VBMFX vs. DFXIX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) and DFA Diversified Fixed Income Portfolio (DFXIX).
VBMFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 11, 1986. DFXIX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Aug 10, 2016.
Performance
VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Performance Comparison
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VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBMFX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund | -0.51% | 7.05% | 1.15% | 5.62% | -13.25% | -2.04% | 7.63% | 8.61% | -0.34% | 3.45% |
DFXIX DFA Diversified Fixed Income Portfolio | 0.29% | 5.85% | 3.05% | 4.93% | -7.88% | -0.56% | 5.90% | 269.83% | 1.07% | 0.87% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBMFX achieves a -0.51% return, which is significantly lower than DFXIX's 0.29% return.
VBMFX
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- -2.23%
- YTD
- -0.51%
- 6M
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 3.66%
- 3Y*
- 3.33%
- 5Y*
- 0.13%
- 10Y*
- 1.48%
DFXIX
- 1D
- 0.40%
- 1M
- -1.29%
- YTD
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 1.05%
- 1Y
- 4.22%
- 3Y*
- 3.87%
- 5Y*
- 1.45%
- 10Y*
- —
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VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VBMFX and DFXIX have an expense ratio of 0.15%, 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
VBMFX vs. DFXIX — Risk / Return Rank
VBMFX
DFXIX
VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) and DFA Diversified Fixed Income Portfolio (DFXIX). 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.
| VBMFX | DFXIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.97 | 1.57 | -0.60 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.41 | 2.27 | -0.86 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.29 | -0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.74 | 2.57 | -0.83 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.94 | 8.40 | -3.46 |
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
| VBMFX | DFXIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 | 1.57 | -0.60 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.02 | 0.41 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.96 | 0.56 | +0.40 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBMFX and DFXIX is 0.89, 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
VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Dividend Comparison
VBMFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.51%, less than DFXIX's 3.72% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBMFX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund | 3.51% | 3.76% | 3.57% | 2.99% | 2.49% | 1.72% | 2.31% | 2.63% | 2.47% | 2.45% | 2.43% | 2.71% |
DFXIX DFA Diversified Fixed Income Portfolio | 3.72% | 3.21% | 3.72% | 3.02% | 2.69% | 2.31% | 1.39% | 102.11% | 2.10% | 1.09% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBMFX drawdown since its inception was -19.08%, which is greater than DFXIX's maximum drawdown of -10.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBMFX and DFXIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBMFX | DFXIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.08% | -10.51% | -8.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.73% | -1.69% | -1.04% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.24% | -10.51% | -7.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.08% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.76% | -1.29% | -2.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.70% | -2.34% | -0.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 0.52% | +0.44% |
Volatility
VBMFX vs. DFXIX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) has a higher volatility of 1.55% compared to DFA Diversified Fixed Income Portfolio (DFXIX) at 1.09%. This indicates that VBMFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFXIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBMFX | DFXIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.55% | 1.09% | +0.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.58% | 1.84% | +0.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.36% | 2.85% | +1.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.98% | 3.58% | +2.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.96% | 29.85% | -24.89% |