Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) Performance
VDE total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +56.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +57.7% total return
- 5 years
- +22.7% a year
- 10 years
- +10.9% a year
- Since first price
- +9.0% a year since 2004
VDE trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VDE total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +10.4% | +10.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +15.4% | +14.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +20.6% | +19.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +56.1% | +53.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +57.7% | +53.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +69.8%+19.3%/yr | +55.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +178.5%+22.7%/yr | +135.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +181.6%+10.9%/yr | +98.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +208.1%+7.8%/yr | +91.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +314.0%+7.4%/yr | +141.9% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionSep 29, 2004 | +570.2%+9.0%/yr | +286.2% | — | — | — |
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: VDE vs SPY
From Sep 29, 2004: VDE grew to $67,024, SPY to $101,734.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VDE returns by calendar year
15 of 21 full years positive. Best 2022 (+62.9%), worst 2008 (−39.6%). 2026 is year to date.
VDE annual returns table
| Year | VDE | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +56.1% | −15.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +7.1% | −19.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +6.8% | −14.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +0.0% | −17.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +62.9% | −26.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +56.3% | −18.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −33.0% | −61.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +9.5% | −20.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −19.9% | −32.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | −2.5% | −19.6% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +29.2% | −14.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −23.2% | −28.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −9.9% | −28.3% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +25.8% | −7.1% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +3.4% | −19.0% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +2.8% | −29.8% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +21.1% | −20.5% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +25.5% | −27.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −39.6% | −56.3% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +34.6% | −12.5% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +19.0% | −16.8% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +39.1% | −15.9% | +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.
VDE largest drawdowns
At an all-time high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 2014 | −74.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Apr 8, 2022 | 5.7 years | 7.8 years |
| May 20, 2008 | −58.2% | Mar 2, 2009 | Sep 11, 2013 | 9 months | 5.3 years |
| Jun 7, 2022 | −26.6% | Jul 14, 2022 | Nov 1, 2022 | 37 days | 5 months |
| Nov 22, 2024 | −21.4% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | 5 months | 1.1 years |
| Nov 15, 2022 | −18.5% | Mar 17, 2023 | Sep 8, 2023 | 4 months | 10 months |
| May 10, 2006 | −16.8% | Jun 13, 2006 | Nov 29, 2006 | 34 days | 7 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VDE risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +14.1% | +22.5% | +9.6% | +8.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 25.7% | 30.7% | 26.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.53 | 0.78 | 0.38 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 0.90 | 1.40 | 0.59 | — |
| Best month | +14.2% | +24.0% | +32.2% | +32.2% |
| Worst month | −13.7% | −17.1% | −36.5% | −36.5% |
| Best 12 months | +56.1% | +73.9% | +117.8% | +117.8% |
| Worst 12 months | −11.4% | −11.4% | −55.4% | −55.4% |
| Positive months | 53% | 58% | 55% | 56% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.02 | 0.51 | 1.08 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.01 | 0.31 | 0.54 | — |
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.
VDE rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 254 | −55.4% | +10.6% | +117.8% | 66% |
| 3-year (a year) | 230 | −24.1% | +4.6% | +52.5% | 62% |
| 5-year (a year) | 206 | −16.2% | +5.1% | +32.7% | 75% |
| 10-year (a year) | 146 | −5.2% | +3.3% | +11.5% | 86% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VDE performance overview
Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) returned +57.7% over the past year and +10.9% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +9.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $67,024. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −74.2%, from Jun 23, 2014 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 2.1 years to get back to the old high. VDE finished 15 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2022 (+62.9%) and the worst 2008 (−39.6%). Volatility has been 26.5% a year.
Related: VDE chart, VDE holdings, VDE dividends, VDE valuation. See the VDE overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VDE performance FAQ
What is the VDE return over the past year?
VDE returned +57.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 53.5%.
What is the average annual return of VDE?
VDE has returned +22.7% a year over 5 years, +10.9% a year over 10 years, +9.0% a year since September 29, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VDE be worth?
$10,000 invested in VDE at its first recorded close on September 29, 2004 would be worth about $67,024 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VDE?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −39.6%. The best was 2022 at +62.9%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VDE?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −74.2% between June 23, 2014 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on April 8, 2022, 2.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VDE?
Over the past 3 years VDE had an annualized volatility of 20.4% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.53 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).