VSMSX vs. SWSSX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSMSX) and Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares (SWSSX).
VSMSX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 1, 2011. SWSSX is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. It was launched on May 19, 1997.
Performance
VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Performance Comparison
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VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMSX Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.71% | 6.04% | 7.20% | 17.57% | -16.19% | 26.72% | 11.46% | 22.73% | -8.51% | 13.39% |
SWSSX Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares | -2.49% | 12.88% | 11.57% | 17.07% | -20.43% | 14.77% | 20.12% | 25.63% | -11.19% | 14.76% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSMSX achieves a 0.71% return, which is significantly higher than SWSSX's -2.49% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VSMSX having a 9.58% annualized return and SWSSX not far behind at 9.50%.
VSMSX
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- -6.66%
- YTD
- 0.71%
- 6M
- 2.43%
- 1Y
- 17.27%
- 3Y*
- 9.49%
- 5Y*
- 3.87%
- 10Y*
- 9.58%
SWSSX
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -8.18%
- YTD
- -2.49%
- 6M
- -0.36%
- 1Y
- 21.55%
- 3Y*
- 11.83%
- 5Y*
- 3.10%
- 10Y*
- 9.50%
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VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSMSX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than SWSSX's 0.04% 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
VSMSX vs. SWSSX — Risk / Return Rank
VSMSX
SWSSX
VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSMSX) and Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares (SWSSX). 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.
| VSMSX | SWSSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.79 | 0.91 | -0.12 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.26 | 1.40 | -0.15 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.18 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.03 | 1.33 | -0.30 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.20 | 5.02 | -0.82 |
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
| VSMSX | SWSSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.79 | 0.91 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 | 0.14 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.41 | 0.40 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.33 | +0.18 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSMSX and SWSSX is 0.97, 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
VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Dividend Comparison
VSMSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.38%, more than SWSSX's 1.32% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMSX Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.38% | 1.39% | 1.49% | 1.47% | 1.52% | 1.17% | 1.10% | 1.38% | 1.39% | 1.11% | 1.00% | 1.33% |
SWSSX Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares | 1.32% | 1.29% | 1.66% | 1.49% | 1.32% | 8.88% | 2.55% | 6.12% | 10.45% | 5.22% | 4.10% | 6.92% |
Drawdowns
VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSMSX drawdown since its inception was -44.42%, smaller than the maximum SWSSX drawdown of -60.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSMSX and SWSSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSMSX | SWSSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -44.42% | -60.34% | +15.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.87% | -13.90% | -0.97% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.93% | -31.93% | +4.00% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.42% | -41.81% | -2.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.30% | -11.00% | +2.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.48% | -10.78% | +3.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 3.68% | -0.03% |
Volatility
VSMSX vs. SWSSX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSMSX) is 5.55%, while Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund-Select Shares (SWSSX) has a volatility of 6.59%. This indicates that VSMSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SWSSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSMSX | SWSSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.55% | 6.59% | -1.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.75% | 14.12% | -1.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.62% | 23.11% | -0.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.55% | 22.57% | -1.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.19% | 24.03% | -0.84% |