VBITX vs. VBTLX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX).
VBITX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 27, 2011. VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VBITX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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VBITX vs. VBTLX - 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% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.28% | 7.17% | 1.26% | 5.74% | -13.16% | -1.81% | 7.72% | 8.73% | -0.25% | 3.56% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBITX achieves a -0.23% return, which is significantly higher than VBTLX's -0.28% return. Over the past 10 years, VBITX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 1.88%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.62% 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%
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -1.63%
- YTD
- -0.28%
- 6M
- 0.40%
- 1Y
- 3.66%
- 3Y*
- 3.51%
- 5Y*
- 0.19%
- 10Y*
- 1.62%
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VBITX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VBITX and VBTLX have an expense ratio of 0.05%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VBITX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VBITX
VBTLX
VBITX vs. VBTLX - 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 Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). 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 | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 0.92 | +0.66 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.58 | 1.33 | +1.24 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.16 | +0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.73 | 1.66 | +1.06 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.98 | 4.70 | +5.28 |
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 | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 0.92 | +0.66 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | 0.03 | +0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 | 0.33 | -0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.01 | 0.76 | -0.75 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBITX and VBTLX is 0.81, 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. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VBITX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.61%, which matches VBTLX's 3.61% 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% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.61% | 3.87% | 3.69% | 3.10% | 2.59% | 1.96% | 2.39% | 2.74% | 2.57% | 2.56% | 2.53% | 2.82% |
Drawdowns
VBITX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBITX drawdown since its inception was -79.18%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBITX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBITX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -79.18% | -18.81% | -60.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.54% | -2.73% | +1.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.61% | -18.14% | +9.53% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -79.18% | -18.81% | -60.37% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -74.91% | -2.86% | -72.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -45.90% | -2.67% | -43.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.97% | -0.55% |
Volatility
VBITX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBITX) is 0.73%, while Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) has a volatility of 1.55%. This indicates that VBITX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VBTLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBITX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.73% | 1.55% | -0.82% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 2.59% | -1.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42% | 4.36% | -1.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.93% | 5.98% | -3.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 160.21% | 4.97% | +155.24% |