RLBGX vs. VBIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 (RLBGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX).
RLBGX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975. VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Performance Comparison
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RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RLBGX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 | -1.07% | 18.83% | 15.35% | 13.92% | -11.85% | 16.10% | 11.20% | 18.95% | -3.07% | 14.97% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | -2.43% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 17.54% | -16.90% | 14.21% | 16.40% | 21.78% | -2.86% | 13.89% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RLBGX achieves a -1.07% return, which is significantly higher than VBIAX's -2.43% return. Over the past 10 years, RLBGX has outperformed VBIAX with an annualized return of 9.52%, while VBIAX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.97% annualized return.
RLBGX
- 1D
- 1.76%
- 1M
- -4.85%
- YTD
- -1.07%
- 6M
- 2.20%
- 1Y
- 17.26%
- 3Y*
- 14.51%
- 5Y*
- 8.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.52%
VBIAX
- 1D
- 1.84%
- 1M
- -3.62%
- YTD
- -2.43%
- 6M
- -0.89%
- 1Y
- 12.55%
- 3Y*
- 12.24%
- 5Y*
- 6.52%
- 10Y*
- 8.97%
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RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
RLBGX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VBIAX'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%.
Return for Risk
RLBGX vs. VBIAX — Risk / Return Rank
RLBGX
VBIAX
RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 (RLBGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX). 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.
| RLBGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 1.14 | +0.45 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.33 | 1.70 | +0.63 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.25 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.48 | 1.71 | +0.76 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.39 | 8.03 | +2.36 |
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
| RLBGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 1.14 | +0.45 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.83 | 0.59 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 | 0.80 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.92 | 0.61 | +0.32 |
Correlation
The correlation between RLBGX and VBIAX is 0.96, 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
RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Dividend Comparison
RLBGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.69%, more than VBIAX's 5.74% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RLBGX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 | 8.69% | 8.56% | 7.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 4.59% | 4.65% | 3.78% | 5.81% | 4.92% | 4.54% | 5.91% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.74% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
Drawdowns
RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RLBGX drawdown since its inception was -22.33%, smaller than the maximum VBIAX drawdown of -35.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RLBGX and VBIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RLBGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.33% | -35.90% | +13.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.33% | -7.78% | +0.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.59% | -21.53% | +2.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.33% | -22.78% | +0.45% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.34% | -4.10% | -1.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.48% | -4.47% | +1.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.75% | 1.66% | +0.09% |
Volatility
RLBGX vs. VBIAX - Volatility Comparison
American Funds American Balanced Fund Class R-6 (RLBGX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) have volatilities of 3.86% and 3.71%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| RLBGX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.86% | 3.71% | +0.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.95% | 6.20% | +0.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.19% | 11.39% | -0.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.45% | 11.05% | -0.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.63% | 11.18% | -0.55% |