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ISIN
US9220314069
CUSIP
922031406
Issuer
Vanguard
Inception Date
Oct 29, 1982
Min. Investment
$3,000
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Bond
Assets Under Management
$55B

Share Price Chart


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Performance

VFSTX Performance Chart

Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) is up 0.4% since the beginning of the year. VFSTX is currently trading at $10 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VFSTX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,118.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) has returned 0.38% so far this year and 3.98% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VFSTX has returned 2.48% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.71% annually.


Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares

1D
-0.10%
1M
0.20%
YTD
0.38%
6M
0.86%
1Y
3.98%
3Y*
5.52%
5Y*
2.26%
10Y*
2.48%

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
-1.44%
1M
-1.45%
YTD
7.60%
6M
6.59%
1Y
22.24%
3Y*
19.20%
5Y*
11.54%
10Y*
13.71%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VFSTX Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Oct 29, 1982, VFSTX's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.31%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 18.7 years.

Historically, 71% of months were positive and 29% were negative. The best month was May 2009 with a return of +2.8%, while the worst month was Sep 2008 at -3.5%. The longest winning streak lasted 23 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.

On a daily basis, VFSTX closed higher 32% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 31, 1984 with a return of +2.2%, while the worst single day was May 31, 1984 at -2.2%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.38%0.66%-0.85%0.39%0.30%-0.48%0.38%
20250.56%0.94%0.46%0.67%0.19%0.96%0.10%1.06%0.48%0.28%0.57%0.28%6.75%
20240.40%-0.47%0.72%-0.66%1.04%0.54%1.63%1.04%1.02%-0.89%0.64%-0.13%4.98%
20231.61%-1.27%1.53%0.64%-0.44%-0.33%0.67%0.18%-0.52%-0.11%2.21%1.79%6.06%
2022-1.18%-0.81%-1.87%-1.31%0.74%-1.31%1.45%-1.31%-2.01%-0.33%1.93%0.10%-5.84%
2021-0.09%-0.36%-0.32%0.50%0.31%-0.15%0.40%-0.05%-0.23%-0.51%-0.23%0.03%-0.70%

Benchmark Metrics

Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares has an annualized alpha of 3.84%, beta of -0.00, and R2 of 0.00 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since October 29, 1982.

  • This fund captured 11.03% of S&P 500 Index gains and tended to rise during its downturns (downside capture of -3.48%) - a profile typical of hedging or uncorrelated assets.
  • 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
3.84%
Beta
-0.00
0.00
Upside Capture
11.03%
Downside Capture
-3.48%

Expense Ratio

VFSTX has an expense ratio of 0.20%, which is considered low.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

VFSTX ranks 54 for risk / return — on par with similar mutual funds. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.


VFSTX Risk / Return Rank: 5454
Overall Rank
VFSTX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4444
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VFSTX Sortino Ratio Rank: 6969
Sortino Ratio Rank
VFSTX Omega Ratio Rank: 6464
Omega Ratio Rank
VFSTX Calmar Ratio Rank: 4646
Calmar Ratio Rank
VFSTX Martin Ratio Rank: 4848
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 Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) 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.


VFSTXBenchmarkDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility

+0.03

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk

+0.71

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.40

1.32

+0.08

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.46

2.46

+0.01

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.40

10.92

-1.51

Dividends

Dividend History

Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares provided a 4.62% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.48 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 4 consecutive years.


2.00%2.50%3.00%3.50%4.00%4.50%$0.00$0.10$0.20$0.30$0.40$0.5020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Dividend$0.48$0.47$0.42$0.31$0.19$0.18$0.25$0.30$0.28$0.21$0.22$0.21

Dividend yield

4.62%4.48%4.06%3.05%1.93%1.70%2.24%2.83%2.68%2.00%2.04%1.99%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor 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$0.20
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$0.47
2024$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.42
2023$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.31
2022$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.02$0.19
2021$0.00$0.00$0.02$0.02$0.01$0.01$0.01$0.02$0.02$0.01$0.02$0.05$0.18

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 Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor 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 Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares was 9.35%, occurring on Oct 20, 2022. Recovery took 405 trading sessions.

The current Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares drawdown is 0.64%.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

Bear market2022
-9.35%Oct 2022
1y 2mo1y 7mo
2y 10moAug 2021 - Jun 2024
Financial crisis2007–2009
-8.28%Nov 2008
8mo 25d6mo 6d
1y 2moMar 2008 - May 2009
1989 pullback1989
-6.99%Mar 1989
2y 1mo1y 2mo
3y 4moJan 1987 - Jun 1990
1984 pullback1984
-6.68%Jun 1984
1y 1mo6mo 28d
1y 7moMay 1983 - Jan 1985
COVID crash2020
-6.14%Mar 2020
15d2mo 9d
2mo 24dMar 2020 - Jun 2020

Drawdown Indicators


VFSTXBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-9.35%

-56.78%

+47.43%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-1.71%

-9.10%

+7.39%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-1.71%

-18.90%

+17.19%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-9.35%

-25.43%

+16.08%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-9.35%

-33.92%

+24.57%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.64%

-3.21%

+2.57%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-1.12%

-10.71%

+9.59%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.45%

2.04%

-1.59%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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Portfolio Analyzer

Build a portfolio with VFSTX

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