VBMFX vs. VWELX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX).
VBMFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 11, 1986. VWELX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 1, 1929.
Performance
VBMFX vs. VWELX - Performance Comparison
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VBMFX vs. VWELX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBMFX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund | -0.30% | 7.05% | 1.15% | 5.62% | -13.25% | -2.04% | 7.63% | 8.61% | -0.34% | 3.45% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | -3.35% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBMFX achieves a -0.30% return, which is significantly higher than VWELX's -3.35% return. Over the past 10 years, VBMFX has underperformed VWELX with an annualized return of 1.50%, while VWELX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.32% annualized return.
VBMFX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -1.63%
- YTD
- -0.30%
- 6M
- 0.35%
- 1Y
- 3.55%
- 3Y*
- 3.40%
- 5Y*
- 0.08%
- 10Y*
- 1.50%
VWELX
- 1D
- 2.02%
- 1M
- -3.95%
- YTD
- -3.35%
- 6M
- -0.44%
- 1Y
- 14.14%
- 3Y*
- 12.65%
- 5Y*
- 7.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.32%
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VBMFX vs. VWELX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBMFX has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than VWELX's 0.24% 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
VBMFX vs. VWELX — Risk / Return Rank
VBMFX
VWELX
VBMFX vs. VWELX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX). 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 | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.90 | 1.23 | -0.33 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.30 | 1.81 | -0.51 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.27 | -0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.62 | 1.88 | -0.26 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.56 | 8.47 | -3.90 |
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 | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 | 1.23 | -0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 | 0.69 | -0.67 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 | 0.81 | -0.51 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.96 | 0.82 | +0.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBMFX and VWELX is 0.13, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VBMFX vs. VWELX - Dividend Comparison
VBMFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.50%, less than VWELX's 11.92% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBMFX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund | 3.50% | 3.76% | 3.57% | 2.99% | 2.49% | 1.72% | 2.31% | 2.63% | 2.47% | 2.45% | 2.43% | 2.71% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 11.92% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
Drawdowns
VBMFX vs. VWELX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBMFX drawdown since its inception was -19.08%, smaller than the maximum VWELX drawdown of -36.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBMFX and VWELX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBMFX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.08% | -36.12% | +17.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.73% | -8.03% | +5.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.24% | -20.88% | +2.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.08% | -25.33% | +6.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.56% | -4.90% | +1.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.70% | -3.93% | +1.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.97% | 1.78% | -0.81% |
Volatility
VBMFX vs. VWELX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) is 1.55%, while Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) has a volatility of 4.07%. This indicates that VBMFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWELX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBMFX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.55% | 4.07% | -2.52% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.58% | 6.66% | -4.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.35% | 11.88% | -7.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.99% | 11.12% | -5.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.96% | 11.50% | -6.54% |