Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) Performance
VO total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +12.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +11.7% total return
- 5 years
- +6.7% a year
- 10 years
- +11.5% a year
- Since first price
- +10.2% a year since 2004
VO trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VO total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.4% | +1.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +0.9% | +0.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.9% | +5.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +12.5% | +11.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +11.7% | +10.1% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +69.6%+19.3%/yr | +61.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +38.2%+6.7%/yr | +27.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +198.1%+11.5%/yr | +155.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +467.2%+12.3%/yr | +349.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +521.1%+9.6%/yr | +357.6% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +808.9%+10.2%/yr | +554.7% | — | — | — |
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: VO vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VO grew to $90,889, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VO returns by calendar year
16 of 21 full years positive. Best 2009 (+40.5%), worst 2008 (−41.6%). 2026 is year to date.
VO annual returns table
| Year | VO | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +12.5% | −8.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +11.6% | −17.4% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +15.3% | −7.3% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +16.0% | −14.0% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −18.7% | −25.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +24.7% | −7.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +18.1% | −39.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +31.0% | −6.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.2% | −21.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +19.3% | −3.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +11.3% | −12.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.3% | −13.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +13.8% | −9.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +35.0% | −6.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.2% | −11.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.1% | −24.6% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +25.7% | −16.8% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +40.5% | −27.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −41.6% | −55.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +5.5% | −12.3% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +13.9% | −11.6% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +14.0% | −8.0% | +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.
VO largest drawdowns
Now 4.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2007 | −58.9% | Mar 9, 2009 | Feb 8, 2011 | 1.7 years | 3.6 years |
| Feb 20, 2020 | −39.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Sep 2, 2020 | 32 days | 6 months |
| Nov 16, 2021 | −27.6% | Oct 14, 2022 | Jul 16, 2024 | 11 months | 2.7 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −24.6% | Oct 3, 2011 | Mar 13, 2012 | 3 months | 8 months |
| Aug 29, 2018 | −21.2% | Dec 24, 2018 | Apr 5, 2019 | 4 months | 7 months |
| Mar 31, 2015 | −20.5% | Feb 11, 2016 | Aug 15, 2016 | 10 months | 1.4 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VO risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.4% | +7.4% | +11.0% | +10.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 17.0% | 17.1% | 16.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.86 | 0.30 | 0.56 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.47 | 0.45 | 0.84 | — |
| Best month | +10.0% | +10.0% | +14.2% | +14.2% |
| Worst month | −6.8% | −9.9% | −18.4% | −22.0% |
| Best 12 months | +34.6% | +34.6% | +70.7% | +70.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +4.3% | −19.5% | −19.5% | −46.4% |
| Positive months | 64% | 53% | 62% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.94 | 1.00 | 1.05 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.84 | 0.92 | 0.94 | — |
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.
VO rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −46.4% | +13.8% | +70.7% | 80% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −17.3% | +10.8% | +31.7% | 88% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | −5.0% | +9.5% | +27.2% | 98% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | +6.5% | +10.3% | +17.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VO performance overview
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) returned +11.7% over the past year and +11.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +10.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $90,889. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −58.9%, from Jul 13, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. VO finished 16 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+40.5%) and the worst 2008 (−41.6%). Volatility has been 16.9% a year.
Related: VO chart, VO holdings, VO dividends, VO valuation. See the VO overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VO performance FAQ
What is the VO return over the past year?
VO returned +11.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 10.1%.
What is the average annual return of VO?
VO has returned +6.7% a year over 5 years, +11.5% a year over 10 years, +10.2% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VO be worth?
$10,000 invested in VO at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $90,889 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VO?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −41.6%. The best was 2009 at +40.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VO?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −58.9% between July 13, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on February 8, 2011, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VO?
Over the past 3 years VO had an annualized volatility of 13.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.86 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).