VBIAX vs. BALCX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) and American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C (BALCX).
VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. BALCX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975.
Performance
VBIAX vs. BALCX - Performance Comparison
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VBIAX vs. BALCX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.19% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 17.54% | -16.90% | 14.21% | 16.40% | 21.78% | -2.86% | 13.89% |
BALCX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C | -3.02% | 17.58% | 14.00% | 12.97% | -12.77% | 14.87% | 10.06% | 17.66% | -4.09% | 14.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBIAX achieves a -4.19% return, which is significantly lower than BALCX's -3.02% return. Over the past 10 years, VBIAX has outperformed BALCX with an annualized return of 8.77%, while BALCX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.21% annualized return.
VBIAX
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- -5.43%
- YTD
- -4.19%
- 6M
- -2.40%
- 1Y
- 10.89%
- 3Y*
- 11.56%
- 5Y*
- 6.33%
- 10Y*
- 8.77%
BALCX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -6.86%
- YTD
- -3.02%
- 6M
- 0.47%
- 1Y
- 14.48%
- 3Y*
- 12.70%
- 5Y*
- 7.28%
- 10Y*
- 8.21%
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VBIAX vs. BALCX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBIAX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than BALCX's 1.31% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VBIAX vs. BALCX — Risk / Return Rank
VBIAX
BALCX
VBIAX vs. BALCX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) and American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C (BALCX). 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.
| VBIAX | BALCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.01 | 1.35 | -0.34 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.51 | 1.98 | -0.48 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.28 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.31 | 1.88 | -0.57 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.22 | 7.95 | -1.73 |
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
| VBIAX | BALCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.01 | 1.35 | -0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.70 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.78 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.60 | 0.58 | +0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBIAX and BALCX is 0.97, 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
VBIAX vs. BALCX - Dividend Comparison
VBIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.84%, less than BALCX's 7.83% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.84% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
BALCX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C | 7.83% | 7.61% | 6.37% | 1.54% | 1.53% | 3.60% | 3.68% | 2.79% | 4.67% | 4.17% | 3.51% | 4.81% |
Drawdowns
VBIAX vs. BALCX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBIAX drawdown since its inception was -35.90%, smaller than the maximum BALCX drawdown of -40.88%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBIAX and BALCX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBIAX | BALCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.90% | -40.88% | +4.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.78% | -7.36% | -0.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.53% | -19.22% | -2.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.78% | -22.38% | -0.40% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.83% | -7.08% | +1.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.47% | -4.48% | +0.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.64% | 1.74% | -0.10% |
Volatility
VBIAX vs. BALCX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) is 3.07%, while American Funds American Balanced Fund Class C (BALCX) has a volatility of 3.28%. This indicates that VBIAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BALCX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBIAX | BALCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.07% | 3.28% | -0.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.93% | 6.75% | -0.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.27% | 11.09% | +0.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.02% | 10.41% | +0.61% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.17% | 10.61% | +0.56% |