ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ZEC-USD (ZCash) is a cryptocurrency, while VSCSX (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) is Corporate Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 5 years, ZEC-USD returned 32.85%/yr vs 2.40%/yr for VSCSX. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ZCash (ZEC-USD) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZEC-USD achieves a 26.13% return, which is significantly higher than VSCSX's 0.71% return.

ZEC-USD

• 1D: 5.79%
• 1M: 52.31%
• YTD: 26.13%
• 6M: 89.93%
• 1Y: 1,083.42%
• 3Y*: 172.12%
• 5Y*: 32.85%
• 10Y*: —

VSCSX

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.33%
• YTD: 0.71%
• 6M: 0.99%
• 1Y: 4.63%
• 3Y*: 5.66%
• 5Y*: 2.40%
• 10Y*: 2.73%

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

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
ZEC-USD ZCash	26.13%	808.40%	108.73%	-27.69%	-74.58%	128.45%	132.06%	-51.14%	-88.81%	951.75%
VSCSX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares	0.71%	6.75%	5.36%	6.11%	-5.72%	-0.43%	5.06%	6.85%	0.88%	2.46%

Correlation

The correlation between ZEC-USD and VSCSX is 0.04, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.04
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.04
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.04
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 1, 2017	0.03

Return for Risk

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZEC-USD

ZEC-USD Risk / Return Rank: 98
ZEC-USD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
ZEC-USD Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
ZEC-USD Omega Ratio Rank: 97
ZEC-USD Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
ZEC-USD Martin Ratio Rank: 98

VSCSX

VSCSX Risk / Return Rank: 80
VSCSX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 84
VSCSX Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
VSCSX Omega Ratio Rank: 83
VSCSX Calmar Ratio Rank: 76
VSCSX Martin Ratio Rank: 72

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.

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ZCash (ZEC-USD) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX). 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.

	ZEC-USD	VSCSX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	7.06	2.69	+4.37
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	4.53	4.13	+0.39
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.44	1.55	-0.11
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	15.10	3.44	+11.65
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	28.50	13.75	+14.75
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZEC-USD Sharpe Ratio is 7.06, which is higher than the VSCSX Sharpe Ratio of 2.69. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZEC-USD and VSCSX, 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

	ZEC-USD	VSCSX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.06	2.69	+4.37
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.30	0.89	-0.59
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	1.16	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.27	1.36	-1.09

Drawdowns

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZEC-USD drawdown since its inception was -97.92%, which is greater than VSCSX's maximum drawdown of -9.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZEC-USD and VSCSX.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZEC-USD	VSCSX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-97.92%	-9.36%	-88.56%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-71.77%	-1.36%	-70.41%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-71.77%	-1.36%	-70.41%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-93.77%	-9.36%	-84.41%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-9.36%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-26.91%	-0.26%	-26.65%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-81.03%	-0.98%	-80.05%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	43.82%	0.34%	+43.48%

Volatility

ZEC-USD vs. VSCSX - Volatility Comparison

ZCash (ZEC-USD) has a higher volatility of 42.13% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSCSX) at 0.57%. This indicates that ZEC-USD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSCSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZEC-USD	VSCSX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	42.13%	0.57%	+41.56%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	91.34%	1.27%	+90.07%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	127.53%	1.75%	+125.78%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	90.69%	2.71%	+87.98%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	97.52%	2.37%	+95.15%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ZEC-USD and VSCSX in my portfolio?

ZEC-USD and VSCSX have a correlation of 0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ZEC-USD or VSCSX?

ZEC-USD has higher volatility (42.13%) compared to VSCSX (0.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ZEC-USD dropped -97.92% vs VSCSX's -9.36%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ZEC-USD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.06 vs 2.69), 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.