BNDW vs. SPAB
BNDW (Vanguard Total World Bond ETF) and SPAB (SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BNDW is a Global Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Float Adjusted Composite Index, while SPAB is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BNDW returned 0.22%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for SPAB. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. BNDW charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for SPAB.
Performance
BNDW vs. SPAB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BNDW achieves a 0.42% return, which is significantly higher than SPAB's 0.29% return.
BNDW
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- 0.44%
- YTD
- 0.42%
- 6M
- 0.18%
- 1Y
- 3.51%
- 3Y*
- 3.99%
- 5Y*
- 0.22%
- 10Y*
- —
SPAB
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 0.14%
- 1Y
- 5.24%
- 3Y*
- 3.93%
- 5Y*
- 0.07%
- 10Y*
- 1.54%
BNDW vs. SPAB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNDW Vanguard Total World Bond ETF | 0.42% | 5.02% | 2.42% | 7.18% | -12.88% | -2.10% | 6.22% | 8.37% | 1.21% |
SPAB SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.29% | 7.25% | 1.25% | 5.56% | -13.04% | -1.77% | 7.39% | 8.67% | 1.08% |
Correlation
The correlation between BNDW and SPAB is 0.95, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 7, 2018 | 0.92 |
The correlation between BNDW and SPAB has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
BNDW vs. SPAB — Risk / Return Rank
BNDW
SPAB
BNDW vs. SPAB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total World Bond ETF (BNDW) and SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB). 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.
| BNDW | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.05 | 1.40 | -0.35 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.50 | 2.11 | -0.61 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.25 | -0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.31 | 1.92 | -0.61 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.70 | 5.72 | -2.03 |
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
| BNDW | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.05 | 1.40 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 | 0.01 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.28 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.37 | 0.50 | -0.13 |
Drawdowns
BNDW vs. SPAB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BNDW drawdown since its inception was -17.22%, smaller than the maximum SPAB drawdown of -18.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BNDW and SPAB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BNDW | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.22% | -18.56% | +1.34% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.70% | -2.74% | +0.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.27% | -6.08% | +1.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.93% | -17.96% | +1.03% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -18.56% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.53% | -2.27% | +0.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.98% | -3.08% | -1.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.95% | 0.92% | +0.03% |
Volatility
BNDW vs. SPAB - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total World Bond ETF (BNDW) has a higher volatility of 1.31% compared to SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) at 1.15%. This indicates that BNDW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPAB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BNDW | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.31% | 1.15% | +0.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.62% | 2.57% | +0.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.36% | 3.77% | -0.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.21% | 5.92% | -0.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.90% | 5.54% | -0.64% |
BNDW vs. SPAB - Expense Ratio Comparison
BNDW has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than SPAB's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
BNDW vs. SPAB - Dividend Comparison
BNDW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.21%, more than SPAB's 4.05% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNDW Vanguard Total World Bond ETF | 4.21% | 4.12% | 3.90% | 3.73% | 2.02% | 2.58% | 1.56% | 3.05% | 1.66% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPAB SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 4.05% | 3.97% | 3.86% | 3.34% | 2.59% | 2.11% | 2.43% | 2.92% | 2.96% | 2.67% | 2.63% | 2.59% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.95, BNDW and SPAB move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
BNDW has higher volatility (1.31%) compared to SPAB (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BNDW dropped -17.22% vs SPAB's -18.56%.
On 5-year performance, BNDW leads with 0.22% vs 0.07% for SPAB. On fees, SPAB is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, SPAB has been the lower-risk option at 1.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BNDW has performed better with a 0.22% return vs 0.07%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPAB is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.05% for BNDW.
BNDW has the higher dividend yield at 4.21%, compared with 4.05% for SPAB.
BNDW is categorized as Global Bonds, while SPAB is Total Bond Market. BNDW tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate Float Adjusted Composite Index, while SPAB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for BNDW and 0.03% for SPAB.
SPAB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.40 vs 1.05), 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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