Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH) Performance
VFH total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +3.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +8.1% total return
- 5 years
- +8.4% a year
- 10 years
- +12.8% a year
- Since first price
- +6.7% a year since 2004
VFH trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VFH total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +2.3% | +2.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.2% | −0.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +7.7% | +6.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +3.1% | +1.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +8.1% | +6.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +85.8%+22.9%/yr | +76.0% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +49.5%+8.4%/yr | +35.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +233.1%+12.8%/yr | +171.1% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +572.7%+13.6%/yr | +393.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +231.2%+6.2%/yr | +116.6% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +340.0%+6.7%/yr | +172.5% | — | — | — |
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: VFH vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VFH grew to $44,000, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VFH returns by calendar year
14 of 21 full years positive. Best 2021 (+35.2%), worst 2008 (−48.9%). 2026 is year to date.
VFH annual returns table
| Year | VFH | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +3.1% | −14.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +14.9% | −17.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +30.4% | −7.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +14.2% | −17.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −12.3% | −25.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +35.2% | −8.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −2.0% | −44.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +31.6% | −9.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −13.5% | −24.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +20.0% | −8.6% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +24.9% | −15.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −0.6% | −12.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +14.1% | −6.6% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +32.8% | −6.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +26.2% | −14.5% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −14.3% | −31.8% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +14.8% | −20.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +14.3% | −47.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −48.9% | −63.0% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | −17.6% | −23.4% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +19.4% | −7.4% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +6.1% | −8.6% | +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.
VFH largest drawdowns
Now 4.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2007 | −78.6% | Mar 6, 2009 | Nov 11, 2016 | 1.8 years | 9.4 years |
| Feb 14, 2020 | −44.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jan 6, 2021 | 38 days | 11 months |
| Jan 12, 2022 | −25.7% | Sep 30, 2022 | Feb 22, 2024 | 9 months | 2.1 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −24.3% | Dec 24, 2018 | Nov 1, 2019 | 11 months | 1.8 years |
| Feb 18, 2025 | −17.3% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | 49 days | 4 months |
| Jan 6, 2026 | −14.7% | Mar 27, 2026 | Jul 6, 2026 | 3 months | 6 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VFH risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +19.6% | +9.2% | +12.5% | +6.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 18.9% | 20.0% | 20.3% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.94 | 0.37 | 0.58 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.73 | 0.57 | 0.88 | — |
| Best month | +11.5% | +12.1% | +16.4% | +19.2% |
| Worst month | −7.4% | −10.7% | −22.8% | −23.6% |
| Best 12 months | +48.1% | +48.1% | +72.7% | +84.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.9% | −17.9% | −19.5% | −63.8% |
| Positive months | 61% | 53% | 57% | 59% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.86 | 0.91 | 1.05 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.67 | 0.76 | 0.80 | — |
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.
VFH rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −63.8% | +10.7% | +84.7% | 71% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −32.4% | +11.0% | +25.8% | 79% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | −18.4% | +10.3% | +24.4% | 75% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | −0.8% | +10.3% | +17.3% | 96% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VFH performance overview
Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH) returned +8.1% over the past year and +12.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +6.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $44,000. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −78.6%, from Jun 4, 2007 to Mar 6, 2009, and it took 7.7 years to get back to the old high. VFH finished 14 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2021 (+35.2%) and the worst 2008 (−48.9%). Volatility has been 20.3% a year.
Related: VFH chart, VFH holdings, VFH dividends, VFH valuation. See the VFH overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VFH performance FAQ
What is the VFH return over the past year?
VFH returned +8.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 6.2%.
What is the average annual return of VFH?
VFH has returned +8.4% a year over 5 years, +12.8% a year over 10 years, +6.7% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VFH be worth?
$10,000 invested in VFH at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $44,000 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VFH?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −48.9%. The best was 2021 at +35.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VFH?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −78.6% between June 4, 2007 and March 6, 2009. It recovered to the old high on November 11, 2016, 7.7 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VFH?
Over the past 3 years VFH had an annualized volatility of 16.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.94 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).