BLV vs. VBTLX

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

BLV (Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF) and VBTLX (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both funds - BLV is a Long-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index, while VBTLX is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BLV returned 0.32%/yr vs 1.30%/yr for VBTLX. Their correlation of 0.86 means they have usually moved in the same direction. BLV charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VBTLX.

Performance

BLV vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BLV achieves a -2.38% return, which is significantly lower than VBTLX's -0.91% return. Over the past 10 years, BLV has underperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 0.32%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively higher 1.30% annualized return.

BLV

• 1D: 0.44%
• 1M: -3.14%
• 6M: -2.34%
• YTD: -2.38%
• 1Y: -0.29%
• 3Y*: 2.08%
• 5Y*: -5.11%
• 10Y*: 0.32%
• ALL TIME*: 4.05%

VBTLX

• 1D: -0.21%
• 1M: -1.45%
• 6M: -0.94%
• YTD: -0.91%
• 1Y: 1.45%
• 3Y*: 3.80%
• 5Y*: -0.49%
• 10Y*: 1.30%
• ALL TIME*: 3.33%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF	$51.99M	$52.76M	$45.16M
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

BLV vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF	-2.38%	6.44%	-3.65%	7.35%	-26.95%	-2.89%	16.13%	18.99%	-4.17%	10.74%
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares	-0.91%	7.17%	1.26%	5.74%	-13.16%	-1.81%	7.72%	8.73%	-0.25%	3.56%

Correlation

The correlation between BLV and VBTLX is 0.86, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.87
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.91
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.92
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.90
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 10, 2007	0.86

The correlation between BLV and VBTLX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.86 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

BLV vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

BLV

BLV Risk / Return Rank: 10
BLV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 11
BLV Sortino Ratio Rank: 10
BLV Omega Ratio Rank: 9
BLV Calmar Ratio Rank: 10
BLV Martin Ratio Rank: 10

VBTLX

VBTLX Risk / Return Rank: 13
VBTLX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 14
VBTLX Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
VBTLX Omega Ratio Rank: 12
VBTLX Calmar Ratio Rank: 15
VBTLX Martin Ratio Rank: 13

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

BLV vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). 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.

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.

	BLV	VBTLX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.04	0.61	-0.64
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.00	0.90	-0.89
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.00	1.11	-0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.05	0.80	-0.85
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.11	1.97	-2.08

BLV vs. VBTLX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BLV Sharpe Ratio is -0.04, which is lower than the VBTLX Sharpe Ratio of 0.61. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BLV and VBTLX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BLV vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BLV drawdown since its inception was -38.29%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BLV and VBTLX.

Drawdown Indicators

	BLV	VBTLX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.29%	-18.81%	-19.48%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.92%	-2.89%	-3.03%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.70%	-4.86%	-6.84%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-36.27%	-17.98%	-18.29%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-38.29%	-18.81%	-19.48%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-26.16%	-3.48%	-22.68%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.64%	-2.67%	-6.97%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.66%	1.17%	+1.49%

Volatility

BLV vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) has a higher volatility of 2.19% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 0.96%. This indicates that BLV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBTLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BLV	VBTLX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.19%	0.96%	+1.23%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.97%	2.98%	+2.99%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.77%	3.82%	+3.95%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.91%	6.01%	+6.90%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.95%	4.98%	+6.97%

BLV vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison

BLV has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than VBTLX's 0.04% 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

BLV vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison

BLV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.97%, more than VBTLX's 3.72% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF	4.97%	4.67%	5.09%	4.06%	4.17%	3.37%	6.12%	3.57%	4.07%	3.63%	4.16%	4.37%
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares	3.72%	3.87%	3.69%	3.10%	2.59%	1.96%	2.39%	2.74%	2.57%	2.56%	2.53%	2.82%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BLV and VBTLX in my portfolio?

BLV and VBTLX have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BLV or VBTLX?

BLV has higher volatility (2.19%) compared to VBTLX (0.96%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BLV dropped -38.29% vs VBTLX's -18.81%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VBTLX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.61 vs -0.04), 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.