VBITX vs. SHY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) and iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY).
VBITX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 27, 2011. SHY is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Index. It was launched on Jul 22, 2002.
Performance
VBITX vs. SHY - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VBITX vs. SHY - 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% |
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.26% | 4.95% | 3.92% | 4.16% | -3.88% | -0.71% | 3.03% | 3.38% | 1.46% | 0.26% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBITX achieves a -0.23% return, which is significantly lower than SHY's 0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VBITX has outperformed SHY with an annualized return of 1.88%, while SHY has yielded a comparatively lower 1.65% 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%
SHY
- 1D
- -0.00%
- 1M
- -0.29%
- YTD
- 0.26%
- 6M
- 1.22%
- 1Y
- 3.57%
- 3Y*
- 3.88%
- 5Y*
- 1.70%
- 10Y*
- 1.65%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VBITX vs. SHY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBITX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than SHY'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. SHY — Risk / Return Rank
VBITX
SHY
VBITX vs. SHY - 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 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY). 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 | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 2.48 | -0.89 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.58 | 4.07 | -1.50 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.52 | -0.20 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.73 | 4.06 | -1.34 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.98 | 15.56 | -5.58 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VBITX | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 2.48 | -0.89 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | 0.87 | -0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 | 1.06 | -1.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.01 | 1.29 | -1.27 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBITX and SHY is 0.80, 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. SHY - Dividend Comparison
VBITX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.61%, less than SHY's 3.72% 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% |
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.72% | 3.81% | 3.92% | 2.99% | 1.30% | 0.26% | 0.94% | 2.12% | 1.72% | 0.98% | 0.71% | 0.54% |
Drawdowns
VBITX vs. SHY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBITX drawdown since its inception was -79.18%, which is greater than SHY's maximum drawdown of -5.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBITX and SHY.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VBITX | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -79.18% | -5.71% | -73.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -0.89% | -0.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.61% | -5.71% | -2.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -79.18% | -5.71% | -73.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -74.91% | -0.47% | -74.44% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -45.90% | -0.52% | -45.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.23% | +0.19% |
Volatility
VBITX vs. SHY - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) has a higher volatility of 0.73% compared to iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) at 0.58%. This indicates that VBITX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SHY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VBITX | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.73% | 0.58% | +0.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 0.89% | +0.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42% | 1.45% | +0.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.93% | 1.97% | +0.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 160.21% | 1.56% | +158.65% |