VBTLX vs. VFSUX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares (VFSUX).
VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. VFSUX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 12, 2001.
Performance
VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Performance Comparison
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VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.49% | 7.17% | 1.26% | 5.74% | -13.16% | -1.81% | 7.72% | 8.73% | -0.25% | 3.56% |
VFSUX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares | -0.38% | 6.87% | 5.08% | 6.17% | -5.75% | -0.62% | 5.26% | 5.85% | 0.98% | 2.13% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBTLX achieves a -0.49% return, which is significantly lower than VFSUX's -0.38% return. Over the past 10 years, VBTLX has underperformed VFSUX with an annualized return of 1.60%, while VFSUX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.59% annualized return.
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- -2.23%
- YTD
- -0.49%
- 6M
- 0.50%
- 1Y
- 3.77%
- 3Y*
- 3.44%
- 5Y*
- 0.23%
- 10Y*
- 1.60%
VFSUX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -1.42%
- YTD
- -0.38%
- 6M
- 0.77%
- 1Y
- 4.36%
- 3Y*
- 5.25%
- 5Y*
- 2.31%
- 10Y*
- 2.59%
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VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBTLX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than VFSUX's 0.10% 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
VBTLX vs. VFSUX — Risk / Return Rank
VBTLX
VFSUX
VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares (VFSUX). 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.
| VBTLX | VFSUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.00 | 1.93 | -0.94 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.44 | 3.19 | -1.74 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.43 | -0.26 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.78 | 2.97 | -1.18 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.08 | 12.05 | -6.97 |
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
| VBTLX | VFSUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.00 | 1.93 | -0.94 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 | 0.79 | -0.75 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 | 1.05 | -0.73 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.76 | 1.34 | -0.58 |
Correlation
The correlation between VBTLX and VFSUX is 0.81, 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
VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Dividend Comparison
VBTLX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.61%, less than VFSUX's 4.30% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.61% | 3.87% | 3.69% | 3.10% | 2.59% | 1.96% | 2.39% | 2.74% | 2.57% | 2.56% | 2.53% | 2.82% |
VFSUX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares | 4.30% | 4.59% | 4.16% | 3.14% | 2.03% | 1.79% | 2.34% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 2.11% | 2.14% | 2.09% |
Drawdowns
VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBTLX drawdown since its inception was -18.81%, which is greater than VFSUX's maximum drawdown of -9.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBTLX and VFSUX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBTLX | VFSUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.81% | -9.24% | -9.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.73% | -1.71% | -1.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.14% | -9.24% | -8.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.81% | -9.24% | -9.57% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.06% | -1.42% | -1.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.67% | -0.88% | -1.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 0.42% | +0.54% |
Volatility
VBTLX vs. VFSUX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) has a higher volatility of 1.55% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares (VFSUX) at 0.75%. This indicates that VBTLX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFSUX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBTLX | VFSUX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.55% | 0.75% | +0.80% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.59% | 1.50% | +1.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.37% | 2.53% | +1.84% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.98% | 2.95% | +3.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.97% | 2.47% | +2.50% |