BKAG vs. VTEB
BKAG (BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF) and VTEB (Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BKAG is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg US Aggregate Total Return Index, while VTEB is a Municipal Bonds fund tracking the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BKAG returned 0.17%/yr vs 0.93%/yr for VTEB. A 0.70 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. BKAG charges 0.00%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for VTEB.
Performance
BKAG vs. VTEB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BKAG achieves a 0.48% return, which is significantly lower than VTEB's 1.52% return.
BKAG
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.18%
- YTD
- 0.48%
- 6M
- 0.64%
- 1Y
- 5.33%
- 3Y*
- 4.02%
- 5Y*
- 0.17%
- 10Y*
- —
VTEB
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 0.61%
- YTD
- 1.52%
- 6M
- 1.95%
- 1Y
- 7.14%
- 3Y*
- 3.59%
- 5Y*
- 0.93%
- 10Y*
- 2.10%
BKAG vs. VTEB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BKAG BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | 0.48% | 7.23% | 1.17% | 5.67% | -13.29% | -1.46% | 2.15% |
VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 1.52% | 3.72% | 1.31% | 6.15% | -7.99% | 1.14% | 6.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between BKAG and VTEB is 0.66, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.66 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 27, 2020 | 0.70 |
The correlation between BKAG and VTEB shifts across timeframes, from 0.66 (1 year) to 0.78 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BKAG vs. VTEB — Risk / Return Rank
BKAG
VTEB
BKAG vs. VTEB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF (BKAG) and Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB). 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.
| BKAG | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.38 | 2.64 | -1.26 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.03 | 3.92 | -1.89 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.58 | -0.33 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.83 | 2.58 | -0.75 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.46 | 9.21 | -3.76 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BKAG | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.38 | 2.64 | -1.26 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 | 0.24 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.40 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.02 | 0.48 | -0.46 |
Drawdowns
BKAG vs. VTEB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BKAG drawdown since its inception was -18.53%, which is greater than VTEB's maximum drawdown of -17.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BKAG and VTEB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BKAG | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.53% | -17.00% | -1.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.76% | -2.71% | -0.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.04% | -5.53% | -0.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.00% | -12.64% | -5.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -17.00% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.13% | -0.46% | -1.67% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.12% | -2.33% | -4.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 0.76% | +0.17% |
Volatility
BKAG vs. VTEB - Volatility Comparison
BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF (BKAG) has a higher volatility of 1.23% compared to Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) at 0.90%. This indicates that BKAG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTEB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BKAG | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.23% | 0.90% | +0.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.76% | 2.03% | +0.73% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.88% | 2.72% | +1.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.01% | 3.90% | +2.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.55% | 5.26% | +0.29% |
BKAG vs. VTEB - Expense Ratio Comparison
BKAG has a 0.00% expense ratio, which is lower than VTEB's 0.05% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
BKAG vs. VTEB - Dividend Comparison
BKAG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.23%, more than VTEB's 3.35% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BKAG BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | 4.23% | 4.17% | 4.26% | 3.33% | 2.49% | 1.55% | 1.16% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 3.35% | 3.29% | 3.14% | 2.79% | 2.09% | 1.64% | 1.99% | 2.30% | 2.25% | 1.96% | 1.66% | 0.58% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BKAG and VTEB have a correlation of 0.66, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BKAG has higher volatility (1.23%) compared to VTEB (0.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BKAG dropped -18.53% vs VTEB's -17.00%.
On 5-year performance, VTEB leads with 0.93% vs 0.17% for BKAG. On fees, BKAG is cheaper at 0.00% per year. On volatility, VTEB has been the lower-risk option at 0.90%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, VTEB has performed better with a 0.93% return vs 0.17%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BKAG is cheaper with a 0.00% expense ratio, compared with 0.05% for VTEB.
BKAG has the higher dividend yield at 4.23%, compared with 3.35% for VTEB.
BKAG is categorized as Total Bond Market, while VTEB is Municipal Bonds. BKAG tracks Bloomberg US Aggregate Total Return Index, while VTEB tracks S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: BNY Mellon and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.00% for BKAG and 0.05% for VTEB.
VTEB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.64 vs 1.38), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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