FXAIX vs VFIAX: Returns, Drawdowns and Dividends Since 2016
FXAIX (Fidelity 500 Index Fund) and VFIAX (Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares) moved almost in lockstep: their daily returns had a correlation of 0.9996, where 1 would mean identical. FXAIX came out ahead, returning 15.1% a year with dividends reinvested from January 2016 to November 2026, against 15.0% for VFIAX.
With returns this close, the choice comes down to cost and convenience: each fund's current expense ratio, from its issuer, and what your broker charges to trade it. Both fell about 34% at their worst, in March 2020.
| Measure | FXAIX | VFIAX |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return | 15.1% | 15.0% |
| $10,000 grew to | $45,788 | $45,661 |
| Worst decline | −33.8%Mar 2020 | −33.8%Mar 2020 |
| Volatility Volatility How much the fund's daily returns swing: their standard deviation over this period, annualized with the square root of 252 trading days. | 17.8% | 17.8% |
| Sharpe ratio Sharpe ratio Return above T-bills for each unit of risk: daily returns minus the T-bill ETF BIL, averaged, divided by their standard deviation and annualized. Higher is better. T-bill funds show none. Sharpe ratio calculator | 0.76 | 0.76 |
| 12-month yield 12-month yield Cash dividends with ex-dividend dates in the past 12 months, divided by the latest closing price. | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Best year | +31.5%2019 | +31.5%2019 |
| Worst year | −18.1%2022 | −18.1%2022 |
| Correlation between them Correlation How closely the two funds' daily returns moved together over this period: 1 means identical every day, 0 means no relation. | 1.000 | |
FXAIX: Fidelity 500 Index FundVFIAX: Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares
Jan 4, 2016 to Nov 4, 2026, dividends reinvested.
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Worst declines
FXAIX fell 33.8% from Feb 19, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020 and was back at its high on Aug 10, 2020. VFIAX fell 33.8% from Feb 19, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020 and was back at its high on Aug 10, 2020.
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Year by year
FXAIX was ahead in 11 of the 11 calendar years.
| Year | FXAIX | VFIAX | Ahead (pts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to Nov 4) | +13.4% | +13.3% | Even |
| 2025 | +17.9% | +17.8% | Even |
| 2024 | +25.0% | +25.0% | Even |
| 2023 | +26.3% | +26.2% | Even |
| 2022 | −18.1% | −18.1% | Even |
| 2021 | +28.7% | +28.7% | Even |
| 2020 | +18.4% | +18.4% | Even |
| 2019 | +31.5% | +31.5% | Even |
| 2018 | −4.4% | −4.4% | Even |
| 2017 | +21.8% | +21.8% | Even |
| 2016 (from Jan 4) | +13.7% | +13.6% | Even |
Held for 1, 3 or 5 years: which came out ahead
Buy on any trading day from Jan 4, 2016, hold for a set time, and see which fund ended higher. The periods overlap, so they show how much the start date mattered, not separate results.
| Hold | Days tested | Ahead more often | Median lead (pts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 2,474 | FXAIX100% | Even |
| 3 years | 1,970 | FXAIX100% | +0.1 |
| 5 years | 1,466 | FXAIX100% | +0.2 |
Median lead is the typical gap in total return across all start dates, in percentage points. The latest 5-year hold starts on Oct 27, 2021.
Dividends
Over the past 12 months FXAIX paid 1.0% of its price in dividends and VFIAX 1.0%. The returns above already include them, reinvested on each ex-dividend date.
Dividends per share by year
| Year | FXAIX | VFIAX |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to Nov 4) | $2.08 3 payments | $5.65 3 payments |
| 2025 | $2.65 4 payments | $7.06 4 payments |
| 2024 | $2.54 4 payments | $6.70 4 payments |
| 2023 | $2.40 4 payments | $6.37 4 payments |
| 2022 | $2.26 4 payments | $5.95 4 payments |
| 2021 | $2.02 4 payments | $5.44 4 payments |
| 2020 | $2.08 4 payments | $5.31 4 payments |
| 2019 | $2.31 4 payments | $5.58 4 payments |
| 2018 | $2.37 5 payments | $4.75 4 payments |
| 2017 | $1.84 4 payments | $4.40 4 payments |
| 2016 (from Jan 4) | $1.98 4 payments | $4.17 4 payments |
Per share in today's shares (earlier amounts are restated for share splits), by ex-dividend date.
The two funds
- FXAIX
- Fidelity 500 Index Fund, a mutual fund launched May 4, 2011. FinLab prices start Jan 4, 2016.
- VFIAX
- Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares, a mutual fund launched Nov 13, 2000. FinLab prices start Jan 4, 2016.
More comparisons
Source: FinLab U.S. fund prices, Jan 4, 2016 to Nov 4, 2026, the days both funds traded. Returns use prices adjusted for dividends and splits, before taxes; annual return is compounded.
For research and education. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and this is not investment advice.