VSMGX vs. VBIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX).
VSMGX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 30, 1994. VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
VSMGX vs. VBIAX - Performance Comparison
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VSMGX vs. VBIAX - 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% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | -2.43% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 17.54% | -16.90% | 14.21% | 16.40% | 21.78% | -2.86% | 13.89% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSMGX achieves a -1.04% return, which is significantly higher than VBIAX's -2.43% return. Over the past 10 years, VSMGX has underperformed VBIAX with an annualized return of 8.13%, while VBIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.97% 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%
VBIAX
- 1D
- 1.84%
- 1M
- -3.62%
- YTD
- -2.43%
- 6M
- -0.89%
- 1Y
- 12.55%
- 3Y*
- 12.24%
- 5Y*
- 6.52%
- 10Y*
- 8.97%
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VSMGX vs. VBIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSMGX has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is higher than VBIAX's 0.07% expense ratio. However, 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. VBIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VSMGX
VBIAX
VSMGX vs. VBIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX). 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 | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.45 | 1.14 | +0.31 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.08 | 1.70 | +0.38 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.25 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.05 | 1.71 | +0.33 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.78 | 8.03 | +0.75 |
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 | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.45 | 1.14 | +0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.66 | 0.59 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.80 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.67 | 0.61 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSMGX and VBIAX is 0.93, 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. VBIAX - Dividend Comparison
VSMGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.30%, less than VBIAX's 5.74% 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% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.74% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
Drawdowns
VSMGX vs. VBIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSMGX drawdown since its inception was -41.13%, which is greater than VBIAX's maximum drawdown of -35.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSMGX and VBIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSMGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.13% | -35.90% | -5.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.24% | -7.78% | +0.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.29% | -21.53% | -0.76% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.43% | -22.78% | +0.35% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.94% | -4.10% | -0.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.86% | -4.47% | -0.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.69% | 1.66% | +0.03% |
Volatility
VSMGX vs. VBIAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (VSMGX) has a higher volatility of 4.14% compared to Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) at 3.71%. This indicates that VSMGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSMGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.14% | 3.71% | +0.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.30% | 6.20% | +0.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.24% | 11.39% | -1.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.12% | 11.05% | -0.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.32% | 11.18% | -0.86% |