VSGDX vs. VSCGX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares (VSGDX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX).
VSGDX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 12, 2001. VSCGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994.
Performance
VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Performance Comparison
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VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSGDX Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares | 0.15% | 5.94% | 4.26% | 3.92% | -5.22% | -0.58% | 4.46% | 4.21% | 1.37% | 0.80% |
VSCGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund | -0.76% | 12.87% | 11.65% | 12.72% | -15.00% | 6.04% | 11.51% | 15.69% | -2.95% | 10.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSGDX achieves a 0.15% return, which is significantly higher than VSCGX's -0.76% return. Over the past 10 years, VSGDX has underperformed VSCGX with an annualized return of 1.89%, while VSCGX has yielded a comparatively higher 6.13% annualized return.
VSGDX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.68%
- YTD
- 0.15%
- 6M
- 1.23%
- 1Y
- 4.04%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 1.67%
- 10Y*
- 1.89%
VSCGX
- 1D
- 1.32%
- 1M
- -3.37%
- YTD
- -0.76%
- 6M
- 0.79%
- 1Y
- 10.81%
- 3Y*
- 10.39%
- 5Y*
- 4.71%
- 10Y*
- 6.13%
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VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSGDX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than VSCGX's 0.12% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VSGDX vs. VSCGX — Risk / Return Rank
VSGDX
VSCGX
VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares (VSGDX) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX). 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.
| VSGDX | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.83 | 1.55 | +0.28 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.09 | 2.21 | +0.88 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.31 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.30 | 2.17 | +1.14 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.08 | 8.87 | +3.21 |
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
| VSGDX | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.83 | 1.55 | +0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.64 | 0.62 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.88 | 0.84 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.25 | 0.83 | +0.41 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSGDX and VSCGX is 0.07, 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
VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Dividend Comparison
VSGDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.57%, less than VSCGX's 5.58% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSGDX Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares | 3.57% | 3.79% | 3.56% | 3.42% | 1.78% | 1.45% | 1.78% | 2.42% | 2.02% | 1.46% | 1.43% | 1.30% |
VSCGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund | 5.58% | 5.50% | 11.03% | 5.23% | 2.79% | 4.18% | 3.28% | 2.62% | 3.81% | 1.65% | 2.43% | 3.21% |
Drawdowns
VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSGDX drawdown since its inception was -7.29%, smaller than the maximum VSCGX drawdown of -30.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSGDX and VSCGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSGDX | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -7.29% | -30.62% | +23.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.35% | -5.19% | +3.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -7.29% | -20.15% | +12.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -7.29% | -20.15% | +12.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.87% | -3.84% | +2.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.73% | -3.01% | +2.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.37% | 1.27% | -0.90% |
Volatility
VSGDX vs. VSCGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares (VSGDX) is 0.74%, while Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund (VSCGX) has a volatility of 3.18%. This indicates that VSGDX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSCGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSGDX | VSCGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.74% | 3.18% | -2.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.36% | 4.60% | -3.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.25% | 7.23% | -4.98% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.64% | 7.64% | -5.00% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.14% | 7.32% | -5.18% |