VBILX vs. VBISX
VBILX (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VBISX (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund) are both mutual funds - VBILX is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index, while VBISX is a Short-Term Bond fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VBILX returned 1.62%/yr vs 1.70%/yr for VBISX. Their correlation of 0.86 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VBILX charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for VBISX.
Performance
VBILX vs. VBISX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VBILX having a 1.62% annualized return and VBISX not far ahead at 1.70%.
VBILX
- 1D
- -0.29%
- 1M
- -1.35%
- 6M
- -1.12%
- YTD
- -1.33%
- 1Y
- 1.05%
- 3Y*
- 4.25%
- 5Y*
- -0.44%
- 10Y*
- 1.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.89%
VBISX
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- -0.39%
- 6M
- -0.04%
- YTD
- 0.00%
- 1Y
- 1.92%
- 3Y*
- 4.13%
- 5Y*
- 1.33%
- 10Y*
- 1.70%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.36%
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 |
VBILX vs. VBISX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBILX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -1.33% | 8.57% | 1.54% | 6.09% | -13.59% | -2.36% | 9.82% | 10.20% | -0.15% | 3.86% |
VBISX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 0.00% | 5.67% | 3.66% | 4.54% | -5.61% | -1.35% | 4.63% | 4.78% | 1.27% | 1.10% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBILX and VBISX is 0.88, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.88 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.89 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 12, 2001 | 0.86 |
The correlation between VBILX and VBISX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.86 to 0.89 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VBILX vs. VBISX — Risk / Return Rank
VBILX
VBISX
VBILX vs. VBISX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBILX) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX). 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.
| VBILX | VBISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.10 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.22 | -0.14 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.59 | 1.64 | -1.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.41 | 4.48 | -3.08 |
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Drawdowns
VBILX vs. VBISX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBILX drawdown since its inception was -19.26%, which is greater than VBISX's maximum drawdown of -8.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBILX and VBISX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBILX | VBISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.26% | -8.79% | -10.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.43% | -1.54% | -1.89% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.20% | -1.55% | -3.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.83% | -8.55% | -10.28% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.26% | -8.79% | -10.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.10% | -0.92% | -2.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.15% | -0.87% | -2.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.44% | 0.56% | +0.88% |
Volatility
VBILX vs. VBISX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBILX) has a higher volatility of 1.05% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) at 0.46%. This indicates that VBILX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBISX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBILX | VBISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.05% | 0.46% | +0.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.26% | 1.69% | +1.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.08% | 2.23% | +1.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.39% | 2.96% | +3.43% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.36% | 2.39% | +2.97% |
VBILX vs. VBISX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBILX has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than VBISX's 0.15% 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%.
Dividends
VBILX vs. VBISX - Dividend Comparison
VBILX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.95%, more than VBISX's 3.61% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBILX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.95% | 4.01% | 3.80% | 3.09% | 1.99% | 3.39% | 2.94% | 2.73% | 2.87% | 2.73% | 3.06% | 3.09% |
VBISX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 3.61% | 3.44% | 3.29% | 2.10% | 1.38% | 1.16% | 1.72% | 2.16% | 1.92% | 1.58% | 1.42% | 1.34% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBILX and VBISX have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VBILX has higher volatility (1.05%) compared to VBISX (0.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBILX dropped -19.26% vs VBISX's -8.79%.
VBISX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.14 vs 0.50), 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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