VBISX vs. ASBAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) and American Funds Short-Term Bond Fund of America (ASBAX).
VBISX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Mar 1, 1994. ASBAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Oct 2, 2006.
Performance
VBISX vs. ASBAX - Performance Comparison
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VBISX vs. ASBAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBISX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund | -0.34% | 5.67% | 3.66% | 4.54% | -5.61% | -1.35% | 4.63% | 4.78% | 1.27% | 1.10% |
ASBAX American Funds Short-Term Bond Fund of America | -0.26% | 5.05% | 4.31% | 3.60% | -4.16% | -0.88% | 3.53% | 2.81% | 1.10% | 0.91% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBISX achieves a -0.34% return, which is significantly lower than ASBAX's -0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VBISX has outperformed ASBAX with an annualized return of 1.76%, while ASBAX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.57% annualized return.
VBISX
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -1.25%
- YTD
- -0.34%
- 6M
- 0.83%
- 1Y
- 3.56%
- 3Y*
- 3.85%
- 5Y*
- 1.39%
- 10Y*
- 1.76%
ASBAX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.93%
- YTD
- -0.26%
- 6M
- 0.79%
- 1Y
- 3.11%
- 3Y*
- 3.72%
- 5Y*
- 1.51%
- 10Y*
- 1.57%
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VBISX vs. ASBAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBISX has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than ASBAX's 0.66% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VBISX vs. ASBAX — Risk / Return Rank
VBISX
ASBAX
VBISX vs. ASBAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) and American Funds Short-Term Bond Fund of America (ASBAX). 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.
| VBISX | ASBAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.64 | 1.81 | -0.17 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.70 | 3.19 | -0.49 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.44 | -0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.72 | 2.95 | -0.24 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.96 | 11.57 | -1.60 |
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
| VBISX | ASBAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.64 | 1.81 | -0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 0.69 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.74 | 0.87 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.34 | 0.96 | +0.38 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBISX and ASBAX is 0.75, 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
VBISX vs. ASBAX - Dividend Comparison
VBISX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.52%, which matches ASBAX's 3.50% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBISX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 3.52% | 3.44% | 3.29% | 2.10% | 1.38% | 1.16% | 1.72% | 2.16% | 1.92% | 1.58% | 1.42% | 1.34% |
ASBAX American Funds Short-Term Bond Fund of America | 3.50% | 3.87% | 3.99% | 2.88% | 1.02% | 0.42% | 2.08% | 1.66% | 1.70% | 1.21% | 0.83% | 1.21% |
Drawdowns
VBISX vs. ASBAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBISX drawdown since its inception was -8.79%, which is greater than ASBAX's maximum drawdown of -6.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBISX and ASBAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBISX | ASBAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.79% | -6.29% | -2.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -1.24% | -0.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.72% | -6.23% | -2.49% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.79% | -6.29% | -2.50% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.25% | -0.93% | -0.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.87% | -0.68% | -0.19% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.32% | +0.10% |
Volatility
VBISX vs. ASBAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) has a higher volatility of 0.74% compared to American Funds Short-Term Bond Fund of America (ASBAX) at 0.60%. This indicates that VBISX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ASBAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBISX | ASBAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.74% | 0.60% | +0.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 1.22% | +0.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.44% | 1.93% | +0.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.91% | 2.20% | +0.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.37% | 1.81% | +0.56% |