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 Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VBISX is a Short-Term Bond fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VBILX returned 1.91%/yr vs 1.79%/yr for VBISX. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VBILX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for VBISX.
Performance
VBILX vs. VBISX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBILX achieves a -0.05% return, which is significantly lower than VBISX's 0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VBILX has outperformed VBISX with an annualized return of 1.91%, while VBISX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.79% annualized return.
VBILX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.37%
- YTD
- -0.05%
- 6M
- -0.26%
- 1Y
- 5.07%
- 3Y*
- 4.38%
- 5Y*
- 0.30%
- 10Y*
- 1.91%
VBISX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- YTD
- 0.26%
- 6M
- 0.50%
- 1Y
- 3.64%
- 3Y*
- 4.14%
- 5Y*
- 1.44%
- 10Y*
- 1.79%
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 | -0.05% | 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 | 0.26% | 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 0.89, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 13, 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.
| VBILX | VBISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.90 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.33 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.49 | 2.37 | -0.88 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.50 | 7.61 | -3.11 |
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
| VBILX | VBISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.23 | 1.64 | -0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 | 0.49 | -0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 | 0.75 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.67 | 1.34 | -0.67 |
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 | -6.05% | -1.55% | -4.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.15% | -8.72% | -10.43% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.26% | -8.79% | -10.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.84% | -0.66% | -1.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.16% | -0.87% | -2.29% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.13% | 0.48% | +0.65% |
Volatility
VBILX vs. VBISX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBILX) has a higher volatility of 1.44% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) at 0.69%. 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 | 1.44% | 0.69% | +0.75% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.00% | 1.59% | +1.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.16% | 2.24% | +1.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.39% | 2.94% | +3.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.36% | 2.38% | +2.98% |
VBILX vs. VBISX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBILX has a 0.07% 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 4.21%, more than VBISX's 3.90% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBILX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.21% | 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 | 3.90% | 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 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VBILX has higher volatility (1.44%) compared to VBISX (0.69%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBILX dropped -19.26% vs VBISX's -8.79%.
VBISX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.64 vs 1.23), 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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