- ISIN
- US9220318441
- CUSIP
- 922031844
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Inception Date
- Feb 12, 2001
- Category
- Total Bond Market
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Bond
- Assets Under Management
- $5B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
VSGDX Performance Chart
Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares (VSGDX) is up 0.4% since the beginning of the year. VSGDX is currently trading at $10 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VSGDX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,086.
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Returns By Period
Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares (VSGDX) has returned 0.35% so far this year and 3.61% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VSGDX has returned 1.87% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 0.23%
- YTD
- 0.35%
- 6M
- 0.67%
- 1Y
- 3.61%
- 3Y*
- 4.57%
- 5Y*
- 1.67%
- 10Y*
- 1.87%
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%
VSGDX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Feb 12, 2001, VSGDX's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.22%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 26.3 years.
Historically, 69% of months were positive and 31% were negative. The best month was Dec 2008 with a return of +2.3%, while the worst month was Sep 2022 at -1.6%. The longest winning streak lasted 14 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, VSGDX closed higher 33% of trading days. The best single day was Sep 17, 2001 with a return of +0.9%, while the worst single day was Jun 5, 2009 at -0.7%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.23% | 0.80% | -0.54% | 0.23% | 0.03% | -0.39% | 0.35% | ||||||
| 2025 | 0.50% | 0.98% | 0.49% | 0.78% | -0.16% | 0.83% | -0.14% | 1.02% | 0.33% | 0.33% | 0.61% | 0.23% | 5.94% |
| 2024 | 0.50% | -0.50% | 0.51% | -0.69% | 0.92% | 0.59% | 1.40% | 1.00% | 0.88% | -0.88% | 0.49% | 0.00% | 4.26% |
| 2023 | 1.25% | -1.13% | 1.18% | 0.38% | -0.31% | -0.62% | 0.30% | 0.31% | -0.49% | 0.01% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 3.92% |
| 2022 | -0.77% | -0.50% | -1.63% | -0.89% | 0.76% | -0.75% | 0.63% | -0.97% | -1.63% | -0.46% | 0.94% | -0.05% | -5.22% |
| 2021 | 0.09% | -0.09% | -0.27% | 0.24% | 0.15% | -0.14% | 0.23% | -0.05% | -0.15% | -0.42% | 0.05% | -0.21% | -0.58% |
Benchmark Metrics
Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares has an annualized alpha of 2.83%, beta of -0.02, and R2 of 0.04 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since February 12, 2001.
- This fund captured 4.99% of S&P 500 Index gains and tended to rise during its downturns (downside capture of -8.54%) - a profile typical of hedging or uncorrelated assets.
- Beta of -0.02 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
- 2.83%
- Beta
- -0.02
- R²
- 0.04
- Upside Capture
- 4.99%
- Downside Capture
- -8.54%
Expense Ratio
VSGDX has an expense ratio of 0.10%, which is considered low.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
VSGDX ranks 48 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.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares (VSGDX) 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.
| VSGDX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.37 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.37 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.69 | 2.78 | -0.10 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.21 | 12.44 | -3.23 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares provided a 3.96% 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.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.41 | $0.39 | $0.36 | $0.34 | $0.18 | $0.16 | $0.20 | $0.26 | $0.21 | $0.16 | $0.15 | $0.14 |
Dividend yield | 3.96% | 3.79% | 3.56% | 3.42% | 1.78% | 1.45% | 1.78% | 2.42% | 2.02% | 1.46% | 1.43% | 1.30% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.00 | $0.17 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.04 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.39 |
| 2024 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.36 |
| 2023 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.03 | $0.34 |
| 2022 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.18 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.05 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.01 | $0.07 | $0.16 |
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 Federal 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 Federal Fund Admiral Shares was 7.29%, occurring on Oct 20, 2022. Recovery took 445 trading sessions.
The current Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Admiral Shares drawdown is 0.67%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bear market2022 | -7.29%Oct 2022 | 1y 2mo | 1y 9mo | 2y 12moAug 2021 - Jul 2024 |
Dot-com crash2000–2002 | -2.43%Dec 2001 | 1mo 9d | 4mo 14d | 5mo 23dNov 2001 - Apr 2002 |
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -2.13%Jun 2008 | 2mo 13d | 2mo 22d | 5mo 5dApr 2008 - Sep 2008 |
2004 pullback2004 | -2.10%Jun 2004 | 2mo 28d | 3mo 4d | 6mo 2dMar 2004 - Sep 2004 |
2010 pullback2010 | -1.79%Dec 2010 | 1mo 23d | 5mo 4d | 6mo 27dNov 2010 - May 2011 |
Drawdown Indicators
| VSGDX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -7.29% | -56.78% | +49.49% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.35% | -9.10% | +7.75% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.35% | -18.90% | +17.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -7.29% | -25.43% | +18.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -7.29% | -33.92% | +26.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.67% | -1.80% | +1.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.73% | -10.71% | +9.98% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.39% | 2.03% | -1.64% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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