VSMGX vs. AOM
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) and iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM).
VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994. AOM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Target Risk Moderate. It was launched on Nov 4, 2008.
Performance
VSMGX vs. AOM - Performance Comparison
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VSMGX vs. AOM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | -1.04% | 16.26% | 15.03% | 15.70% | -16.01% | 10.08% | 13.59% | 19.37% | -4.91% | 13.66% |
AOM iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF | -0.40% | 13.28% | 7.95% | 12.38% | -14.54% | 6.93% | 10.02% | 15.58% | -3.88% | 11.63% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSMGX achieves a -1.04% return, which is significantly lower than AOM's -0.40% return. Over the past 10 years, VSMGX has outperformed AOM with an annualized return of 8.13%, while AOM has yielded a comparatively lower 5.86% annualized return.
VSMGX
- 1D
- 1.81%
- 1M
- -4.25%
- YTD
- -1.04%
- 6M
- 0.93%
- 1Y
- 14.43%
- 3Y*
- 13.22%
- 5Y*
- 6.60%
- 10Y*
- 8.13%
AOM
- 1D
- 0.36%
- 1M
- -2.76%
- YTD
- -0.40%
- 6M
- 1.26%
- 1Y
- 11.52%
- 3Y*
- 9.29%
- 5Y*
- 4.29%
- 10Y*
- 5.86%
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VSMGX vs. AOM - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSMGX has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than AOM's 0.25% 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
VSMGX vs. AOM — Risk / Return Rank
VSMGX
AOM
VSMGX vs. AOM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) and iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM). 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.
| VSMGX | AOM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.45 | 1.40 | +0.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.08 | 2.03 | +0.05 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.29 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.05 | 2.19 | -0.14 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.78 | 8.80 | -0.02 |
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
| VSMGX | AOM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.45 | 1.40 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.66 | 0.53 | +0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.74 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.67 | 0.67 | +0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSMGX and AOM is 0.89, 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
VSMGX vs. AOM - Dividend Comparison
VSMGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.30%, more than AOM's 2.99% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | 5.30% | 5.25% | 11.49% | 4.01% | 2.66% | 3.86% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 4.11% | 1.09% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
AOM iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF | 2.99% | 2.98% | 3.10% | 2.79% | 2.27% | 1.56% | 2.02% | 2.66% | 2.53% | 3.31% | 2.14% | 1.98% |
Drawdowns
VSMGX vs. AOM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSMGX drawdown since its inception was -41.13%, which is greater than AOM's maximum drawdown of -19.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSMGX and AOM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSMGX | AOM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.13% | -19.96% | -21.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.24% | -5.35% | -1.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.29% | -19.96% | -2.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.43% | -19.96% | -2.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.94% | -3.30% | -1.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.86% | -2.72% | -2.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.69% | 1.33% | +0.36% |
Volatility
VSMGX vs. AOM - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) has a higher volatility of 4.14% compared to iShares Core Moderate Allocation ETF (AOM) at 3.26%. This indicates that VSMGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AOM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSMGX | AOM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.14% | 3.26% | +0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.30% | 4.89% | +1.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.24% | 8.24% | +2.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.12% | 8.09% | +2.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.32% | 7.90% | +2.42% |