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ISIN
US9229074078
CUSIP
922907407
Issuer
Vanguard
Inception Date
Dec 27, 1978
Min. Investment
$3,000
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Bond
Assets Under Management
$17B

Share Price Chart


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Performance

VWAHX Performance Chart

Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) is up 2.2% since the beginning of the year. VWAHX is currently trading at $11 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VWAHX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,073.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) has returned 2.20% so far this year and 8.04% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VWAHX has returned 2.97% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.61% annually.


Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares

1D
0.00%
1M
1.01%
YTD
2.20%
6M
2.74%
1Y
8.04%
3Y*
5.43%
5Y*
1.42%
10Y*
2.97%

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
0.50%
1M
-0.17%
YTD
8.56%
6M
8.85%
1Y
22.93%
3Y*
19.37%
5Y*
11.84%
10Y*
13.61%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VWAHX Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Dec 29, 1978, VWAHX's average daily return is +0.02%, while the average monthly return is +0.32%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 18.1 years.

Historically, 63% of months were positive and 37% were negative. The best month was Apr 1980 with a return of +8.2%, while the worst month was Aug 1981 at -10.9%. The longest winning streak lasted 12 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 7 months.

On a daily basis, VWAHX closed higher 35% of trading days. The best single day was Apr 30, 1980 with a return of +8.2%, while the worst single day was Aug 31, 1981 at -10.9%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.62%1.65%-2.16%1.30%0.72%0.09%2.20%
20250.32%1.49%-1.50%-0.76%-0.53%0.83%-0.72%0.84%3.27%1.39%0.34%-0.04%4.96%
20240.12%0.22%0.40%-1.28%0.22%2.03%0.87%0.68%1.33%-1.52%2.13%-1.22%3.98%
20233.81%-2.53%2.05%0.20%-0.66%1.17%0.30%-1.41%-3.19%-1.99%7.66%3.20%8.39%
2022-2.69%-0.78%-3.40%-3.53%1.38%-2.88%3.33%-2.70%-4.69%-1.61%5.84%-0.19%-11.76%
20210.92%-1.82%0.84%1.25%0.82%0.65%0.89%-0.34%-0.92%-0.18%1.07%0.18%3.36%

Benchmark Metrics

Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares has an annualized alpha of 3.81%, beta of 0.01, and R2 of 0.00 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since December 29, 1978.

  • This fund participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (20.10%) than losses (16.18%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
  • Beta of 0.01 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
3.81%
Beta
0.01
0.00
Upside Capture
20.10%
Downside Capture
16.18%

Expense Ratio

VWAHX has an expense ratio of 0.17%, which is considered low.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

VWAHX ranks 79 for risk / return — better than 79% of mutual funds on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.


VWAHX Risk / Return Rank: 7979
Overall Rank
VWAHX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8989
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VWAHX Sortino Ratio Rank: 9292
Sortino Ratio Rank
VWAHX Omega Ratio Rank: 9393
Omega Ratio Rank
VWAHX Calmar Ratio Rank: 6666
Calmar Ratio Rank
VWAHX Martin Ratio Rank: 5757
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 High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) 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.


VWAHXBenchmarkDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility

+0.73

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk

+1.68

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.67

1.34

+0.33

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.75

2.53

+0.22

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.99

11.37

-1.38

Dividends

Dividend History

Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares provided a 4.05% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.43 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.


3.00%3.50%4.00%4.50%5.00%$0.00$0.10$0.20$0.30$0.40$0.5020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Dividend$0.43$0.53$0.47$0.38$0.34$0.36$0.40$0.46$0.42$0.42$0.41$0.42

Dividend yield

4.05%4.95%4.38%3.53%3.36%2.98%3.31%3.94%3.78%3.68%3.75%3.67%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt 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$0.18
2025$0.03$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.03$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.04$0.53
2024$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.07$0.07$0.47
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$0.38
2022$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
2021$0.00$0.00$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.03$0.10$0.36

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 High-Yield Tax-Exempt 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 High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares was 40.26%, occurring on Dec 31, 1981. Recovery took 2523 trading sessions.

The current Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares drawdown is 0.19%.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

1981 bear market1981
-40.26%Dec 1981
2y 3mo9y 11mo
12y 2moSep 1979 - Dec 1991
Bear market2022
-17.32%Oct 2022
1y 2mo1y 11mo
3y 1moAug 2021 - Oct 2024
Financial crisis2007–2009
-15.19%Dec 2008
10mo 26d8mo 8d
1y 6moJan 2008 - Aug 2009
COVID crash2020
-13.29%Mar 2020
17d8mo 5d
8mo 22dMar 2020 - Nov 2020
1994 correction1994
-11.32%Nov 1994
9mo 20d3mo 10d
1y 25dFeb 1994 - Mar 1995

Drawdown Indicators


VWAHXBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-40.26%

-56.78%

+16.52%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-3.05%

-9.10%

+6.05%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-7.12%

-18.90%

+11.78%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-17.32%

-25.43%

+8.11%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-17.32%

-33.92%

+16.60%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.19%

-2.34%

+2.15%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-6.93%

-10.72%

+3.79%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.84%

2.02%

-1.18%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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Portfolio Analyzer

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