FLUD vs. VMFXX

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

FLUD (Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF) and VMFXX (Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund) are both funds - FLUD is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Franklin Templeton, while VMFXX is a Money Market fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 5 years, FLUD returned 3.63%/yr vs 2.39%/yr for VMFXX. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. FLUD charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for VMFXX.

Performance

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF (FLUD) and Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with FLUD having a 1.52% return and VMFXX slightly lower at 1.50%.

FLUD

• 1D: -0.16%
• 1M: 0.19%
• YTD: 1.52%
• 6M: 1.69%
• 1Y: 4.48%
• 3Y*: 5.27%
• 5Y*: 3.63%
• 10Y*: —

VMFXX

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.30%
• YTD: 1.50%
• 6M: 1.82%
• 1Y: 3.95%
• 3Y*: 3.35%
• 5Y*: 2.39%
• 10Y*: —

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

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
FLUD Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF	1.52%	5.36%	5.44%	5.95%	0.16%	-0.10%
VMFXX Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund	1.50%	4.24%	1.64%	4.64%	0.00%	0.00%

Correlation

The correlation between FLUD and VMFXX is -0.05, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.05
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	-0.02
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.01
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 25, 2021	-0.01

Return for Risk

FLUD vs. VMFXX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

FLUD

FLUD Risk / Return Rank: 95
FLUD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
FLUD Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
FLUD Omega Ratio Rank: 94
FLUD Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
FLUD Martin Ratio Rank: 97

VMFXX

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF (FLUD) and Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX). 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.

	FLUD	VMFXX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.78	3.67	-0.89
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.50	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.61	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	10.53	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	41.86	—	—

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FLUD Sharpe Ratio is 2.78, which is comparable to the VMFXX Sharpe Ratio of 3.67. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FLUD and VMFXX, 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

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FLUD drawdown since its inception was -1.66%, which is greater than VMFXX's maximum drawdown of 0.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FLUD and VMFXX.

Drawdown Indicators

	FLUD	VMFXX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-1.66%	0.00%	-1.66%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.44%	0.00%	-0.44%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.59%	0.00%	-0.59%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-1.66%	0.00%	-1.66%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.16%	0.00%	-0.16%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.24%	0.00%	-0.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.11%	0.00%	+0.11%

Volatility

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Volatility Comparison

Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF (FLUD) has a higher volatility of 0.38% compared to Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX) at 0.30%. This indicates that FLUD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VMFXX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FLUD	VMFXX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.38%	0.30%	+0.08%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.78%	0.79%	-0.01%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.65%	1.12%	+0.53%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	1.34%	0.94%	+0.40%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	1.26%	0.94%	+0.32%

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Expense Ratio Comparison

FLUD has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VMFXX's 0.11% 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

FLUD vs. VMFXX - Dividend Comparison

FLUD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.27%, more than VMFXX's 3.87% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
FLUD Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF	4.27%	4.51%	4.97%	4.72%	1.39%	0.92%	0.93%
VMFXX Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund	3.87%	4.14%	1.63%	4.53%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FLUD and VMFXX in my portfolio?

FLUD and VMFXX have a correlation of -0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, FLUD or VMFXX?

FLUD has higher volatility (0.38%) compared to VMFXX (0.30%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FLUD dropped -1.66% vs VMFXX's 0.00%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VMFXX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.67 vs 2.78), 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.