VSMGX vs. CSTAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) and American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX).
VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994. CSTAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Sep 13, 2012.
Performance
VSMGX vs. CSTAX - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VSMGX vs. CSTAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | -2.81% | 16.26% | 15.03% | 15.70% | -16.01% | 10.08% | 13.59% | 19.37% | -4.91% | 13.66% |
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | -0.65% | 9.00% | 5.57% | 6.57% | -9.87% | 6.52% | 7.66% | 13.35% | -2.23% | 11.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSMGX achieves a -2.81% return, which is significantly lower than CSTAX's -0.65% return. Over the past 10 years, VSMGX has outperformed CSTAX with an annualized return of 7.93%, while CSTAX has yielded a comparatively lower 4.97% annualized return.
VSMGX
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- -6.43%
- YTD
- -2.81%
- 6M
- -0.53%
- 1Y
- 12.75%
- 3Y*
- 12.54%
- 5Y*
- 6.40%
- 10Y*
- 7.93%
CSTAX
- 1D
- 0.25%
- 1M
- -2.48%
- YTD
- -0.65%
- 6M
- 0.73%
- 1Y
- 5.79%
- 3Y*
- 5.94%
- 5Y*
- 2.92%
- 10Y*
- 4.97%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VSMGX vs. CSTAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSMGX has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than CSTAX's 0.41% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VSMGX vs. CSTAX — Risk / Return Rank
VSMGX
CSTAX
VSMGX vs. CSTAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) and American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX). 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 | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.27 | 1.73 | -0.46 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.82 | 2.47 | -0.65 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.35 | -0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.64 | 2.23 | -0.59 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.16 | 9.16 | -2.00 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VSMGX | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.27 | 1.73 | -0.46 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.64 | 0.57 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 | 0.86 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.67 | 0.86 | -0.19 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSMGX and CSTAX is 0.87, 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. CSTAX - Dividend Comparison
VSMGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.40%, more than CSTAX's 5.30% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMGX Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund | 5.40% | 5.25% | 11.49% | 4.01% | 2.66% | 3.86% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 4.11% | 1.09% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | 5.30% | 5.26% | 3.78% | 3.17% | 3.40% | 7.52% | 5.72% | 4.00% | 4.78% | 3.90% | 4.34% | 4.49% |
Drawdowns
VSMGX vs. CSTAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSMGX drawdown since its inception was -41.13%, which is greater than CSTAX's maximum drawdown of -14.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSMGX and CSTAX.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VSMGX | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.13% | -14.52% | -26.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.24% | -2.72% | -4.52% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.29% | -14.52% | -7.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.43% | -14.52% | -7.91% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.64% | -2.48% | -4.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.86% | -2.37% | -2.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.66% | 0.66% | +1.00% |
Volatility
VSMGX vs. CSTAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) has a higher volatility of 3.58% compared to American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) at 1.32%. This indicates that VSMGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CSTAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VSMGX | CSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.58% | 1.32% | +2.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.05% | 2.05% | +4.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.11% | 3.47% | +6.64% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.09% | 5.16% | +4.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.30% | 5.82% | +4.48% |