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VTCAX vs. VWENX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VTCAX vs. VWENX

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VTCAX (Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VWENX (Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VTCAX is a Technology Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VWENX is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VTCAX returned 9.41%/yr vs 10.28%/yr for VWENX. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VTCAX charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.16%/yr for VWENX.

Performance

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VWENX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTCAX achieves a -0.55% return, which is significantly lower than VWENX's 7.16% return. Over the past 10 years, VTCAX has underperformed VWENX with an annualized return of 9.41%, while VWENX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.28% annualized return.

VTCAX

1D
-1.43%
1M
-1.93%
YTD
-0.55%
6M
1.36%
1Y
21.55%
3Y*
24.41%
5Y*
8.05%
10Y*
9.41%

VWENX

1D
0.07%
1M
3.88%
YTD
7.16%
6M
7.40%
1Y
21.14%
3Y*
15.70%
5Y*
9.06%
10Y*
10.28%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VTCAX
Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares		-0.55%26.28%33.10%44.73%-38.78%14.09%28.95%28.03%-16.51%-5.57%
VWENX
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares		7.16%16.63%14.82%14.40%-14.31%19.09%10.66%22.61%-3.35%14.05%

Correlation

The correlation between VTCAX and VWENX is 0.71, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.71

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.76

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.80

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.76

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 30, 2004

0.77

The correlation between VTCAX and VWENX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.71 to 0.80 - a consistent structural relationship.

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VTCAX
VWENX

Communication Services

98.4%
12.3%

Technology

1.2%
31.8%

Consumer Cyclical

0.2%
10.9%

Real Estate

0.1%
2.6%

Industrials

0.0%
8.5%

Healthcare

0.0%
9.8%

Basic Materials

-

2.1%

Consumer Defensive

-

4.4%

Energy

-

4.4%

Financial Services

-

10.6%

Utilities

-

2.5%

Communication Services

VTCAX
98.4%
VWENX
12.3%

Technology

VTCAX
1.2%
VWENX
31.8%

Consumer Cyclical

VTCAX
0.2%
VWENX
10.9%

Real Estate

VTCAX
0.1%
VWENX
2.6%

Industrials

VTCAX
0.0%
VWENX
8.5%

Healthcare

VTCAX
0.0%
VWENX
9.8%

Basic Materials

VTCAX

-

VWENX
2.1%

Consumer Defensive

VTCAX

-

VWENX
4.4%

Energy

VTCAX

-

VWENX
4.4%

Financial Services

VTCAX

-

VWENX
10.6%

Utilities

VTCAX

-

VWENX
2.5%

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Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares

Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares

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Often compared with VWENX:
VWENX vs. VWELXVWENX vs. VWIAXVWENX vs. VWINXVWENX vs. VGWAXVWENX vs. VTSAXVWENX vs. SWOBXVWENX vs. SPY

Return for Risk

VTCAX vs. VWENX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VTCAX
VTCAX Risk / Return Rank: 2222
Overall Rank
VTCAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2323
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VTCAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 2525
Sortino Ratio Rank
VTCAX Omega Ratio Rank: 2222
Omega Ratio Rank
VTCAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 1818
Calmar Ratio Rank
VTCAX Martin Ratio Rank: 2424
Martin Ratio Rank
VWENX
VWENX Risk / Return Rank: 7575
Overall Rank
VWENX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7979
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VWENX Sortino Ratio Rank: 7575
Sortino Ratio Rank
VWENX Omega Ratio Rank: 7373
Omega Ratio Rank
VWENX Calmar Ratio Rank: 6868
Calmar Ratio Rank
VWENX Martin Ratio Rank: 7979
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VWENX). 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.

VTCAXVWENXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.38
2.57

-1.19

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.07
3.61

-1.55

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.25

1.48

-0.24

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.56

3.19

-1.63

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

5.96

14.78

-8.82

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VTCAX Sharpe Ratio is 1.38, which is lower than the VWENX Sharpe Ratio of 2.57. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VTCAX and VWENX, 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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VTCAXVWENXDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.38

2.57

-1.19

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.38

0.82

-0.44

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.45

0.90

-0.45

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.43

0.68

-0.26

Drawdowns

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTCAX drawdown since its inception was -57.11%, which is greater than VWENX's maximum drawdown of -36.02%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTCAX and VWENX.

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Drawdown Indicators

VTCAXVWENXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-57.11%

-36.02%

-21.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-13.56%

-6.77%

-6.79%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-21.19%

-11.98%

-9.21%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-46.58%

-20.84%

-25.74%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-46.58%

-25.33%

-21.25%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.92%

0.00%

-3.92%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-11.89%

-4.36%

-7.53%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.55%

1.46%

+2.09%

Volatility

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTCAX) has a higher volatility of 4.17% compared to Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VWENX) at 2.53%. This indicates that VTCAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VWENX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VTCAXVWENXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.17%

2.53%

+1.64%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

11.12%

6.67%

+4.45%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

15.38%

8.38%

+7.00%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

21.24%

11.14%

+10.10%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

21.00%

11.53%

+9.47%

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VTCAX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than VWENX's 0.16% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VTCAX vs. VWENX - Dividend Comparison

VTCAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.99%, less than VWENX's 10.83% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VTCAX
Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund Admiral Shares		0.99%0.95%1.06%1.04%0.88%1.20%0.73%0.89%2.77%3.84%2.68%3.55%
VWENX
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares		10.83%11.55%10.85%6.08%8.28%8.72%7.85%4.74%9.58%5.88%4.53%6.58%

Frequently Asked Questions

VTCAX and VWENX have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

VTCAX has higher volatility (4.17%) compared to VWENX (2.53%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTCAX dropped -57.11% vs VWENX's -36.02%.

VWENX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.57 vs 1.38), 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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