VBLLX vs. VTIAX
VBLLX (Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares) and VTIAX (Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VBLLX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VTIAX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index. Over the past 10 years, VBLLX returned 0.08%/yr vs 9.43%/yr for VTIAX. Their -0.13 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. VBLLX charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VTIAX.
Performance
VBLLX vs. VTIAX - 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 VTIAX's 12.86% return. Over the past 10 years, VBLLX has underperformed VTIAX with an annualized return of 0.08%, while VTIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.43% 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%
VTIAX
- 1D
- 0.07%
- 1M
- 0.18%
- 6M
- 6.45%
- YTD
- 12.86%
- 1Y
- 27.78%
- 3Y*
- 17.20%
- 5Y*
- 8.82%
- 10Y*
- 9.43%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.96%
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. VTIAX - 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% |
VTIAX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares | 12.86% | 32.18% | 5.34% | 15.28% | -16.02% | 8.59% | 11.27% | 21.52% | -14.46% | 27.54% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBLLX and VTIAX is 0.39, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.39 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.28 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.20 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 29, 2010 | -0.13 |
The correlation between VBLLX and VTIAX shifts across timeframes, from -0.13 (all time) to 0.39 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBLLX vs. VTIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VBLLX
VTIAX
VBLLX vs. VTIAX - 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 Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX). 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 | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.74 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.33 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.32 | -0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 2.43 | -2.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.04 | 9.02 | -9.06 |
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Drawdowns
VBLLX vs. VTIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBLLX drawdown since its inception was -38.42%, which is greater than VTIAX's maximum drawdown of -35.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBLLX and VTIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBLLX | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -38.42% | -35.83% | -2.59% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.35% | -11.28% | +4.93% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.55% | -13.13% | +1.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.29% | -29.52% | -6.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.42% | -35.83% | -2.59% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -27.42% | -2.55% | -24.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.33% | -8.02% | -1.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.71% | 3.04% | -0.33% |
Volatility
VBLLX vs. VTIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBLLX) is 2.07%, while Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) has a volatility of 5.26%. This indicates that VBLLX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBLLX | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.07% | 5.26% | -3.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.06% | 14.12% | -8.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.89% | 15.96% | -8.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.82% | 15.36% | -2.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.55% | 15.82% | -4.27% |
VBLLX vs. VTIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBLLX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than VTIAX's 0.09% 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
VBLLX vs. VTIAX - Dividend Comparison
VBLLX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.57%, more than VTIAX's 2.55% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
VTIAX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares | 2.55% | 3.15% | 3.33% | 3.22% | 3.04% | 3.05% | 2.10% | 3.04% | 3.16% | 2.73% | 2.93% | 2.84% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBLLX and VTIAX have a correlation of 0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTIAX has higher volatility (5.26%) compared to VBLLX (2.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBLLX dropped -38.42% vs VTIAX's -35.83%.
VTIAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 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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