FLIA vs. BNDX
FLIA (Franklin Liberty International Aggregate Bond ETF) and BNDX (Vanguard Total International Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FLIA is a International Government Bonds fund actively managed by Franklin Templeton, while BNDX is a Global Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index (USD Hedged). FLIA is actively managed, while BNDX is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FLIA returned 0.98%/yr vs 0.46%/yr for BNDX. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FLIA charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for BNDX.
Performance
FLIA vs. BNDX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FLIA achieves a 1.63% return, which is significantly higher than BNDX's 1.27% return.
FLIA
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- 0.78%
- YTD
- 1.63%
- 6M
- 1.53%
- 1Y
- 2.32%
- 3Y*
- 3.49%
- 5Y*
- 0.98%
- 10Y*
- —
BNDX
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- 0.90%
- YTD
- 1.27%
- 6M
- 1.25%
- 1Y
- 2.23%
- 3Y*
- 4.22%
- 5Y*
- 0.46%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
FLIA vs. BNDX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLIA Franklin Liberty International Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.63% | 2.12% | 2.42% | 7.17% | -7.68% | -1.98% | 1.37% | 7.58% | -2.32% |
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | 1.27% | 2.86% | 3.57% | 8.77% | -12.76% | -2.29% | 4.65% | 7.87% | 2.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between FLIA and BNDX is 0.77, 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 | 0.77 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 1, 2018 | 0.63 |
The correlation between FLIA and BNDX shifts across timeframes, from 0.63 (all time) to 0.77 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FLIA vs. BNDX — Risk / Return Rank
FLIA
BNDX
FLIA vs. BNDX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin Liberty International Aggregate Bond ETF (FLIA) and Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX). 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.
| FLIA | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.12 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.14 | 0.76 | +0.38 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.00 | 2.11 | +0.90 |
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Drawdowns
FLIA vs. BNDX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FLIA drawdown since its inception was -11.24%, smaller than the maximum BNDX drawdown of -16.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FLIA and BNDX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FLIA | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.24% | -16.23% | +4.99% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.04% | -2.93% | +0.89% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.77% | -2.93% | +0.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.42% | -15.86% | +6.44% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -16.23% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.20% | -0.77% | +0.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.78% | -3.10% | -0.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.78% | 1.06% | -0.28% |
Volatility
FLIA vs. BNDX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Franklin Liberty International Aggregate Bond ETF (FLIA) is 0.64%, while Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) has a volatility of 0.97%. This indicates that FLIA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BNDX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FLIA | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.64% | 0.97% | -0.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.50% | 2.98% | -0.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.32% | 3.46% | -0.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.42% | 4.89% | -0.47% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.70% | 4.09% | +0.61% |
FLIA vs. BNDX - Expense Ratio Comparison
FLIA has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than BNDX'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
FLIA vs. BNDX - Dividend Comparison
FLIA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.68%, less than BNDX's 4.46% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | 4.46% | 4.39% | 4.18% | 4.42% | 1.51% | 3.74% | 1.11% | 3.40% | 3.01% | 2.23% | 1.89% | 1.63% |
FLIA Franklin Liberty International Aggregate Bond ETF | 2.68% | 2.62% | 2.97% | 0.93% | 18.12% | 2.26% | 0.43% | 2.93% | 1.23% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FLIA and BNDX have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BNDX has higher volatility (0.97%) compared to FLIA (0.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FLIA dropped -11.24% vs BNDX's -16.23%.
On 5-year performance, FLIA leads with 0.98% vs 0.46% for BNDX. On fees, BNDX is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, FLIA has been the lower-risk option at 0.64%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, FLIA has performed better with a 0.98% return vs 0.46%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BNDX is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for FLIA.
BNDX has the higher dividend yield at 4.46%, compared with 2.68% for FLIA.
FLIA is categorized as International Government Bonds, while BNDX is Global Bonds. They also come from different issuers: Franklin Templeton and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for FLIA and 0.07% for BNDX.
FLIA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.71 vs 0.65), 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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