VBILX vs. VEA
VBILX (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) are both funds - VBILX is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index, while VEA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VBILX returned 1.85%/yr vs 10.72%/yr for VEA. At a correlation of -0.15, they often move in opposite directions. VBILX charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VEA.
Performance
VBILX vs. VEA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBILX achieves a -0.14% return, which is significantly lower than VEA's 14.73% return. Over the past 10 years, VBILX has underperformed VEA with an annualized return of 1.85%, while VEA has yielded a comparatively higher 10.72% annualized return.
VBILX
- 1D
- 0.58%
- 1M
- 0.37%
- YTD
- -0.14%
- 6M
- 0.40%
- 1Y
- 4.66%
- 3Y*
- 4.44%
- 5Y*
- 0.07%
- 10Y*
- 1.85%
VEA
- 1D
- 0.34%
- 1M
- 1.40%
- YTD
- 14.73%
- 6M
- 16.65%
- 1Y
- 31.41%
- 3Y*
- 19.03%
- 5Y*
- 9.51%
- 10Y*
- 10.72%
VBILX vs. VEA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBILX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.14% | 8.57% | 1.54% | 6.09% | -13.59% | -2.36% | 9.82% | 10.20% | -0.15% | 3.86% |
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 14.73% | 35.16% | 3.15% | 17.93% | -15.34% | 11.66% | 9.71% | 22.62% | -14.75% | 26.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBILX and VEA is 0.39, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2007 | -0.15 |
The correlation between VBILX and VEA shifts across timeframes, from -0.15 (all time) to 0.39 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBILX vs. VEA — Risk / Return Rank
VBILX
VEA
VBILX vs. VEA - 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 FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA). 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 | VEA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.77 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.33 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.37 | 2.58 | -1.21 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.93 | 9.92 | -5.99 |
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Drawdowns
VBILX vs. VEA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBILX drawdown since its inception was -19.26%, smaller than the maximum VEA drawdown of -60.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBILX and VEA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBILX | VEA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.26% | -60.68% | +41.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.43% | -11.63% | +8.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.05% | -13.45% | +7.40% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.15% | -29.71% | +10.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.26% | -35.73% | +16.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.93% | -1.06% | -0.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.16% | -13.28% | +10.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.19% | 3.02% | -1.83% |
Volatility
VBILX vs. VEA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBILX) is 1.49%, while Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) has a volatility of 6.84%. This indicates that VBILX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VEA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBILX | VEA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.49% | 6.84% | -5.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.07% | 14.38% | -11.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.12% | 16.58% | -12.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.39% | 16.72% | -10.33% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.37% | 17.40% | -12.03% |
VBILX vs. VEA - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBILX has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is higher than VEA's 0.03% 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%.
Dividends
VBILX vs. VEA - Dividend Comparison
VBILX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.22%, more than VEA's 2.62% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBILX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.22% | 4.01% | 3.80% | 3.09% | 1.99% | 3.39% | 2.94% | 2.73% | 2.87% | 2.73% | 3.06% | 3.09% |
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 2.62% | 3.22% | 3.35% | 3.15% | 2.91% | 3.16% | 2.04% | 3.04% | 3.35% | 2.77% | 3.05% | 2.92% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBILX and VEA have a correlation of 0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VEA has higher volatility (6.84%) compared to VBILX (1.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBILX dropped -19.26% vs VEA's -60.68%.
VEA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.81 vs 1.14), 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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