VWSTX vs. VFSTX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX).
VWSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 1, 1977. VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: VWSTX or VFSTX.
Key characteristics
| VWSTX | VFSTX | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 2.55% | 5.11% |
| 1Y Return | 4.79% | 9.22% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 1.83% | 1.35% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 1.65% | 2.18% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 1.34% | 2.20% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 4.04 | 3.07 |
| Daily Std Dev | 1.19% | 2.96% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.08% | -9.35% |
| Current Drawdown | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between VWSTX and VFSTX is 0.39, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
VWSTX vs. VFSTX - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, VWSTX achieves a 2.55% return, which is significantly lower than VFSTX's 5.11% return. Over the past 10 years, VWSTX has underperformed VFSTX with an annualized return of 1.34%, while VFSTX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.20% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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VWSTX vs. VFSTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWSTX has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than VFSTX's 0.20% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VWSTX vs. VFSTX - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX). 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.
Dividends
VWSTX vs. VFSTX - Dividend Comparison
VWSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.05%, less than VFSTX's 3.71% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSTX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.05% | 2.43% | 1.16% | 0.61% | 1.17% | 1.59% | 1.45% | 1.06% | 0.87% | 0.70% | 0.71% | 0.85% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 3.71% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.98% | 2.23% | 2.82% | 2.68% | 1.82% | 2.06% | 2.00% | 1.97% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
VWSTX vs. VFSTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWSTX drawdown since its inception was -3.08%, smaller than the maximum VFSTX drawdown of -9.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWSTX and VFSTX. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VWSTX vs. VFSTX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) is 0.30%, while Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) has a volatility of 0.65%. This indicates that VWSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFSTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.