COLTX vs. VWAHX
Compare and contrast key facts about Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund (COLTX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX).
COLTX is managed by Columbia. It was launched on Nov 20, 1978. VWAHX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 27, 1978.
Performance
COLTX vs. VWAHX - Performance Comparison
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COLTX vs. VWAHX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COLTX Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund | -0.78% | 3.86% | 3.47% | 6.60% | -12.56% | 3.01% | 3.37% | 8.15% | 0.19% | 6.15% |
VWAHX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | -0.65% | 4.96% | 3.98% | 8.39% | -11.76% | 3.36% | 5.39% | 9.48% | 1.31% | 7.86% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, COLTX achieves a -0.78% return, which is significantly lower than VWAHX's -0.65% return. Over the past 10 years, COLTX has underperformed VWAHX with an annualized return of 1.82%, while VWAHX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.95% annualized return.
COLTX
- 1D
- 0.26%
- 1M
- -2.86%
- YTD
- -0.78%
- 6M
- 0.56%
- 1Y
- 2.93%
- 3Y*
- 3.43%
- 5Y*
- 0.44%
- 10Y*
- 1.82%
VWAHX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -2.87%
- YTD
- -0.65%
- 6M
- 1.03%
- 1Y
- 3.98%
- 3Y*
- 4.41%
- 5Y*
- 1.42%
- 10Y*
- 2.95%
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COLTX vs. VWAHX - Expense Ratio Comparison
COLTX has a 0.73% expense ratio, which is higher than VWAHX's 0.17% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
COLTX vs. VWAHX — Risk / Return Rank
COLTX
VWAHX
COLTX vs. VWAHX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund (COLTX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX). 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.
| COLTX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.59 | 0.87 | -0.28 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.83 | 1.19 | -0.36 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.25 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.67 | 0.95 | -0.28 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.85 | 2.95 | -1.10 |
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
| COLTX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.59 | 0.87 | -0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 | 0.30 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.37 | 0.64 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.94 | 0.64 | +0.31 |
Correlation
The correlation between COLTX and VWAHX 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
COLTX vs. VWAHX - Dividend Comparison
COLTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.74%, less than VWAHX's 4.07% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COLTX Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund | 3.74% | 4.91% | 3.66% | 3.15% | 3.05% | 3.20% | 3.27% | 4.60% | 3.80% | 3.86% | 4.15% | 4.13% |
VWAHX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 4.07% | 4.95% | 4.38% | 3.53% | 3.36% | 2.98% | 3.31% | 3.94% | 3.78% | 3.68% | 3.75% | 3.67% |
Drawdowns
COLTX vs. VWAHX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum COLTX drawdown since its inception was -18.07%, smaller than the maximum VWAHX drawdown of -40.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for COLTX and VWAHX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| COLTX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.07% | -40.26% | +22.19% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.59% | -5.63% | -0.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.07% | -17.32% | -0.75% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.07% | -17.32% | -0.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.86% | -2.87% | +0.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.64% | -6.95% | +4.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.38% | 1.82% | +0.56% |
Volatility
COLTX vs. VWAHX - Volatility Comparison
Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund (COLTX) has a higher volatility of 1.30% compared to Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) at 1.19%. This indicates that COLTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VWAHX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| COLTX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.30% | 1.19% | +0.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.05% | 1.96% | +0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.72% | 5.70% | +1.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.18% | 4.75% | +0.43% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.95% | 4.61% | +0.34% |