VBIRX vs. VFIRX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX).
VBIRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. VFIRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 13, 2001.
Performance
VBIRX vs. VFIRX - Performance Comparison
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VBIRX vs. VFIRX - 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% |
VFIRX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares | -0.01% | 5.47% | 3.85% | 3.66% | -4.61% | -0.80% | 4.06% | 3.71% | 1.47% | 0.40% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBIRX achieves a -0.23% return, which is significantly lower than VFIRX's -0.01% return. Over the past 10 years, VBIRX has outperformed VFIRX with an annualized return of 1.90%, while VFIRX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.68% 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%
VFIRX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.70%
- YTD
- -0.01%
- 6M
- 0.94%
- 1Y
- 3.42%
- 3Y*
- 3.83%
- 5Y*
- 1.48%
- 10Y*
- 1.68%
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VBIRX vs. VFIRX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBIRX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than VFIRX's 0.10% 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. VFIRX — Risk / Return Rank
VBIRX
VFIRX
VBIRX vs. VFIRX - 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 Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX). 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 | VFIRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.58 | 1.59 | -0.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.58 | 2.63 | -0.06 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.34 | -0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.71 | 2.78 | -0.06 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.87 | 9.85 | +0.02 |
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 | VFIRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.58 | 1.59 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.55 | 0.56 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 | 0.80 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.97 | 1.16 | -0.19 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBIRX and VFIRX is 0.84, 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
VBIRX vs. VFIRX - Dividend Comparison
VBIRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.60%, which matches VFIRX's 3.57% 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% |
VFIRX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares | 3.57% | 3.99% | 4.49% | 4.07% | 2.03% | 0.60% | 2.30% | 2.49% | 2.21% | 1.25% | 1.28% | 0.93% |
Drawdowns
VBIRX vs. VFIRX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBIRX drawdown since its inception was -8.69%, which is greater than VFIRX's maximum drawdown of -6.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBIRX and VFIRX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBIRX | VFIRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.69% | -6.73% | -1.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -1.40% | -0.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.64% | -6.73% | -1.91% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.69% | -6.73% | -1.96% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.16% | -1.00% | -0.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.99% | -0.71% | -0.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.40% | +0.02% |
Volatility
VBIRX vs. VFIRX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIRX) has a higher volatility of 0.71% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) at 0.66%. This indicates that VBIRX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFIRX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBIRX | VFIRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.71% | 0.66% | +0.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 1.42% | +0.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42% | 2.25% | +0.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.93% | 2.65% | +0.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.39% | 2.11% | +0.28% |