VTG vs. VGSH

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH).

VTG and VGSH are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VTG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD Index. It was launched on Jul 7, 2025. VGSH is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009. Both VTG and VGSH are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

VTG vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VTG vs. VGSH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
VTG Vanguard Total Treasury ETF	-0.02%	2.88%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF	0.25%	2.40%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTG achieves a -0.02% return, which is significantly lower than VGSH's 0.25% return.

VTG

• 1D: -0.09%
• 1M: -1.32%
• YTD: -0.02%
• 6M: 0.57%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VGSH

• 1D: -0.02%
• 1M: -0.33%
• YTD: 0.25%
• 6M: 1.24%
• 1Y: 3.68%
• 3Y*: 3.97%
• 5Y*: 1.79%
• 10Y*: 1.74%

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

VTG vs. VGSH - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VTG and VGSH have an expense ratio of 0.03%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

VTG

Vanguard Total Treasury ETF

VGSH

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF

Return for Risk

VTG vs. VGSH — Risk / Return Rank

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

VGSH

VGSH Risk / Return Rank: 96
VGSH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
VGSH Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
VGSH Omega Ratio Rank: 97
VGSH Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
VGSH Martin Ratio Rank: 95

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.

VTG vs. VGSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). 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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VTG	VGSH	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	2.57	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.92	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	1.11	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.11	1.01	+0.09

Correlation

The correlation between VTG and VGSH is 0.81, 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

VTG vs. VGSH - Dividend Comparison

VTG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.61%, less than VGSH's 3.93% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VTG Vanguard Total Treasury ETF	2.61%	1.65%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF	3.93%	4.00%	4.18%	3.31%	1.15%	0.66%	1.74%	2.28%	1.79%	1.10%	0.84%	0.69%

Drawdowns

VTG vs. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTG drawdown since its inception was -2.35%, smaller than the maximum VGSH drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTG and VGSH.

Drawdown Indicators

	VTG	VGSH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-2.35%	-5.70%	+3.35%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-0.88%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-5.70%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-5.70%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.81%	-0.52%	-1.29%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.49%	-0.60%	+0.11%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.23%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	VTG	VGSH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	0.52%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	0.84%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.57%	1.44%	+2.13%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.57%	1.96%	+1.61%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.57%	1.57%	+2.00%