1.54% | +0.83% |
VSCSX vs. VSBSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VSCSX and VSBSX 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. VSBSX - Dividend Comparison
VSCSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.05%, more than VSBSX's 3.47% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSBSX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.47% | 3.98% | 4.50% | 3.29% | 1.12% | 0.63% | 1.72% | 2.26% | 1.80% | 1.10% | 0.76% | 0.71% |
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 VSBSX have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VSCSX has higher volatility (0.51%) compared to VSBSX (0.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSCSX dropped -9.36% vs VSBSX's -5.77%.
VSBSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.41 vs 2.06), 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.
Find the right allocation for VSCSX and VSBSX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer