VBINX vs. FBALX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBINX) and Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX).
VBINX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 9, 1992. FBALX is managed by Fidelity. It was launched on Nov 6, 1986.
Performance
VBINX vs. FBALX - Performance Comparison
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VBINX vs. FBALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBINX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund | -2.44% | 13.46% | 17.63% | 17.41% | -16.98% | 13.62% | 16.26% | 21.67% | -2.97% | 13.75% |
FBALX Fidelity Balanced Fund | -1.74% | 15.11% | 16.09% | 20.31% | -18.29% | 18.27% | 22.45% | 24.40% | -3.98% | 16.52% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBINX achieves a -2.44% return, which is significantly lower than FBALX's -1.74% return. Over the past 10 years, VBINX has underperformed FBALX with an annualized return of 9.11%, while FBALX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.73% annualized return.
VBINX
- 1D
- 1.84%
- 1M
- -3.61%
- YTD
- -2.44%
- 6M
- -0.94%
- 1Y
- 12.42%
- 3Y*
- 13.15%
- 5Y*
- 6.99%
- 10Y*
- 9.11%
FBALX
- 1D
- 2.04%
- 1M
- -3.87%
- YTD
- -1.74%
- 6M
- 0.80%
- 1Y
- 15.76%
- 3Y*
- 13.67%
- 5Y*
- 7.65%
- 10Y*
- 10.73%
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VBINX vs. FBALX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBINX has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than FBALX's 0.51% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VBINX vs. FBALX — Risk / Return Rank
VBINX
FBALX
VBINX vs. FBALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBINX) and Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX). 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.
| VBINX | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.13 | 1.37 | -0.24 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.69 | 1.99 | -0.30 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.30 | -0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.69 | 2.05 | -0.36 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.94 | 9.47 | -1.54 |
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
| VBINX | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.13 | 1.37 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 | 0.63 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.82 | 0.84 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.76 | 0.79 | -0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBINX and FBALX 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
VBINX vs. FBALX - Dividend Comparison
VBINX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.62%, less than FBALX's 5.79% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBINX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund | 5.62% | 5.89% | 7.88% | 4.25% | 2.71% | 2.71% | 2.54% | 2.19% | 2.20% | 1.83% | 1.97% | 1.95% |
FBALX Fidelity Balanced Fund | 5.79% | 5.69% | 5.67% | 2.28% | 8.06% | 9.66% | 5.90% | 4.24% | 10.99% | 7.90% | 3.07% | 7.70% |
Drawdowns
VBINX vs. FBALX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBINX drawdown since its inception was -35.97%, smaller than the maximum FBALX drawdown of -43.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBINX and FBALX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBINX | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.97% | -43.57% | +7.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.80% | -8.14% | +0.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.61% | -22.89% | +1.28% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.78% | -26.68% | +3.90% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.11% | -4.56% | +0.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.16% | -4.39% | +0.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.67% | 1.76% | -0.09% |
Volatility
VBINX vs. FBALX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBINX) is 3.72%, while Fidelity Balanced Fund (FBALX) has a volatility of 4.19%. This indicates that VBINX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FBALX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBINX | FBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.72% | 4.19% | -0.47% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.21% | 6.77% | -0.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.40% | 11.94% | -0.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.09% | 12.18% | -1.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.21% | 12.75% | -1.54% |