VBIPX vs. TIP
VBIPX (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Plus) and TIP (iShares TIPS Bond ETF) are both funds - VBIPX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while TIP is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury Inflation Linked Bond Index. Over the past 10 years, VBIPX returned 1.81%/yr vs 2.33%/yr for TIP. Their 0.63 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. VBIPX charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for TIP.
Performance
VBIPX vs. TIP - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBIPX achieves a 0.06% return, which is significantly lower than TIP's 0.55% return. Over the past 10 years, VBIPX has underperformed TIP with an annualized return of 1.81%, while TIP has yielded a comparatively higher 2.33% annualized return.
VBIPX
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- -0.39%
- 6M
- 0.01%
- YTD
- 0.06%
- 1Y
- 2.03%
- 3Y*
- 4.34%
- 5Y*
- 1.44%
- 10Y*
- 1.81%
- ALL TIME*
- 1.67%
TIP
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- -0.63%
- 6M
- 0.29%
- YTD
- 0.55%
- 1Y
- 1.81%
- 3Y*
- 3.68%
- 5Y*
- 0.17%
- 10Y*
- 2.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.46%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $227.34M | $183.15M | $219.02M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VBIPX vs. TIP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBIPX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Plus | 0.06% | 6.12% | 3.78% | 4.45% | -5.68% | -1.17% | 4.73% | 4.89% | 1.38% | 1.21% |
TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | 0.55% | 6.77% | 1.65% | 3.80% | -12.26% | 5.68% | 10.84% | 8.35% | -1.42% | 2.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBIPX and TIP is 0.66, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.66 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.74 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.70 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.65 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2011 | 0.63 |
The correlation between VBIPX and TIP shifts across timeframes, from 0.63 (all time) to 0.74 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBIPX vs. TIP — Risk / Return Rank
VBIPX
TIP
VBIPX vs. TIP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Plus (VBIPX) and iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). 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.
| VBIPX | TIP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.09 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.71 | 0.92 | +0.79 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.84 | 2.43 | +2.41 |
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Drawdowns
VBIPX vs. TIP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBIPX drawdown since its inception was -8.72%, smaller than the maximum TIP drawdown of -14.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBIPX and TIP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBIPX | TIP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.72% | -14.57% | +5.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -1.98% | +0.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.54% | -3.71% | +2.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.52% | -14.51% | +5.99% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.72% | -14.51% | +5.79% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.87% | -1.29% | +0.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.18% | -3.41% | +2.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.54% | 0.74% | -0.20% |
Volatility
VBIPX vs. TIP - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Plus (VBIPX) is 0.49%, while iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP) has a volatility of 0.71%. This indicates that VBIPX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than TIP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBIPX | TIP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.49% | 0.71% | -0.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.71% | 2.52% | -0.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.24% | 3.33% | -1.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.97% | 6.20% | -3.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.41% | 5.72% | -3.31% |
VBIPX vs. TIP - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBIPX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than TIP's 0.18% 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
VBIPX vs. TIP - Dividend Comparison
VBIPX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.72%, less than TIP's 4.98% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | 4.98% | 3.46% | 2.52% | 2.73% | 6.96% | 4.28% | 1.17% | 1.75% | 2.71% | 2.07% | 1.48% | 0.34% |
VBIPX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Plus | 3.72% | 3.86% | 3.40% | 2.01% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.82% | 2.27% | 2.04% | 1.69% | 1.53% | 1.46% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBIPX and TIP have a correlation of 0.66, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
TIP has higher volatility (0.71%) compared to VBIPX (0.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBIPX dropped -8.72% vs TIP's -14.57%.
VBIPX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.19 vs 0.55), 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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