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VGSH · Vanguard Short-term Treasury ETF

Over the last 15 years (2011-09 to 2026-09), $10,000 invested in VGSH with dividends reinvested grew to $12,088, 1.27% a year, with a worst peak-to-trough fall of -5.31%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Growth of $10,000 · 2011-09 to 2026-09 · dividends reinvested

CAGR (annualized return)
1.27%
Volatility (annualized)
1.41%
Worst drawdown
-5.31%
Sharpe ratio
-0.29

How VGSH held up in past market crashes

VGSH has been through 3 of the market crashes since 2000 in our data. Its deepest price fall was 5.2% in the 2022 bear market, when the S&P 500 fell 25.4%. Its price had not yet regained that high by the latest close (price only, not counting the dividends or interest it paid). No fund is safe from losses; past falls do not predict future ones.

Deepest price fall and recovery time of VGSH in each market crash, next to the S&P 500
CrashVGSH deepest fallS&P 500 (SPY)Peak to bottomBack to peak
2018 fourth-quarter selloff-0.4%-20.2%Oct 2018 to Nov 2018Under a month
2020 COVID crash-0.5%-34.1%Mar 2020 to Mar 2020Under a month
2022 bear market-5.2%-25.4%Jan 2022 to Oct 2022Not yet

Price declines in the fund's listing currency, dividends not included, inside each crash's S&P 500 peak-to-bottom window. See how 50 popular ETFs compare in the crash study.

About VGSH

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF is a fixed income exchange-traded fund designed to provide broad exposure to U.S. Treasury securities with short remaining maturities. It primarily holds investment-grade government bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, excluding inflation-protected securities, and is structured to track a short-term Treasury index through passive management. The fund is used by investors seeking a portfolio segment focused on U.S. government debt, interest-rate sensitivity management, and high credit quality within the short-duration bond market. Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF plays a common role in cash management, portfolio diversification, and short-term fixed income allocation, offering access to a market segment that typically emphasizes stability and liquidity relative to longer-duration bond strategies. As part of Vanguard’s fixed income lineup, it serves both individual and institutional investors looking for efficient exposure to short-term Treasury market conditions.

Put VGSH to the test

Every tool below opens prefilled with VGSH: free, no account needed.

Educational use only, not investment advice. Results are hypothetical.Read full disclaimer

This tool is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide financial, investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Results are hypothetical and based on historical data and assumptions that may be inaccurate. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a licensed professional before making investment decisions.

VGSH (Vanguard Short-term Treasury ETF): returns, risk & backtest · Informed Portfolio