Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) Performance
VB total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +12.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +13.2% total return
- 5 years
- +6.1% a year
- 10 years
- +10.8% a year
- Since first price
- +9.6% a year since 2004
VB trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VB total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −0.6% | −0.8% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −2.3% | −2.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +2.0% | +1.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +12.4% | +11.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +13.2% | +11.7% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +67.7%+18.8%/yr | +60.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +34.5%+6.1%/yr | +24.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +178.7%+10.8%/yr | +140.8% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +433.2%+11.8%/yr | +323.4% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +483.8%+9.2%/yr | +331.5% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +711.1%+9.6%/yr | +486.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VB vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VB grew to $81,107, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VB returns by calendar year
16 of 21 full years positive. Best 2013 (+37.7%), worst 2008 (−36.2%). 2026 is year to date.
VB annual returns table
| Year | VB | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +12.4% | −9.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +8.9% | −23.0% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +14.2% | −8.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +18.2% | −15.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −17.5% | −24.9% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +17.6% | −10.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +19.2% | −42.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +27.3% | −8.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.3% | −24.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +16.3% | −5.3% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +18.4% | −12.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −3.8% | −14.6% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +7.6% | −11.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +37.7% | −5.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.3% | −12.1% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.8% | −28.3% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +28.1% | −20.0% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +36.6% | −32.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −36.2% | −51.9% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +1.4% | −13.3% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +15.8% | −13.1% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +7.2% | −9.0% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VB largest drawdowns
Now 6.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2007 | −59.6% | Mar 9, 2009 | Dec 20, 2010 | 1.7 years | 3.4 years |
| Feb 20, 2020 | −42.0% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 9, 2020 | 32 days | 9 months |
| Apr 29, 2011 | −28.3% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 6, 2012 | 5 months | 1.4 years |
| Nov 8, 2021 | −28.2% | Jun 16, 2022 | Jul 16, 2024 | 7 months | 2.7 years |
| Nov 25, 2024 | −25.4% | Apr 8, 2025 | Sep 18, 2025 | 4 months | 10 months |
| Aug 29, 2018 | −24.5% | Dec 24, 2018 | Nov 26, 2019 | 4 months | 1.2 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VB risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.2% | +7.0% | +10.4% | +9.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 19.1% | 19.4% | 18.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.72 | 0.26 | 0.49 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.21 | 0.40 | 0.73 | — |
| Best month | +10.6% | +10.6% | +15.8% | +18.7% |
| Worst month | −7.4% | −9.6% | −22.0% | −22.0% |
| Best 12 months | +36.0% | +36.0% | +87.9% | +87.9% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.6% | −20.7% | −23.3% | −44.5% |
| Positive months | 67% | 57% | 64% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.10 | 1.06 | 1.13 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.81 | 0.87 | 0.89 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VB rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −44.5% | +11.4% | +87.9% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −18.0% | +10.1% | +33.2% | 89% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | −6.2% | +8.8% | +29.1% | 98% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | +6.3% | +10.1% | +18.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VB performance overview
Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) returned +13.2% over the past year and +10.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +9.6% a year, turning $10,000 into about $81,107. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −59.6%, from Jul 13, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.8 years to get back to the old high. VB finished 16 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+37.7%) and the worst 2008 (−36.2%). Volatility has been 18.9% a year.
Related: VB chart, VB holdings, VB dividends, VB valuation. See the VB overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VB performance FAQ
What is the VB return over the past year?
VB returned +13.2% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 11.7%.
What is the average annual return of VB?
VB has returned +6.1% a year over 5 years, +10.8% a year over 10 years, +9.6% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VB be worth?
$10,000 invested in VB at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $81,107 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VB?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −36.2%. The best was 2013 at +37.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VB?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −59.6% between July 13, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on December 20, 2010, 1.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VB?
Over the past 3 years VB had an annualized volatility of 17.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.72 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).