PortfoliosLab logoPortfoliosLab logo
ISIN
US9219377028
CUSIP
921937702
Issuer
Vanguard
Inception Date
Nov 12, 2001
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Bond
Assets Under Management
$70B

Share Price Chart


Loading charts...

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.


Performance

VBIRX Performance Chart

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) is up 0.0% since the beginning of the year. VBIRX is currently trading at $10 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VBIRX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,083.


Loading charts...

S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) has returned 0.01% so far this year and 3.33% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VBIRX has returned 1.88% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.67% annually.


Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

1D
-0.29%
1M
0.34%
YTD
0.01%
6M
0.25%
1Y
3.33%
3Y*
4.46%
5Y*
1.60%
10Y*
1.88%

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
1.08%
1M
2.00%
YTD
9.57%
6M
10.71%
1Y
25.41%
3Y*
19.37%
5Y*
12.48%
10Y*
13.67%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VBIRX Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Nov 12, 2001, VBIRX's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.21%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 27.5 years.

Historically, 65% of months were positive and 35% were negative. The best month was Nov 2008 with a return of +2.1%, while the worst month was Mar 2022 at -1.9%. The longest winning streak lasted 11 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 9 months.

On a daily basis, VBIRX closed higher 35% of trading days. The best single day was Nov 11, 2003 with a return of +4.1%, while the worst single day was Nov 12, 2003 at -3.8%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.14%0.79%-0.82%0.23%0.05%-0.39%0.01%
20250.51%0.98%0.52%0.90%-0.26%0.81%-0.06%1.11%0.23%0.34%0.62%0.24%6.09%
20240.36%-0.65%0.47%-0.83%0.99%0.68%1.50%0.98%0.97%-1.07%0.40%-0.08%3.75%
20231.28%-1.25%1.91%0.48%-0.51%-0.61%0.31%0.22%-0.38%0.04%1.77%1.56%4.87%
2022-1.04%-0.59%-1.90%-0.98%0.70%-0.87%1.02%-1.35%-1.77%-0.26%1.38%-0.04%-5.63%
2021-0.09%-0.46%-0.26%0.29%0.19%-0.19%0.37%-0.09%-0.29%-0.47%-0.10%-0.11%-1.20%

Benchmark Metrics

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares has an annualized alpha of 2.89%, beta of -0.03, and R2 of 0.04 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since November 12, 2001.

  • This fund captured 5.79% of S&P 500 Index gains and tended to rise during its downturns (downside capture of -6.87%) - a profile typical of hedging or uncorrelated assets.
  • Beta of -0.03 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.04 this fund is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this fund's risk.
  • R2 of 0.04 means this fund moves largely independently of S&P 500 Index - capture ratios reflect limited market correlation rather than active downside protection. Consider using a more representative benchmark.

Alpha
2.89%
Beta
-0.03
0.04
Upside Capture
5.79%
Downside Capture
-6.87%

Expense Ratio

VBIRX has an expense ratio of 0.07%, which is considered low.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

VBIRX ranks 37 for risk / return — below 37% of mutual funds on our site. The returns aren't fully compensating for the risk involved. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but factor it into your decision — especially if you're risk-averse.


VBIRX Risk / Return Rank: 3737
Overall Rank
VBIRX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3232
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VBIRX Sortino Ratio Rank: 4343
Sortino Ratio Rank
VBIRX Omega Ratio Rank: 3737
Omega Ratio Rank
VBIRX Calmar Ratio Rank: 3838
Calmar Ratio Rank
VBIRX Martin Ratio Rank: 3232
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

Return / Risk — by metrics

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.


VBIRXBenchmarkDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility

-0.57

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk

-0.30

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.29

1.37

-0.08

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.17

2.81

-0.64

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

6.69

12.55

-5.86

Dividends

Dividend History

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares provided a 4.00% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.41 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 4 consecutive years.


1.50%2.00%2.50%3.00%3.50%4.00%$0.00$0.10$0.20$0.30$0.4020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Dividend$0.41$0.40$0.34$0.24$0.14$0.13$0.19$0.24$0.21$0.17$0.16$0.15

Dividend yield

4.00%3.83%3.37%2.41%1.46%1.22%1.77%2.24%2.03%1.66%1.50%1.41%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026$0.03$0.03$0.04$0.03$0.04$0.00$0.17
2025$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.40
2024$0.03$0.02$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.34
2023$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.03$0.24
2022$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.02$0.14
2021$0.00$0.00$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.04$0.13

Drawdowns

Drawdowns Chart

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.


Loading charts...

Worst Drawdowns

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown for the Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares was 8.69%, occurring on Oct 20, 2022. Recovery took 445 trading sessions.

The current Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares drawdown is 0.92%.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

Bear market2022
-8.69%Oct 2022
1y 9mo1y 9mo
3y 6moJan 2021 - Jul 2024
2003 pullback2003
-3.84%Nov 2003
0s1y 6mo
1y 6moNov 2003 - Jun 2005
Dot-com crash2000–2002
-2.54%Mar 2002
4mo 12d2mo 21d
7mo 3dNov 2001 - Jun 2002
Financial crisis2007–2009
-2.44%Oct 2008
27d1mo 16d
2mo 13dSep 2008 - Nov 2008
Financial crisis2007–2009
-2.30%Jun 2008
3mo 11d2mo 22d
6mo 3dMar 2008 - Sep 2008

Drawdown Indicators


VBIRXBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-8.69%

-56.78%

+48.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-1.54%

-9.10%

+7.56%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-1.55%

-18.90%

+17.35%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-8.64%

-25.43%

+16.79%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-8.69%

-33.92%

+25.23%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.92%

-1.43%

+0.51%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-0.99%

-10.71%

+9.72%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.50%

2.03%

-1.53%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


Loading charts...

Portfolio Analyzer

Build a portfolio with VBIRX

Add Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.

Open Portfolio Analyzer with VBIRX