VBTIX vs. VFIJX
VBTIX (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares) and VFIJX (Vanguard GNMA Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VBTIX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VFIJX is a Government Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VBTIX returned 1.56%/yr vs 1.40%/yr for VFIJX. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VBTIX charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for VFIJX.
Performance
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBTIX achieves a 0.22% return, which is significantly lower than VFIJX's 0.72% return. Over the past 10 years, VBTIX has outperformed VFIJX with an annualized return of 1.56%, while VFIJX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.40% annualized return.
VBTIX
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- YTD
- 0.22%
- 6M
- 0.35%
- 1Y
- 4.48%
- 3Y*
- 3.99%
- 5Y*
- 0.11%
- 10Y*
- 1.56%
VFIJX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -0.00%
- YTD
- 0.72%
- 6M
- 1.04%
- 1Y
- 5.77%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 0.52%
- 10Y*
- 1.40%
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBTIX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.22% | 7.18% | 1.27% | 5.75% | -13.15% | -1.95% | 7.75% | 8.74% | -0.24% | 3.56% |
VFIJX Vanguard GNMA Fund Admiral Shares | 0.72% | 7.84% | 1.17% | 5.28% | -10.72% | -1.15% | 3.84% | 5.94% | 0.99% | 1.98% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBTIX and VFIJX is 0.93, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 13, 2001 | 0.86 |
The correlation between VBTIX and VFIJX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.86 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VBTIX vs. VFIJX — Risk / Return Rank
VBTIX
VFIJX
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBTIX) and Vanguard GNMA Fund Admiral Shares (VFIJX). 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.
| VBTIX | VFIJX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.29 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.79 | 2.35 | -0.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.35 | 7.44 | -2.09 |
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
| VBTIX | VFIJX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.61 | -0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.02 | 0.08 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.31 | 0.30 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.94 | 0.82 | +0.13 |
Drawdowns
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBTIX drawdown since its inception was -18.90%, which is greater than VFIJX's maximum drawdown of -16.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBTIX and VFIJX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBTIX | VFIJX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.90% | -16.06% | -2.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.89% | -2.71% | -0.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.99% | -6.95% | +0.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.13% | -15.68% | -2.45% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.90% | -16.06% | -2.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.45% | -1.46% | -0.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.32% | -1.74% | -0.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 0.85% | +0.11% |
Volatility
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBTIX) and Vanguard GNMA Fund Admiral Shares (VFIJX) have volatilities of 1.33% and 1.32%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBTIX | VFIJX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.33% | 1.32% | +0.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.78% | 2.81% | -0.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.96% | 3.97% | -0.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.02% | 6.21% | -0.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.98% | 4.70% | +0.28% |
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBTIX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than VFIJX's 0.11% 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
VBTIX vs. VFIJX - Dividend Comparison
VBTIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.00%, more than VFIJX's 3.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBTIX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares | 4.00% | 3.88% | 3.69% | 3.12% | 2.61% | 1.81% | 2.41% | 2.75% | 2.58% | 2.56% | 2.54% | 2.84% |
VFIJX Vanguard GNMA Fund Admiral Shares | 3.79% | 3.72% | 3.67% | 3.34% | 2.45% | 0.73% | 1.98% | 2.86% | 3.00% | 2.73% | 3.11% | 2.94% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, VBTIX and VFIJX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VBTIX has higher volatility (1.33%) compared to VFIJX (1.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBTIX dropped -18.90% vs VFIJX's -16.06%.
VFIJX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.61 vs 1.30), 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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