AMBFX vs. VSMIX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund® Class F-2 (AMBFX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VSMIX).
AMBFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Aug 5, 2008. VSMIX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982.
Performance
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AMBFX American Funds American Balanced Fund® Class F-2 | -2.82% | 18.67% | 15.25% | 13.81% | -11.93% | 16.00% | 11.06% | 19.45% | -2.69% | 14.85% |
VSMIX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 6.62% | 18.01% | 24.82% | 23.14% | 4.58% | 36.67% | 11.14% | 32.32% | -25.45% | 18.47% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AMBFX achieves a -2.82% return, which is significantly lower than VSMIX's 6.62% return. Over the past 10 years, AMBFX has underperformed VSMIX with an annualized return of 9.33%, while VSMIX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.58% annualized return.
AMBFX
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -6.81%
- YTD
- -2.82%
- 6M
- 0.93%
- 1Y
- 15.54%
- 3Y*
- 13.72%
- 5Y*
- 8.28%
- 10Y*
- 9.33%
VSMIX
- 1D
- -1.87%
- 1M
- -10.11%
- YTD
- 6.62%
- 6M
- 13.97%
- 1Y
- 33.62%
- 3Y*
- 24.68%
- 5Y*
- 17.55%
- 10Y*
- 15.58%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AMBFX has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than VSMIX's 0.20% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
AMBFX vs. VSMIX — Risk / Return Rank
AMBFX
VSMIX
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund® Class F-2 (AMBFX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VSMIX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| AMBFX | VSMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.45 | 1.29 | +0.16 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.12 | 1.80 | +0.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.26 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.03 | 1.66 | +0.37 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.67 | 6.43 | +2.23 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AMBFX | VSMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.45 | 1.29 | +0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.80 | 0.76 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.88 | 0.59 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.72 | 0.45 | +0.27 |
Correlation
The correlation between AMBFX and VSMIX is 0.81, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Dividend Comparison
AMBFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.75%, more than VSMIX's 8.00% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AMBFX American Funds American Balanced Fund® Class F-2 | 8.75% | 8.47% | 7.40% | 2.20% | 2.52% | 4.50% | 4.56% | 4.19% | 6.20% | 4.85% | 4.46% | 5.81% |
VSMIX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 8.00% | 8.53% | 7.40% | 4.71% | 9.53% | 15.84% | 0.40% | 2.37% | 26.83% | 15.94% | 1.65% | 10.91% |
Drawdowns
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AMBFX drawdown since its inception was -35.05%, smaller than the maximum VSMIX drawdown of -57.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AMBFX and VSMIX.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| AMBFX | VSMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.05% | -57.53% | +22.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -16.58% | +9.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.65% | -25.26% | +6.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.31% | -57.53% | +35.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.00% | -11.39% | +4.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.61% | -9.58% | +5.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.72% | 4.49% | -2.77% |
Volatility
AMBFX vs. VSMIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund® Class F-2 (AMBFX) is 3.26%, while Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VSMIX) has a volatility of 8.30%. This indicates that AMBFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSMIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| AMBFX | VSMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.26% | 8.30% | -5.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.73% | 16.62% | -9.89% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.10% | 25.78% | -14.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.42% | 23.13% | -12.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.62% | 26.69% | -16.07% |