VBISX vs. VGTSX
VBISX (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund) and VGTSX (Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares) are both mutual funds - VBISX is a Short-Term Bond fund managed by Vanguard, while VGTSX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VBISX returned 1.80%/yr vs 9.62%/yr for VGTSX. At a correlation of -0.09, they often move in opposite directions. VBISX charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for VGTSX.
Performance
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBISX achieves a 0.26% return, which is significantly lower than VGTSX's 14.49% return. Over the past 10 years, VBISX has underperformed VGTSX with an annualized return of 1.80%, while VGTSX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.62% annualized return.
VBISX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 0.04%
- YTD
- 0.26%
- 6M
- 0.69%
- 1Y
- 3.84%
- 3Y*
- 4.14%
- 5Y*
- 1.42%
- 10Y*
- 1.80%
VGTSX
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 2.06%
- YTD
- 14.49%
- 6M
- 16.75%
- 1Y
- 30.88%
- 3Y*
- 19.46%
- 5Y*
- 8.38%
- 10Y*
- 9.62%
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBISX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 0.26% | 5.67% | 3.66% | 4.54% | -5.61% | -1.35% | 4.63% | 4.78% | 1.27% | 1.10% |
VGTSX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares | 14.49% | 32.05% | 5.30% | 15.18% | -16.07% | 8.58% | 11.15% | 21.44% | -14.47% | 27.39% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBISX and VGTSX is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 30, 1996 | -0.09 |
The correlation between VBISX and VGTSX shifts across timeframes, from -0.09 (all time) to 0.28 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBISX vs. VGTSX — Risk / Return Rank
VBISX
VGTSX
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) and Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares (VGTSX). 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 | VGTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.44 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.41 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.24 | 2.79 | -0.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.14 | 11.03 | -3.89 |
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 | VGTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.55 | 2.22 | -0.67 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 0.56 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 | 0.61 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.34 | 0.32 | +1.02 |
Drawdowns
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBISX drawdown since its inception was -8.79%, smaller than the maximum VGTSX drawdown of -61.48%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBISX and VGTSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBISX | VGTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.79% | -61.48% | +52.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -11.29% | +9.75% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.55% | -13.11% | +11.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.72% | -29.61% | +20.89% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.79% | -35.93% | +27.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -0.75% | +0.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.87% | -13.97% | +13.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.48% | 2.86% | -2.38% |
Volatility
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) is 0.68%, while Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares (VGTSX) has a volatility of 4.80%. This indicates that VBISX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VGTSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBISX | VGTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.68% | 4.80% | -4.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.58% | 11.92% | -10.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.24% | 14.21% | -11.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 15.02% | -12.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.38% | 15.92% | -13.54% |
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBISX has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than VGTSX's 0.17% 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
VBISX vs. VGTSX - Dividend Comparison
VBISX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.90%, more than VGTSX's 2.55% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBISX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund | 3.90% | 3.44% | 3.29% | 2.10% | 1.38% | 1.16% | 1.72% | 2.16% | 1.92% | 1.58% | 1.42% | 1.34% |
VGTSX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares | 2.55% | 3.08% | 3.26% | 3.16% | 2.98% | 2.99% | 2.05% | 2.98% | 3.09% | 2.68% | 2.86% | 2.77% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBISX and VGTSX have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VGTSX has higher volatility (4.80%) compared to VBISX (0.68%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBISX dropped -8.79% vs VGTSX's -61.48%.
VGTSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs 1.55), 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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