VTI vs. SCHO
VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) and SCHO (Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VTI is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index, while SCHO is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VTI returned 15.23%/yr vs 1.71%/yr for SCHO. At a correlation of -0.13, they often move in opposite directions. Both charge a 0.03% expense ratio.
Performance
VTI vs. SCHO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTI achieves a 11.46% return, which is significantly higher than SCHO's 0.58% return. Over the past 10 years, VTI has outperformed SCHO with an annualized return of 15.23%, while SCHO has yielded a comparatively lower 1.71% annualized return.
VTI
- 1D
- 1.68%
- 1M
- 2.70%
- YTD
- 11.46%
- 6M
- 11.76%
- 1Y
- 28.40%
- 3Y*
- 20.94%
- 5Y*
- 12.71%
- 10Y*
- 15.23%
SCHO
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 0.58%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 3.47%
- 3Y*
- 4.27%
- 5Y*
- 1.86%
- 10Y*
- 1.71%
VTI vs. SCHO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 11.46% | 17.10% | 23.81% | 26.05% | -19.52% | 25.68% | 21.08% | 30.67% | -5.23% | 21.21% |
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 0.58% | 5.49% | 3.65% | 4.31% | -3.87% | -0.64% | 3.11% | 3.47% | 1.37% | 0.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between VTI and SCHO is 0.22, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.07 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 5, 2010 | -0.13 |
The correlation between VTI and SCHO shifts across timeframes, from -0.13 (all time) to 0.22 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VTI vs. SCHO — Risk / Return Rank
VTI
SCHO
VTI vs. SCHO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO). 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.
| VTI | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.52 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.20 | 4.06 | -0.86 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.35 | 17.10 | -2.76 |
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Drawdowns
VTI vs. SCHO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTI drawdown since its inception was -55.45%, which is greater than SCHO's maximum drawdown of -5.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTI and SCHO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VTI | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.45% | -5.69% | -49.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.92% | -0.86% | -8.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.30% | -0.98% | -18.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.36% | -5.69% | -19.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.00% | -5.69% | -29.31% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.49% | -0.10% | -0.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.02% | -0.61% | -7.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.98% | 0.20% | +1.78% |
Volatility
VTI vs. SCHO - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has a higher volatility of 4.74% compared to Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) at 0.43%. This indicates that VTI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SCHO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VTI | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.74% | 0.43% | +4.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.94% | 0.93% | +9.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.69% | 1.36% | +11.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.49% | 1.98% | +15.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.34% | 1.56% | +16.78% |
VTI vs. SCHO - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VTI and SCHO 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%.
Dividends
VTI vs. SCHO - Dividend Comparison
VTI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.01%, less than SCHO's 3.90% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 3.90% | 4.06% | 4.29% | 3.76% | 1.34% | 0.41% | 1.27% | 2.27% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 0.82% | 0.68% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.01% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.66% | 1.21% | 1.42% | 1.78% | 2.04% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VTI and SCHO have a correlation of 0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTI has higher volatility (4.74%) compared to SCHO (0.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTI dropped -55.45% vs SCHO's -5.69%.
On 10-year performance, VTI leads with 15.23% vs 1.71% for SCHO. Both ETFs have the same 0.03% expense ratio. On volatility, SCHO has been the lower-risk option at 0.43%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VTI has performed better with a 15.23% return vs 1.71%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTI and SCHO have the same expense ratio: 0.03% per year.
SCHO has the higher dividend yield at 3.90%, compared with 1.01% for VTI.
VTI is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while SCHO is Government Bonds. VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, while SCHO tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Charles Schwab.
SCHO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.56 vs 2.25), 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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