VWELX vs AOA: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Wellington Fund against iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 11, 2008 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VWELX beat AOA?
Yes — measured from Nov 11, 2008 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VWELX came out ahead: $60,004 versus $57,716 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.7% annual return against 10.4%.
What would $10,000 in VWELX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWELX) on Nov 11, 2008 would be worth about $60,004 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 500.0% (10.7% per year). The same $10,000 in AOA would be worth $57,716.
Which was riskier — VWELX or AOA?
VWELX swung with an annualized volatility of 11.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -25.3%; AOA ran at 15.4% volatility with a -28.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.74 for VWELX vs 0.55 for AOA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 11, 2008 through Jul 13, 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 VWELX vs AOA. 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.