VWELX vs. ICSH

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

VWELX (Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares) and ICSH (iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF) are both funds - VWELX is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard, while ICSH is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by iShares. Both are actively managed. Over the past 10 years, VWELX returned 9.87%/yr vs 2.77%/yr for ICSH. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VWELX charges 0.24%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for ICSH.

Performance

VWELX vs. ICSH - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VWELX achieves a 4.55% return, which is significantly higher than ICSH's 1.43% return. Over the past 10 years, VWELX has outperformed ICSH with an annualized return of 9.87%, while ICSH has yielded a comparatively lower 2.77% annualized return.

VWELX

• 1D: -2.02%
• 1M: -0.51%
• YTD: 4.55%
• 6M: 4.96%
• 1Y: 17.46%
• 3Y*: 14.67%
• 5Y*: 8.31%
• 10Y*: 9.87%

ICSH

• 1D: 0.02%
• 1M: 0.18%
• YTD: 1.43%
• 6M: 1.75%
• 1Y: 4.30%
• 3Y*: 5.15%
• 5Y*: 3.67%
• 10Y*: 2.77%

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

VWELX vs. ICSH - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares	4.55%	16.54%	14.73%	14.29%	-14.36%	18.99%	10.57%	22.51%	-3.43%	13.98%
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF	1.43%	4.96%	5.52%	5.58%	0.97%	0.16%	1.61%	3.17%	2.25%	1.63%

Correlation

The correlation between VWELX and ICSH is 0.23, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.23
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.19
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.18
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.11
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 16, 2013	0.10

The correlation between VWELX and ICSH shifts across timeframes, from 0.10 (all time) to 0.23 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

VWELX vs. ICSH - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VWELX	ICSH
Technology	31.8%	-
Communication Services	12.3%	-
Consumer Cyclical	10.9%	-
Financial Services	10.6%	-
Healthcare	9.8%	-
Industrials	8.5%	-
Consumer Defensive	4.4%	-
Energy	4.4%	-
Real Estate	2.6%	-
Utilities	2.5%	100.0%
Basic Materials	2.1%	-

Return for Risk

VWELX vs. ICSH — Risk / Return Rank

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

VWELX

VWELX Risk / Return Rank: 55
VWELX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 54
VWELX Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
VWELX Omega Ratio Rank: 54
VWELX Calmar Ratio Rank: 52
VWELX Martin Ratio Rank: 65

ICSH

ICSH Risk / Return Rank: 99
ICSH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
ICSH Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
ICSH Omega Ratio Rank: 99
ICSH Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
ICSH Martin Ratio Rank: 99

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.

VWELX vs. ICSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH). 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.

	VWELX	ICSH	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.09	11.01	-8.92
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.89	27.36	-24.48
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.39	6.56	-5.17
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.67	43.67	-41.00
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.31	288.81	-276.50
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VWELX vs. ICSH - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VWELX Sharpe Ratio is 2.09, which is lower than the ICSH Sharpe Ratio of 11.01. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VWELX and ICSH, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VWELX	ICSH	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.09	11.01	-8.92
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.75	7.62	-6.88
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.86	2.63	-1.77
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.84	1.93	-1.10

Drawdowns

VWELX vs. ICSH - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VWELX drawdown since its inception was -36.12%, which is greater than ICSH's maximum drawdown of -3.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWELX and ICSH.

Drawdown Indicators

	VWELX	ICSH	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-36.12%	-3.94%	-32.18%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.78%	-0.10%	-6.68%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.98%	-0.10%	-11.88%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.88%	-0.73%	-20.15%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.33%	-3.94%	-21.39%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.39%	-0.02%	-2.37%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.92%	-0.08%	-3.84%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.47%	0.01%	+1.46%

Volatility

VWELX vs. ICSH - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) has a higher volatility of 3.12% compared to iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) at 0.15%. This indicates that VWELX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ICSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VWELX	ICSH	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.12%	0.15%	+2.97%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.00%	0.30%	+6.70%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	8.67%	0.39%	+8.28%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.17%	0.48%	+10.69%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.55%	1.06%	+10.49%

VWELX vs. ICSH - Expense Ratio Comparison

VWELX has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is higher than ICSH's 0.08% 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

VWELX vs. ICSH - Dividend Comparison

VWELX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.02%, more than ICSH's 4.34% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF	4.34%	4.55%	5.24%	4.78%	1.66%	0.42%	1.21%	2.61%	2.20%	1.36%	0.88%	0.54%
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares	11.02%	11.46%	10.76%	6.01%	8.19%	8.64%	7.77%	4.67%	9.49%	5.82%	4.44%	7.03%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VWELX and ICSH in my portfolio?

VWELX and ICSH have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VWELX or ICSH?

VWELX has higher volatility (3.12%) compared to ICSH (0.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWELX dropped -36.12% vs ICSH's -3.94%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ICSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (11.01 vs 2.09), 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.