VBLLX vs. AAMTX
VBLLX (Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares) and AAMTX (American Funds 2055 Target Date Retirement Fund) are both mutual funds - VBLLX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while AAMTX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by American Funds. Over the past 10 years, VBLLX returned 0.08%/yr vs 11.61%/yr for AAMTX. Their -0.15 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. VBLLX charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.33%/yr for AAMTX.
Performance
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBLLX achieves a -3.40% return, which is significantly lower than AAMTX's 9.25% return. Over the past 10 years, VBLLX has underperformed AAMTX with an annualized return of 0.08%, while AAMTX has yielded a comparatively higher 11.61% annualized return.
VBLLX
- 1D
- -0.50%
- 1M
- -3.76%
- 6M
- -3.24%
- YTD
- -3.40%
- 1Y
- -1.14%
- 3Y*
- 1.12%
- 5Y*
- -5.26%
- 10Y*
- 0.08%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.79%
AAMTX
- 1D
- 0.81%
- 1M
- -0.79%
- 6M
- 5.97%
- YTD
- 9.25%
- 1Y
- 19.42%
- 3Y*
- 16.68%
- 5Y*
- 9.00%
- 10Y*
- 11.61%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.95%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBLLX Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | -3.40% | 6.60% | -4.12% | 7.13% | -27.20% | -3.08% | 16.27% | 19.15% | -4.71% | 10.89% |
AAMTX American Funds 2055 Target Date Retirement Fund | 9.25% | 20.37% | 15.16% | 21.03% | -19.75% | 16.94% | 19.06% | 24.60% | -5.95% | 22.20% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBLLX and AAMTX is 0.37, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.37 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.27 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 2, 2010 | -0.15 |
The correlation between VBLLX and AAMTX shifts across timeframes, from -0.15 (all time) to 0.37 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBLLX vs. AAMTX — Risk / Return Rank
VBLLX
AAMTX
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBLLX) and American Funds 2055 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAMTX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VBLLX | AAMTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.94 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.25 | -0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 1.88 | -1.89 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.04 | 8.06 | -8.10 |
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Drawdowns
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBLLX drawdown since its inception was -38.42%, which is greater than AAMTX's maximum drawdown of -29.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBLLX and AAMTX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBLLX | AAMTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -38.42% | -29.32% | -9.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.35% | -9.71% | +3.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.55% | -15.39% | +3.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.29% | -27.34% | -8.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.42% | -29.32% | -9.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -27.42% | -1.67% | -25.75% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.33% | -4.25% | -5.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.71% | 2.26% | +0.45% |
Volatility
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBLLX) is 2.07%, while American Funds 2055 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAMTX) has a volatility of 3.83%. This indicates that VBLLX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AAMTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBLLX | AAMTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.07% | 3.83% | -1.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.06% | 10.87% | -4.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.89% | 13.13% | -5.24% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.82% | 14.78% | -1.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.55% | 15.04% | -3.49% |
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBLLX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than AAMTX's 0.33% expense ratio.
Dividends
VBLLX vs. AAMTX - Dividend Comparison
VBLLX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.57%, less than AAMTX's 5.22% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAMTX American Funds 2055 Target Date Retirement Fund | 5.22% | 5.70% | 3.22% | 2.22% | 6.92% | 4.15% | 2.98% | 3.92% | 4.46% | 2.18% | 3.19% | 4.06% |
VBLLX Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 4.57% | 4.66% | 4.64% | 3.75% | 4.16% | 2.89% | 5.84% | 3.62% | 3.82% | 3.69% | 4.19% | 4.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBLLX and AAMTX have a correlation of 0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AAMTX has higher volatility (3.83%) compared to VBLLX (2.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBLLX dropped -38.42% vs AAMTX's -29.32%.
AAMTX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.39 vs -0.01), 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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