WBGSX vs. VTI
WBGSX (William Blair Growth Fund) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both funds - WBGSX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund managed by William Blair, while VTI is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index. Over the past 10 years, WBGSX returned 14.02%/yr vs 14.63%/yr for VTI. Their correlation of 0.93 means they have usually moved in the same direction. WBGSX charges 1.20%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VTI.
Performance
WBGSX vs. VTI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WBGSX achieves a 3.28% return, which is significantly lower than VTI's 10.49% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with WBGSX having a 14.02% annualized return and VTI not far ahead at 14.63%.
WBGSX
- 1D
- 2.82%
- 1M
- -1.84%
- 6M
- 4.85%
- YTD
- 3.28%
- 1Y
- 10.19%
- 3Y*
- 13.88%
- 5Y*
- 7.13%
- 10Y*
- 14.02%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.56%
VTI
- 1D
- 0.53%
- 1M
- -0.15%
- 6M
- 8.77%
- YTD
- 10.49%
- 1Y
- 21.84%
- 3Y*
- 18.92%
- 5Y*
- 11.74%
- 10Y*
- 14.63%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.58%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.06B | $1.16B | $1.24B | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
WBGSX vs. VTI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WBGSX William Blair Growth Fund | 3.28% | 10.69% | 21.86% | 37.75% | -29.75% | 21.71% | 36.12% | 32.11% | 4.88% | 24.19% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 10.49% | 17.10% | 23.81% | 26.05% | -19.52% | 25.68% | 21.08% | 30.67% | -5.23% | 21.21% |
Correlation
The correlation between WBGSX and VTI is 0.92, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 31, 2001 | 0.93 |
The correlation between WBGSX and VTI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
WBGSX vs. VTI — Risk / Return Rank
WBGSX
VTI
WBGSX vs. VTI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for William Blair Growth Fund (WBGSX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI). 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.
| WBGSX | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.48 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.08 | 1.27 | -0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.35 | 2.23 | -1.88 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.95 | 9.62 | -8.67 |
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Drawdowns
WBGSX vs. VTI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WBGSX drawdown since its inception was -53.05%, roughly equal to the maximum VTI drawdown of -55.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WBGSX and VTI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WBGSX | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.05% | -55.45% | +2.40% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.70% | -8.92% | -10.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.45% | -19.30% | -6.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.90% | -25.36% | -11.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.90% | -35.00% | -1.90% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.74% | -1.36% | -5.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.50% | -7.99% | -3.51% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.17% | 2.07% | +5.10% |
Volatility
WBGSX vs. VTI - Volatility Comparison
William Blair Growth Fund (WBGSX) has a higher volatility of 5.92% compared to Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) at 3.46%. This indicates that WBGSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WBGSX | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.92% | 3.46% | +2.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.68% | 10.24% | +4.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.53% | 13.10% | +5.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.80% | 17.51% | +4.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.65% | 18.30% | +2.35% |
WBGSX vs. VTI - Expense Ratio Comparison
WBGSX has a 1.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VTI's 0.03% expense ratio.
Dividends
WBGSX vs. VTI - Dividend Comparison
WBGSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 42.57%, more than VTI's 1.06% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.06% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.66% | 1.21% | 1.42% | 1.78% | 2.04% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
WBGSX William Blair Growth Fund | 42.57% | 43.96% | 34.53% | 12.73% | 4.59% | 14.82% | 15.07% | 10.27% | 38.86% | 38.00% | 8.81% | 13.92% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, WBGSX and VTI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
WBGSX has higher volatility (5.92%) compared to VTI (3.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WBGSX dropped -53.05% vs VTI's -55.45%.
VTI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.52 vs 0.37), 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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