VCSH vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 23, 2009 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VCSH beat SPY?
No — measured from Nov 23, 2009 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $91,718 versus $16,061 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.2% annual return against 2.9%.
What would $10,000 in VCSH be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) on Nov 23, 2009 would be worth about $16,061 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 60.6% (2.9% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $91,718.
Which was riskier — VCSH or SPY?
VCSH swung with an annualized volatility of 2.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -12.9%; SPY ran at 17.1% volatility with a -33.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.31 for VCSH vs 0.72 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 23, 2009 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with VCSH vs SPY. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.