VBAIX vs. AFMBX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBAIX) and American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX).
VBAIX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 1, 2000. AFMBX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975.
Performance
VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Performance Comparison
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VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBAIX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares | -4.19% | 13.60% | 17.78% | 17.55% | -16.87% | 14.20% | 16.40% | 21.79% | -2.83% | 9.53% |
AFMBX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 | -2.79% | 18.82% | 15.36% | 13.89% | -11.83% | 16.12% | 11.17% | 18.96% | -3.07% | 10.06% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBAIX achieves a -4.19% return, which is significantly lower than AFMBX's -2.79% return.
VBAIX
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- -5.44%
- YTD
- -4.19%
- 6M
- -2.39%
- 1Y
- 10.88%
- 3Y*
- 12.60%
- 5Y*
- 6.93%
- 10Y*
- 9.08%
AFMBX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -6.77%
- YTD
- -2.79%
- 6M
- 1.01%
- 1Y
- 15.69%
- 3Y*
- 13.85%
- 5Y*
- 8.39%
- 10Y*
- —
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VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBAIX has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than AFMBX's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, 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
VBAIX vs. AFMBX — Risk / Return Rank
VBAIX
AFMBX
VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBAIX) and American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX). 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.
| VBAIX | AFMBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.01 | 1.46 | -0.45 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.50 | 2.14 | -0.63 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.30 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.31 | 2.05 | -0.74 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.21 | 8.76 | -2.55 |
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
| VBAIX | AFMBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.01 | 1.46 | -0.45 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 | 0.81 | -0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.62 | 0.84 | -0.22 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBAIX and AFMBX is 0.95, 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
VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Dividend Comparison
VBAIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.86%, less than AFMBX's 8.86% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBAIX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares | 5.86% | 6.01% | 8.01% | 4.36% | 2.84% | 3.20% | 2.65% | 2.29% | 2.33% | 1.96% | 2.10% | 2.10% |
AFMBX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 | 8.86% | 8.57% | 7.51% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 4.60% | 4.65% | 3.78% | 5.81% | 4.94% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBAIX drawdown since its inception was -35.82%, which is greater than AFMBX's maximum drawdown of -22.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBAIX and AFMBX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBAIX | AFMBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.82% | -22.34% | -13.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.80% | -7.34% | -0.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.52% | -18.58% | -2.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.77% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.84% | -6.98% | +1.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.45% | -3.25% | -1.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.64% | 1.72% | -0.08% |
Volatility
VBAIX vs. AFMBX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBAIX) is 3.07%, while American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX) has a volatility of 3.26%. This indicates that VBAIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AFMBX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBAIX | AFMBX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.07% | 3.26% | -0.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.93% | 6.74% | -0.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.28% | 11.10% | +0.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.06% | 10.42% | +0.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.19% | 11.16% | +0.03% |