Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) Performance
VOX total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −5.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −1.4% total return
- 5 years
- +6.1% a year
- 10 years
- +8.7% a year
- Since first price
- +8.5% a year since 2004
VOX trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VOX total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.2% | −6.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +1.4% | +1.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.9% | −7.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −5.9% | −6.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −1.4% | −2.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +75.4%+20.6%/yr | +70.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +34.6%+6.1%/yr | +27.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +129.4%+8.7%/yr | +98.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +302.3%+9.7%/yr | +187.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +300.8%+7.2%/yr | +152.9% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionSep 29, 2004 | +502.2%+8.5%/yr | +266.8% | — | — | — |
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: VOX vs SPY
From Sep 29, 2004: VOX grew to $60,219, SPY to $101,734.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VOX returns by calendar year
16 of 21 full years positive. Best 2023 (+44.8%), worst 2022 (−38.8%). 2026 is year to date.
VOX annual returns table
| Year | VOX | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −5.9% | −13.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +26.3% | −21.1% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +33.1% | −8.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +44.8% | −13.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −38.8% | −41.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +13.8% | −13.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +29.1% | −31.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +28.0% | −10.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −16.7% | −23.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | −5.5% | −17.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +22.8% | −13.3% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +2.7% | −12.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +4.0% | −8.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +24.3% | −7.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.6% | −10.8% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.2% | −19.8% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +19.5% | −12.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +29.5% | −21.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −38.6% | −52.2% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +5.1% | −13.7% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +36.7% | −7.1% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +2.0% | −9.1% | +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.
VOX largest drawdowns
Now 9.1% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2007 | −57.2% | Nov 20, 2008 | Sep 12, 2012 | 1.3 years | 5.2 years |
| Sep 1, 2021 | −46.8% | Nov 3, 2022 | Oct 4, 2024 | 1.2 years | 3.1 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −31.2% | Mar 23, 2020 | Aug 3, 2020 | 33 days | 5 months |
| Jan 4, 2017 | −28.9% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jan 13, 2020 | 2.0 years | 3.0 years |
| Feb 14, 2025 | −21.1% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 27, 2025 | 53 days | 4 months |
| Jan 29, 2026 | −13.6% | Mar 27, 2026 | not yet | 57 days | 9 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VOX risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +23.2% | +7.3% | +8.8% | +8.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9% | 19.1% | 18.2% | 16.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.20 | 0.28 | 0.43 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 2.14 | 0.40 | 0.65 | — |
| Best month | +9.5% | +15.0% | +15.0% | +15.0% |
| Worst month | −7.1% | −15.0% | −15.0% | −15.0% |
| Best 12 months | +44.9% | +44.9% | +72.1% | +72.1% |
| Worst 12 months | +2.5% | −41.0% | −41.0% | −43.4% |
| Positive months | 67% | 62% | 61% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.02 | 1.05 | 1.03 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.85 | 0.86 | 0.87 | — |
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.
VOX rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 254 | −43.4% | +13.8% | +72.1% | 74% |
| 3-year (a year) | 230 | −11.3% | +7.5% | +34.5% | 80% |
| 5-year (a year) | 206 | −2.5% | +7.6% | +18.5% | 96% |
| 10-year (a year) | 146 | +3.6% | +7.9% | +11.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VOX performance overview
Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) returned −1.4% over the past year and +8.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +8.5% a year, turning $10,000 into about $60,219. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −57.2%, from Jul 16, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 3.8 years to get back to the old high. VOX finished 16 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2023 (+44.8%) and the worst 2022 (−38.8%). Volatility has been 16.7% a year.
Related: VOX chart, VOX holdings, VOX dividends, VOX valuation. See the VOX overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VOX performance FAQ
What is the VOX return over the past year?
VOX returned −1.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 2.4%.
What is the average annual return of VOX?
VOX has returned +6.1% a year over 5 years, +8.7% a year over 10 years, +8.5% a year since September 29, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VOX be worth?
$10,000 invested in VOX at its first recorded close on September 29, 2004 would be worth about $60,219 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VOX?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −38.8%. The best was 2023 at +44.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VOX?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −57.2% between July 16, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on September 12, 2012, 3.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VOX?
Over the past 3 years VOX had an annualized volatility of 14.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.20 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).