VSTCX vs. PSC
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC).
VSTCX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 24, 2006. PSC is a passively managed fund by Principal that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq US Small Cap Select Leaders TR Index. It was launched on Sep 21, 2016.
Performance
VSTCX vs. PSC - Performance Comparison
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VSTCX vs. PSC - 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% |
PSC Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF | -0.70% | 13.41% | 12.38% | 18.51% | -15.91% | 32.56% | 13.30% | 18.99% | -11.35% | 15.93% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSTCX achieves a -0.83% return, which is significantly lower than PSC's -0.70% 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%
PSC
- 1D
- 2.99%
- 1M
- -4.85%
- YTD
- -0.70%
- 6M
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 18.90%
- 3Y*
- 13.51%
- 5Y*
- 6.49%
- 10Y*
- —
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VSTCX vs. PSC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSTCX has a 0.26% expense ratio, which is lower than PSC's 0.38% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VSTCX vs. PSC — Risk / Return Rank
VSTCX
PSC
VSTCX vs. PSC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC). 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 | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.15 | 0.85 | +0.30 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.69 | 1.32 | +0.37 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.17 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.59 | 1.56 | +0.03 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.00 | 5.81 | +1.19 |
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 | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.15 | 0.85 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 | 0.31 | +0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 0.44 | -0.09 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSTCX and PSC 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
VSTCX vs. PSC - Dividend Comparison
VSTCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.61%, more than PSC's 0.67% 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% |
PSC Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF | 0.67% | 0.67% | 0.75% | 0.73% | 1.92% | 1.45% | 1.25% | 1.47% | 1.30% | 0.95% | 0.35% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VSTCX vs. PSC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSTCX drawdown since its inception was -62.50%, which is greater than PSC's maximum drawdown of -46.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSTCX and PSC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSTCX | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.50% | -46.69% | -15.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.47% | -12.63% | -1.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.47% | -25.86% | -1.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.08% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.95% | -7.26% | -0.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.73% | -8.40% | -2.33% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.29% | 3.40% | -0.11% |
Volatility
VSTCX vs. PSC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) is 6.04%, while Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) has a volatility of 6.85%. This indicates that VSTCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PSC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSTCX | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.04% | 6.85% | -0.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.99% | 14.18% | -1.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.55% | 22.46% | +0.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.01% | 21.06% | +0.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.44% | 23.40% | +0.04% |