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VSTCX vs. VSCIX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VSTCX vs. VSCIX

Last updated Aug 4, 2026
Documentation

VSTCX (Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund) and VSCIX (Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares) are both Small Cap Blend Equities funds from Vanguard. VSTCX is actively managed, while VSCIX is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VSTCX returned 12.71%/yr vs 11.07%/yr for VSCIX. Their 0.98 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. VSTCX charges 0.21%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VSCIX.

Performance

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Performance Comparison

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

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VSTCX achieves a 21.34% return, which is significantly higher than VSCIX's 15.18% return. Over the past 10 years, VSTCX has outperformed VSCIX with an annualized return of 12.71%, while VSCIX has yielded a comparatively lower 11.07% annualized return.

VSTCX

1D
-0.37%
1M
-1.49%
6M
15.58%
YTD
21.34%
1Y
41.90%
3Y*
19.65%
5Y*
12.85%
10Y*
12.71%
ALL TIME*
9.44%

VSCIX

1D
-0.24%
1M
-1.80%
6M
9.27%
YTD
15.18%
1Y
25.85%
3Y*
14.01%
5Y*
7.44%
10Y*
11.07%
ALL TIME*
9.24%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

VSCIX

Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
$0.00$0.00$0.00

VSTCX

Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund
$0.00$0.00$0.00

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VSTCX
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund		21.34%15.20%15.40%21.34%-13.00%33.53%8.38%22.18%-11.87%9.21%
VSCIX
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares		15.18%8.85%12.96%19.52%-17.60%17.74%19.07%27.40%-9.33%16.25%

Correlation

The correlation between VSTCX and VSCIX is 0.95 - they have historically moved very closely together. At this level, their price movements offset little of one another.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.95

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.97

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.98

Correlation (10Y)
Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.

0.98

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 20, 2006

0.98

The correlation between VSTCX and VSCIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VSTCX
VSCIX

Financial Services

18.3%
12.4%

Industrials

16.1%
19.9%

Technology

14.9%
17.9%

Healthcare

14.1%
12.5%

Consumer Cyclical

11.1%
11.6%

Real Estate

6.5%
7.9%

Energy

6.2%
3.9%

Basic Materials

5.2%
4.4%

Consumer Defensive

3.0%
3.3%

Communication Services

2.4%
2.9%

Utilities

2.3%
3.3%

Financial Services

VSTCX
18.3%
VSCIX
12.4%

Industrials

VSTCX
16.1%
VSCIX
19.9%

Technology

VSTCX
14.9%
VSCIX
17.9%

Healthcare

VSTCX
14.1%
VSCIX
12.5%

Consumer Cyclical

VSTCX
11.1%
VSCIX
11.6%

Real Estate

VSTCX
6.5%
VSCIX
7.9%

Energy

VSTCX
6.2%
VSCIX
3.9%

Basic Materials

VSTCX
5.2%
VSCIX
4.4%

Consumer Defensive

VSTCX
3.0%
VSCIX
3.3%

Communication Services

VSTCX
2.4%
VSCIX
2.9%

Utilities

VSTCX
2.3%
VSCIX
3.3%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund

Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares

Often compared with VSTCX:
VSTCX vs. VPMAXVSTCX vs. OBMCXVSTCX vs. VSGAXVSTCX vs. AVUVVSTCX vs. VOOVSTCX vs. VFIAXVSTCX vs. VEIRX
Often compared with VSCIX:
VSCIX vs. VMCIXVSCIX vs. VINIXVSCIX vs. VBVSCIX vs. VOOVSCIX vs. VIEIXVSCIX vs. AVFIXVSCIX vs. IWM

Return for Risk

VSTCX vs. VSCIX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
VSTCX
VSTCX Risk / Return Rank: 9090
Overall Rank
VSTCX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8989
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VSTCX Sortino Ratio Rank: 8686
Sortino Ratio Rank
VSTCX Omega Ratio Rank: 8181
Omega Ratio Rank
VSTCX Calmar Ratio Rank: 9696
Calmar Ratio Rank
VSTCX Martin Ratio Rank: 9696
Martin Ratio Rank
VSCIX
VSCIX Risk / Return Rank: 6161
Overall Rank
VSCIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5151
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VSCIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 5252
Sortino Ratio Rank
VSCIX Omega Ratio Rank: 4646
Omega Ratio Rank
VSCIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 7979
Calmar Ratio Rank
VSCIX Martin Ratio Rank: 7777
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

VSTCXVSCIXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.24
1.46

+0.78

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.17
2.13

+1.05

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.39

1.26

+0.13

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

4.88

2.67

+2.21

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

17.09

9.78

+7.30

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VSTCX Sharpe Ratio is 2.24, which is higher than the VSCIX Sharpe Ratio of 1.46. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VSTCX and VSCIX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VSTCX drawdown since its inception was -62.50%, roughly equal to the maximum VSCIX drawdown of -59.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSTCX and VSCIX.

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Drawdown Indicators

VSTCXVSCIXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-62.50%

-59.66%

-2.84%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.08%

-8.97%

+0.89%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-27.47%

-25.25%

-2.22%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-27.47%

-28.13%

+0.66%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-48.08%

-41.81%

-6.27%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.22%

-2.58%

-0.64%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-10.58%

-10.07%

-0.51%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.31%

2.44%

-0.13%

Volatility

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund (VSTCX) has a higher volatility of 3.80% compared to Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) at 3.29%. This indicates that VSTCX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSCIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VSTCXVSCIXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.80%

3.29%

+0.51%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

12.47%

11.97%

+0.50%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

17.64%

16.47%

+1.17%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

21.87%

20.67%

+1.20%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

23.42%

21.52%

+1.90%

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VSTCX has a 0.21% expense ratio, which is higher than VSCIX's 0.03% 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%.

Dividends

VSTCX vs. VSCIX - Dividend Comparison

VSTCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.22%, more than VSCIX's 1.23% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VSCIX
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares		1.23%1.34%1.31%1.55%1.55%1.25%1.15%1.40%1.68%1.36%1.50%1.49%
VSTCX
Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund		6.22%7.55%9.66%2.50%7.44%19.92%1.24%4.14%11.74%5.76%1.35%2.33%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.95, VSTCX and VSCIX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

VSTCX has higher volatility (3.80%) compared to VSCIX (3.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSTCX dropped -62.50% vs VSCIX's -59.66%.

VSTCX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.24 vs 1.46), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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