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CUSIP
921937652
Issuer
Vanguard
Inception Date
Feb 7, 2019
Min. Investment
$3,000
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Bond
Assets Under Management
$9B

Share Price Chart


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Performance

VBLAX Performance Chart

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBLAX) is up 0.9% since the beginning of the year. VBLAX is currently trading at $10 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VBLAX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $820.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBLAX) has returned 0.93% so far this year and 6.11% over the past 12 months.


Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

1D
0.38%
1M
2.27%
YTD
0.93%
6M
1.42%
1Y
6.11%
3Y*
2.07%
5Y*
-3.90%
10Y*

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
-0.37%
1M
-0.01%
YTD
9.16%
6M
8.64%
1Y
25.22%
3Y*
19.78%
5Y*
11.99%
10Y*
13.88%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VBLAX Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Feb 7, 2019, VBLAX's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.12%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 48.2 years.

Historically, 52% of months were positive and 48% were negative. The best month was Nov 2023 with a return of +10.0%, while the worst month was Apr 2022 at -9.3%. The longest winning streak lasted 5 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 7 months.

On a daily basis, VBLAX closed higher 49% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 20, 2020 with a return of +4.3%, while the worst single day was Mar 17, 2020 at -5.3%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.02%3.21%-3.67%-0.08%0.90%0.67%0.93%
20250.49%4.31%-1.09%-1.12%-1.79%2.84%-0.46%0.49%3.17%0.95%0.47%-1.65%6.57%
2024-1.41%-2.44%1.40%-5.32%2.82%1.12%3.39%2.10%2.24%-4.66%2.13%-5.00%-4.14%
20237.08%-4.99%4.41%0.76%-2.76%0.79%-1.07%-2.34%-6.20%-4.54%9.96%7.77%7.55%
2022-4.61%-2.52%-3.98%-9.26%-0.34%-2.92%3.70%-4.35%-8.27%-3.79%8.12%-1.89%-27.22%
2021-3.12%-4.46%-3.99%2.22%0.59%3.83%2.74%-0.27%-2.35%1.59%1.38%-1.14%-3.36%

Benchmark Metrics

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares has an annualized alpha of 1.49%, beta of -0.00, and R2 of 0.00 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since February 07, 2019.

  • This fund participated in 50.72% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 22.55% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
  • Beta of -0.00 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.00 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 0.00 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
1.49%
Beta
-0.00
0.00
Upside Capture
22.55%
Downside Capture
50.72%

Expense Ratio

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


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

VBLAX ranks 10 for risk / return — in the bottom 10% of mutual funds on our site. This means you're taking on significantly more risk than the returns justify. Consider whether the potential upside is worth the volatility, or explore alternatives with better risk / return profiles.


VBLAX Risk / Return Rank: 1010
Overall Rank
VBLAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1010
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VBLAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 1010
Sortino Ratio Rank
VBLAX Omega Ratio Rank: 99
Omega Ratio Rank
VBLAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 1111
Calmar Ratio Rank
VBLAX Martin Ratio Rank: 99
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 Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBLAX) 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.


VBLAXBenchmarkDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility

-1.28

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk

-1.63

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.13

1.37

-0.24

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.01

2.78

-1.78

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

2.49

12.44

-9.95

Dividends

Dividend History

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares provided a 4.72% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.49 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 4 consecutive years.


3.00%3.50%4.00%4.50%5.00%$0.00$0.20$0.40$0.60$0.802019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM2025202420232022202120202019
Dividend$0.49$0.49$0.48$0.46$0.45$0.41$0.90$0.49

Dividend yield

4.72%4.64%4.61%4.08%4.13%2.62%5.39%3.25%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Long-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$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.00$0.21
2025$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.49
2024$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.48
2023$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.46
2022$0.04$0.03$0.05$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.45
2021$0.00$0.00$0.05$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.07$0.41

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.


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Worst Drawdowns

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard Long-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 Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares was 38.62%, occurring on Oct 19, 2023. The portfolio has not yet recovered.

The current Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares drawdown is 24.15%.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

2023 bear market2023
-38.62%Oct 2023
3y 2mo
5y 10moAug 2020 - now
COVID crash2020
-17.78%Mar 2020
10d3mo 22d
4mo 2dMar 2020 - Jul 2020
2019 pullback2019
-5.90%Sep 2019
8d4mo 13d
4mo 21dSep 2019 - Jan 2020
2019 pullback2019
-2.49%Jul 2019
6d21d
27dJul 2019 - Aug 2019
COVID crash2020
-1.87%Feb 2020
2d13d
15dFeb 2020 - Feb 2020

Drawdown Indicators


VBLAXBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-38.62%

-56.78%

+18.16%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-5.98%

-9.10%

+3.12%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.92%

-18.90%

+3.98%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-36.32%

-25.43%

-10.89%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-33.92%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-24.15%

-1.80%

-22.35%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-18.14%

-10.71%

-7.43%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.42%

2.03%

+0.39%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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Portfolio Analyzer

Build a portfolio with VBLAX

Add Vanguard Long-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.

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