FLDR vs. VTES
FLDR (Fidelity Low Duration Bond Factor ETF) and VTES (Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FLDR is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Fidelity Low Duration Investment Grade Factor Index, while VTES is a Municipal Bonds fund tracking the S&P 0-7 Year National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, FLDR returned 5.36%/yr vs 3.18%/yr for VTES. A 0.50 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FLDR charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for VTES.
Performance
FLDR vs. VTES - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FLDR achieves a 1.58% return, which is significantly higher than VTES's 0.67% return.
FLDR
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.43%
- YTD
- 1.58%
- 6M
- 1.88%
- 1Y
- 4.76%
- 3Y*
- 5.36%
- 5Y*
- 3.70%
- 10Y*
- —
VTES
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.42%
- YTD
- 0.67%
- 6M
- 0.96%
- 1Y
- 3.39%
- 3Y*
- 3.18%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FLDR vs. VTES - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FLDR Fidelity Low Duration Bond Factor ETF | 1.58% | 5.41% | 5.71% | 4.92% |
VTES Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 0.67% | 4.19% | 1.85% | 3.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between FLDR and VTES is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 9, 2023 | 0.50 |
The correlation between FLDR and VTES has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.45 to 0.52 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
FLDR vs. VTES — Risk / Return Rank
FLDR
VTES
FLDR vs. VTES - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fidelity Low Duration Bond Factor ETF (FLDR) and Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTES). 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.
| FLDR | VTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +6.11 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.73 | 1.62 | +1.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 10.19 | 2.28 | +7.91 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 69.63 | 6.62 | +63.01 |
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Drawdowns
FLDR vs. VTES - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FLDR drawdown since its inception was -12.23%, which is greater than VTES's maximum drawdown of -2.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FLDR and VTES.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FLDR | VTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -12.23% | -2.42% | -9.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.47% | -1.47% | +1.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.76% | -1.80% | +1.04% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -2.33% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.60% | +0.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.35% | -0.50% | +0.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.07% | 0.50% | -0.43% |
Volatility
FLDR vs. VTES - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Fidelity Low Duration Bond Factor ETF (FLDR) is 0.20%, while Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTES) has a volatility of 0.35%. This indicates that FLDR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTES based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FLDR | VTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.20% | 0.35% | -0.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.59% | 0.98% | -0.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.81% | 1.24% | -0.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.21% | 1.71% | -0.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.25% | 1.71% | +3.54% |
FLDR vs. VTES - Expense Ratio Comparison
FLDR has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VTES's 0.07% 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
FLDR vs. VTES - Dividend Comparison
FLDR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.42%, more than VTES's 2.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLDR Fidelity Low Duration Bond Factor ETF | 4.42% | 4.66% | 5.50% | 5.28% | 2.09% | 0.51% | 1.22% | 2.69% | 1.38% |
VTES Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 2.75% | 2.77% | 2.99% | 2.03% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FLDR and VTES have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTES has higher volatility (0.35%) compared to FLDR (0.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FLDR dropped -12.23% vs VTES's -2.42%.
On 3-year performance, FLDR leads with 5.36% vs 3.18% for VTES. On fees, VTES is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, FLDR has been the lower-risk option at 0.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, FLDR has performed better with a 5.36% return vs 3.18%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTES is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for FLDR.
FLDR has the higher dividend yield at 4.42%, compared with 2.75% for VTES.
FLDR is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while VTES is Municipal Bonds. FLDR tracks Fidelity Low Duration Investment Grade Factor Index, while VTES tracks S&P 0-7 Year National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Fidelity and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for FLDR and 0.07% for VTES.
FLDR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (5.90 vs 2.70), 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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