VWNFX vs. BRK-B
VWNFX (Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares) is Large Cap Value Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, VWNFX returned 13.02%/yr vs 13.43%/yr for BRK-B. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
VWNFX vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWNFX achieves a 5.38% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's -1.96% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VWNFX having a 13.02% annualized return and BRK-B not far ahead at 13.43%.
VWNFX
- 1D
- -0.34%
- 1M
- -0.60%
- YTD
- 5.38%
- 6M
- 4.87%
- 1Y
- 20.85%
- 3Y*
- 16.67%
- 5Y*
- 10.33%
- 10Y*
- 13.02%
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.84%
- 1M
- 1.32%
- YTD
- -1.96%
- 6M
- -1.54%
- 1Y
- 1.03%
- 3Y*
- 13.70%
- 5Y*
- 12.33%
- 10Y*
- 13.43%
VWNFX vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWNFX Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares | 5.38% | 18.51% | 13.91% | 21.01% | -13.26% | 28.84% | 14.41% | 29.02% | -8.62% | 15.61% |
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -1.96% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
Correlation
The correlation between VWNFX and BRK-B is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 9, 1996 | 0.53 |
Over the past year, the correlation between VWNFX and BRK-B has dropped to 0.30 - well below their long-term average of 0.53, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
VWNFX vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank
VWNFX
BRK-B
VWNFX vs. BRK-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares (VWNFX) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). 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.
| VWNFX | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.84 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.48 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.02 | +0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.76 | 0.11 | +2.65 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.16 | 0.23 | +10.94 |
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Drawdowns
VWNFX vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWNFX drawdown since its inception was -57.57%, which is greater than BRK-B's maximum drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWNFX and BRK-B.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWNFX | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -57.57% | -53.86% | -3.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.86% | -9.42% | +1.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.76% | -14.95% | -6.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.72% | -26.58% | +3.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.44% | -29.57% | -7.87% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.92% | -8.71% | +6.79% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.47% | -11.07% | +3.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.94% | 4.57% | -2.63% |
Volatility
VWNFX vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares (VWNFX) is 3.56%, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a volatility of 3.75%. This indicates that VWNFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWNFX | BRK-B | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.56% | 3.75% | -0.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.56% | 10.63% | -2.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.36% | 14.39% | -3.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.02% | 17.10% | -0.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.62% | 19.39% | -0.77% |
Dividends
VWNFX vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison
VWNFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.87%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VWNFX Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares | 10.87% | 11.46% | 10.50% | 5.11% | 7.26% | 7.83% | 7.31% | 10.06% | 11.38% | 7.34% | 8.08% | 7.96% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VWNFX and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BRK-B has higher volatility (3.75%) compared to VWNFX (3.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWNFX dropped -57.57% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.
VWNFX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.91 vs 0.07), 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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