VBIRX vs. DFGFX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) and DFA Two Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (DFGFX).
VBIRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. DFGFX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Feb 8, 1996.
Performance
VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Performance Comparison
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VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBIRX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.23% | 6.09% | 3.75% | 4.87% | -5.63% | -1.20% | 4.69% | 4.86% | 1.37% | 1.18% |
DFGFX DFA Two Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio | 0.77% | 2.89% | 5.36% | 4.95% | -2.62% | -0.37% | 0.88% | 2.87% | 1.91% | 0.93% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBIRX achieves a -0.23% return, which is significantly lower than DFGFX's 0.77% return. Over the past 10 years, VBIRX has outperformed DFGFX with an annualized return of 1.90%, while DFGFX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.75% annualized return.
VBIRX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.87%
- YTD
- -0.23%
- 6M
- 0.77%
- 1Y
- 3.65%
- 3Y*
- 4.15%
- 5Y*
- 1.60%
- 10Y*
- 1.90%
DFGFX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.05%
- YTD
- 0.77%
- 6M
- 1.69%
- 1Y
- 2.53%
- 3Y*
- 4.23%
- 5Y*
- 2.13%
- 10Y*
- 1.75%
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VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBIRX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than DFGFX's 0.16% 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%.
Return for Risk
VBIRX vs. DFGFX — Risk / Return Rank
VBIRX
DFGFX
VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) and DFA Two Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (DFGFX). 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.
| VBIRX | DFGFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.58 | 1.64 | -0.06 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.58 | 1.78 | +0.80 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 2.55 | -1.23 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.71 | 1.87 | +0.85 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.87 | 5.76 | +4.10 |
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
| VBIRX | DFGFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.58 | 1.64 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.55 | 1.19 | -0.64 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 | 1.29 | -0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.97 | 2.27 | -1.30 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBIRX and DFGFX is 0.42, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Dividend Comparison
VBIRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.60%, more than DFGFX's 3.12% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBIRX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.60% | 3.83% | 3.37% | 2.41% | 1.46% | 1.22% | 1.77% | 2.24% | 2.03% | 1.66% | 1.50% | 1.41% |
DFGFX DFA Two Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio | 3.12% | 2.67% | 4.77% | 3.19% | 1.17% | 0.23% | 0.57% | 2.24% | 2.21% | 1.54% | 0.65% | 0.02% |
Drawdowns
VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBIRX drawdown since its inception was -8.69%, which is greater than DFGFX's maximum drawdown of -4.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBIRX and DFGFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBIRX | DFGFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.69% | -4.00% | -4.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -1.41% | -0.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.64% | -4.00% | -4.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.69% | -4.00% | -4.69% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.16% | 0.00% | -1.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.99% | -0.23% | -0.76% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.46% | -0.04% |
Volatility
VBIRX vs. DFGFX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) has a higher volatility of 0.71% compared to DFA Two Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (DFGFX) at 0.22%. This indicates that VBIRX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFGFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBIRX | DFGFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.71% | 0.22% | +0.49% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 0.45% | +1.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42% | 1.56% | +0.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.93% | 1.81% | +1.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.39% | 1.36% | +1.03% |