VWELX vs. VFIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX).
VWELX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 1, 1929. VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
VWELX vs. VFIAX - Performance Comparison
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VWELX vs. VFIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | -3.35% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.35% | 17.83% | 24.97% | 26.24% | -18.16% | 28.65% | 18.32% | 31.46% | -4.45% | 21.78% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWELX achieves a -3.35% return, which is significantly higher than VFIAX's -4.35% return. Over the past 10 years, VWELX has underperformed VFIAX with an annualized return of 9.32%, while VFIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 14.04% annualized return.
VWELX
- 1D
- 2.02%
- 1M
- -3.95%
- YTD
- -3.35%
- 6M
- -0.44%
- 1Y
- 14.14%
- 3Y*
- 12.65%
- 5Y*
- 7.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.32%
VFIAX
- 1D
- 2.92%
- 1M
- -5.03%
- YTD
- -4.35%
- 6M
- -2.16%
- 1Y
- 17.30%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.04%
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VWELX vs. VFIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWELX has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is higher than VFIAX's 0.04% 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%.
Return for Risk
VWELX vs. VFIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VWELX
VFIAX
VWELX vs. VFIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX). 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 | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.23 | 0.97 | +0.26 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.81 | 1.49 | +0.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.23 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 1.52 | +0.36 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.47 | 7.29 | +1.17 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VWELX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.23 | 0.97 | +0.26 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 | 0.70 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | 0.78 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.82 | 0.44 | +0.39 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWELX and VFIAX is 0.95, 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
VWELX vs. VFIAX - Dividend Comparison
VWELX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.92%, more than VFIAX's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 11.92% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.18% | 1.12% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
VWELX vs. VFIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWELX drawdown since its inception was -36.12%, smaller than the maximum VFIAX drawdown of -55.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWELX and VFIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWELX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.12% | -55.20% | +19.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.03% | -12.12% | +4.09% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.88% | -24.53% | +3.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.33% | -33.83% | +8.50% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.90% | -6.24% | +1.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.93% | -9.46% | +5.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.78% | 2.52% | -0.74% |
Volatility
VWELX vs. VFIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) is 4.07%, while Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) has a volatility of 5.35%. This indicates that VWELX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWELX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.07% | 5.35% | -1.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.66% | 9.53% | -2.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.88% | 18.32% | -6.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.12% | 16.91% | -5.79% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.50% | 18.05% | -6.55% |