VBITX vs. IEF
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF).
VBITX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 27, 2011. IEF is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Index. It was launched on Jul 26, 2002.
Performance
VBITX vs. IEF - Performance Comparison
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VBITX vs. IEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBITX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | -0.23% | 6.11% | 3.77% | 4.43% | -5.61% | -1.18% | 4.72% | 4.89% | 1.38% | 1.20% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.22% | 8.03% | -0.63% | 3.64% | -15.15% | -3.33% | 10.01% | 8.03% | 0.99% | 2.55% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VBITX having a -0.23% return and IEF slightly higher at -0.22%. Over the past 10 years, VBITX has outperformed IEF with an annualized return of 1.88%, while IEF has yielded a comparatively lower 0.78% annualized return.
VBITX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.87%
- YTD
- -0.23%
- 6M
- 0.78%
- 1Y
- 3.67%
- 3Y*
- 4.02%
- 5Y*
- 1.53%
- 10Y*
- 1.88%
IEF
- 1D
- -0.09%
- 1M
- -1.82%
- YTD
- -0.22%
- 6M
- 0.37%
- 1Y
- 3.49%
- 3Y*
- 2.22%
- 5Y*
- -0.78%
- 10Y*
- 0.78%
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VBITX vs. IEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBITX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than IEF's 0.15% 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
VBITX vs. IEF — Risk / Return Rank
VBITX
IEF
VBITX vs. IEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF). 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.
| VBITX | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 0.66 | +0.93 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.58 | 0.97 | +1.60 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.11 | +0.21 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.73 | 1.20 | +1.53 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.98 | 2.98 | +7.00 |
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
| VBITX | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 0.66 | +0.93 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | -0.10 | +0.63 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 | 0.12 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.01 | 0.51 | -0.49 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBITX and IEF is 0.77, 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
VBITX vs. IEF - Dividend Comparison
VBITX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.61%, less than IEF's 3.85% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBITX Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 3.61% | 3.85% | 3.39% | 1.99% | 1.48% | 1.24% | 1.80% | 2.26% | 2.03% | 1.69% | 1.52% | 1.44% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.85% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
Drawdowns
VBITX vs. IEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBITX drawdown since its inception was -79.18%, which is greater than IEF's maximum drawdown of -23.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBITX and IEF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBITX | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -79.18% | -23.93% | -55.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -3.22% | +1.68% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.61% | -21.40% | +12.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -79.18% | -23.93% | -55.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -74.91% | -10.96% | -63.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -45.90% | -5.30% | -40.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 1.29% | -0.87% |
Volatility
VBITX vs. IEF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) is 0.73%, while iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) has a volatility of 1.91%. This indicates that VBITX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBITX | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.73% | 1.91% | -1.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 3.22% | -1.72% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42% | 5.35% | -2.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.93% | 7.70% | -4.77% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 160.21% | 6.63% | +153.58% |