NIFAX vs. VTIPX
NIFAX (Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund) and VTIPX (Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Investor Shares) are both Inflation-Protected Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, NIFAX returned 2.28%/yr vs 3.00%/yr for VTIPX. Their 0.73 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. NIFAX charges 0.72%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for VTIPX.
Performance
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NIFAX achieves a 0.12% return, which is significantly lower than VTIPX's 1.77% return. Over the past 10 years, NIFAX has underperformed VTIPX with an annualized return of 2.28%, while VTIPX has yielded a comparatively higher 3.00% annualized return.
NIFAX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.68%
- 6M
- -0.22%
- YTD
- 0.12%
- 1Y
- 1.26%
- 3Y*
- 3.16%
- 5Y*
- -0.21%
- 10Y*
- 2.28%
- ALL TIME*
- 1.59%
VTIPX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.24%
- 6M
- 1.24%
- YTD
- 1.77%
- 1Y
- 2.98%
- 3Y*
- 4.94%
- 5Y*
- 2.97%
- 10Y*
- 3.00%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.13%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIFAX Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund | 0.12% | 6.32% | 1.45% | 3.61% | -12.59% | 4.69% | 10.66% | 12.06% | -1.87% | 2.60% |
VTIPX Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Investor Shares | 1.77% | 5.96% | 4.65% | 4.51% | -2.93% | 5.21% | 4.85% | 4.74% | 0.49% | 0.72% |
Correlation
The correlation between NIFAX and VTIPX is 0.70, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.70 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.78 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.78 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.74 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2013 | 0.73 |
The correlation between NIFAX and VTIPX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.70 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
NIFAX vs. VTIPX — Risk / Return Rank
NIFAX
VTIPX
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (NIFAX) and Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Investor Shares (VTIPX). 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.
| NIFAX | VTIPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.43 | -0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.93 | 4.57 | -3.65 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.40 | 13.78 | -11.38 |
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Drawdowns
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NIFAX drawdown since its inception was -15.19%, which is greater than VTIPX's maximum drawdown of -5.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NIFAX and VTIPX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NIFAX | VTIPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.19% | -5.36% | -9.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.98% | -0.72% | -1.26% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.85% | -0.95% | -2.90% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.19% | -5.36% | -9.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.19% | -5.36% | -9.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.88% | -0.26% | -2.62% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.81% | -1.10% | -3.71% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.76% | 0.24% | +0.52% |
Volatility
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Volatility Comparison
Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (NIFAX) has a higher volatility of 0.71% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Investor Shares (VTIPX) at 0.41%. This indicates that NIFAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTIPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NIFAX | VTIPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.71% | 0.41% | +0.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.29% | 1.24% | +1.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.08% | 1.55% | +1.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.84% | 2.65% | +3.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.37% | 2.23% | +3.14% |
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NIFAX has a 0.72% expense ratio, which is higher than VTIPX's 0.14% expense ratio.
Dividends
NIFAX vs. VTIPX - Dividend Comparison
NIFAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.41%, more than VTIPX's 4.04% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIFAX Nationwide Inflation-Protected Securities Fund | 4.41% | 3.99% | 3.17% | 3.90% | 6.60% | 5.29% | 0.94% | 4.94% | 1.79% | 1.65% | 0.00% |
VTIPX Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Investor Shares | 4.04% | 3.70% | 2.60% | 2.76% | 6.74% | 4.59% | 1.11% | 1.88% | 2.37% | 1.50% | 0.55% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NIFAX and VTIPX have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NIFAX has higher volatility (0.71%) compared to VTIPX (0.41%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NIFAX dropped -15.19% vs VTIPX's -5.36%.
VTIPX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.12 vs 0.60), 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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