Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF (VSLU) Performance
VSLU total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +11.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +14.4% total return
- 5 years
- +13.5% a year
- Since first price
- +13.8% a year since 2021
VSLU trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VSLU total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.7% | +0.7% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +5.5% | +5.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +9.2% | +9.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +11.0% | +11.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +14.4% | +13.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +88.0%+23.4%/yr | +84.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +88.1%+13.5%/yr | +82.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionApr 29, 2021 | +102.9%+13.8%/yr | +96.5% | — | — | — |
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: VSLU vs SPY
From Apr 29, 2021: VSLU grew to $20,287, SPY to $19,469.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VSLU returns by calendar year
3 of 4 full years positive. Best 2023 (+26.8%), worst 2022 (−16.1%). 2026 is year to date.
VSLU annual returns table
| Year | VSLU | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +11.0% | −9.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +21.5% | −17.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +23.8% | −7.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +26.8% | −9.2% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −16.1% | −23.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
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.
VSLU largest drawdowns
Now 1.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2021 | −23.9% | Sep 30, 2022 | Jul 28, 2023 | 9 months | 1.6 years |
| Feb 18, 2025 | −17.9% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 10, 2025 | 49 days | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VSLU risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +22.5% | +14.2% | +13.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8% | 15.0% | 14.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.43 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.75 | 1.17 | 1.15 |
| Best month | +8.3% | +8.3% | +8.3% |
| Worst month | −5.7% | −9.1% | −9.1% |
| Best 12 months | +37.0% | +37.0% | +37.0% |
| Worst 12 months | +8.1% | −16.1% | −16.1% |
| Positive months | 69% | 62% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.92 | 0.94 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.97 | 0.98 | — |
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.
VSLU rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 55 | −16.1% | +18.6% | +37.0% | 82% |
| 3-year (a year) | 31 | +8.4% | +18.9% | +26.1% | 100% |
| 5-year (a year) | 7 | +13.1% | +13.3% | +14.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2021. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VSLU performance overview
Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF (VSLU) returned +14.4% over the past year and +13.5% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2021 it has returned +13.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $20,287. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −23.9%, from Dec 29, 2021 to Sep 30, 2022, and it took 10 months to get back to the old high. VSLU finished 3 of its 4 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2023 (+26.8%) and the worst 2022 (−16.1%). Volatility has been 14.7% a year.
Related: VSLU chart, VSLU holdings, VSLU dividends, VSLU valuation. See the VSLU overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VSLU performance FAQ
What is the VSLU return over the past year?
VSLU returned +14.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 13.9%.
What is the average annual return of VSLU?
VSLU has returned +13.5% a year over 5 years, +13.8% a year since April 29, 2021 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VSLU be worth?
$10,000 invested in VSLU at its first recorded close on April 29, 2021 would be worth about $20,287 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VSLU?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −16.1%. The best was 2023 at +26.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VSLU?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −23.9% between December 29, 2021 and September 30, 2022. It recovered to the old high on July 28, 2023, 10 months after the bottom.
How volatile is VSLU?
Over the past 3 years VSLU had an annualized volatility of 11.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.43 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).