VSTCX vs. VITAX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares (VITAX).

VSTCX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 24, 2006. VITAX is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US IMI Info Technology 25/50. It was launched on Mar 25, 2004.

Performance

VSTCX vs. VITAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares (VITAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VSTCX vs. VITAX - 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%
VITAX Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares	-11.14%	21.78%	29.26%	52.69%	-29.67%	30.36%	45.93%	48.72%	2.51%	37.07%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VSTCX achieves a -0.83% return, which is significantly higher than VITAX's -11.14% return. Over the past 10 years, VSTCX has underperformed VITAX with an annualized return of 10.96%, while VITAX has yielded a comparatively higher 20.84% 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%

VITAX

• 1D: -1.79%
• 1M: -7.83%
• YTD: -11.14%
• 6M: -10.25%
• 1Y: 23.94%
• 3Y*: 20.87%
• 5Y*: 14.06%
• 10Y*: 20.84%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VSTCX vs. VITAX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VSTCX has a 0.26% expense ratio, which is higher than VITAX's 0.10% 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%.

VSTCX

Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund

VITAX

Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares

Return for Risk

VSTCX vs. VITAX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VSTCX

VSTCX Risk / Return Rank: 68
VSTCX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
VSTCX Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
VSTCX Omega Ratio Rank: 62
VSTCX Calmar Ratio Rank: 71
VSTCX Martin Ratio Rank: 74

VITAX

VITAX Risk / Return Rank: 47
VITAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
VITAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 52
VITAX Omega Ratio Rank: 48
VITAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
VITAX Martin Ratio Rank: 38

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VSTCX vs. VITAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares (VITAX). 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	VITAX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.15	0.87	+0.27
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.69	1.39	+0.30
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.19	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.59	1.26	+0.34
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.00	3.92	+3.08
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VSTCX vs. VITAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VSTCX Sharpe Ratio is 1.15, which is higher than the VITAX Sharpe Ratio of 0.87. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VSTCX and VITAX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VSTCX	VITAX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.15	0.87	+0.27
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43	0.56	-0.13
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.47	0.85	-0.38
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.35	0.59	-0.24

Correlation

The correlation between VSTCX and VITAX is 0.77, 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. VITAX - Dividend Comparison

VSTCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.61%, more than VITAX's 0.46% 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%
VITAX Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares	0.46%	0.40%	0.60%	0.65%	0.91%	0.63%	0.82%	1.11%	1.29%	0.99%	1.31%	1.28%

Drawdowns

VSTCX vs. VITAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VSTCX drawdown since its inception was -62.50%, which is greater than VITAX's maximum drawdown of -54.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSTCX and VITAX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VSTCX	VITAX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-62.50%	-54.81%	-7.69%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.47%	-16.38%	+1.91%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.47%	-35.10%	+7.63%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-48.08%	-35.10%	-12.98%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.95%	-16.38%	+8.43%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.73%	-8.06%	-2.67%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.29%	5.24%	-1.95%

Volatility

VSTCX vs. VITAX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) is 6.04%, while Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares (VITAX) has a volatility of 6.70%. This indicates that VSTCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VITAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VSTCX	VITAX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.04%	6.70%	-0.66%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.99%	15.84%	-2.85%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.55%	27.38%	-4.83%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	22.01%	25.22%	-3.21%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.44%	24.69%	-1.25%