VSTCX vs. IWM
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM).
VSTCX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 24, 2006. IWM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. It was launched on May 22, 2000.
Performance
VSTCX vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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VSTCX vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSTCX Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund | -0.83% | 15.20% | 15.40% | 21.34% | -13.00% | 33.53% | 8.38% | 22.18% | -11.87% | 9.21% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.93% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSTCX achieves a -0.83% return, which is significantly lower than IWM's 0.93% return. Over the past 10 years, VSTCX has outperformed IWM with an annualized return of 10.96%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively lower 9.76% annualized return.
VSTCX
- 1D
- -1.06%
- 1M
- -6.50%
- YTD
- -0.83%
- 6M
- 2.92%
- 1Y
- 26.01%
- 3Y*
- 15.69%
- 5Y*
- 9.42%
- 10Y*
- 10.96%
IWM
- 1D
- 3.50%
- 1M
- -4.96%
- YTD
- 0.93%
- 6M
- 3.02%
- 1Y
- 25.66%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 3.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.76%
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VSTCX vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSTCX has a 0.26% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% 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
VSTCX vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
VSTCX
IWM
VSTCX vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). 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.
| VSTCX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.15 | 1.11 | +0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.69 | 1.66 | +0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.21 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.59 | 1.82 | -0.23 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.00 | 6.76 | +0.24 |
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
| VSTCX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.15 | 1.11 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 | 0.15 | +0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 | 0.43 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 0.34 | +0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSTCX and IWM is 0.98, 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
VSTCX vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
VSTCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.61%, more than IWM's 1.02% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSTCX Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund | 7.61% | 7.55% | 9.66% | 2.50% | 7.44% | 19.92% | 1.24% | 4.14% | 11.74% | 5.76% | 1.35% | 2.33% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
Drawdowns
VSTCX vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSTCX drawdown since its inception was -62.50%, which is greater than IWM's maximum drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSTCX and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSTCX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.50% | -59.05% | -3.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.47% | -13.74% | -0.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.47% | -31.91% | +4.44% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.08% | -41.13% | -6.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.95% | -7.91% | -0.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.73% | -10.83% | +0.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.29% | 3.70% | -0.41% |
Volatility
VSTCX vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) is 6.04%, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a volatility of 7.47%. This indicates that VSTCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSTCX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.04% | 7.47% | -1.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.99% | 14.47% | -1.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.55% | 23.18% | -0.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.01% | 22.55% | -0.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.44% | 22.99% | +0.45% |