VCLAX vs. BND
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND).
VCLAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. BND is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. It was launched on Apr 3, 2007.
Performance
VCLAX vs. BND - Performance Comparison
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VCLAX vs. BND - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLAX Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | -0.99% | 4.97% | 2.77% | 7.60% | -9.99% | 1.50% | 5.68% | 8.91% | 0.76% | 6.93% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.05% | 7.08% | 1.38% | 5.65% | -13.11% | -1.86% | 7.71% | 8.84% | -0.12% | 3.57% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLAX achieves a -0.99% return, which is significantly lower than BND's 0.05% return. Over the past 10 years, VCLAX has outperformed BND with an annualized return of 2.49%, while BND has yielded a comparatively lower 1.67% annualized return.
VCLAX
- 1D
- 0.27%
- 1M
- -3.17%
- YTD
- -0.99%
- 6M
- 0.88%
- 1Y
- 4.08%
- 3Y*
- 3.71%
- 5Y*
- 1.18%
- 10Y*
- 2.49%
BND
- 1D
- 0.22%
- 1M
- -1.74%
- YTD
- 0.05%
- 6M
- 0.95%
- 1Y
- 4.24%
- 3Y*
- 3.59%
- 5Y*
- 0.24%
- 10Y*
- 1.67%
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VCLAX vs. BND - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLAX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than BND's 0.03% expense ratio. However, 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
VCLAX vs. BND — Risk / Return Rank
VCLAX
BND
VCLAX vs. BND - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND). 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.
| VCLAX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.90 | 0.99 | -0.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.22 | 1.41 | -0.18 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.18 | +0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.98 | 1.81 | -0.83 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.00 | 4.98 | -1.98 |
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
| VCLAX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 | 0.99 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 | 0.04 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.55 | 0.30 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.92 | 0.59 | +0.33 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLAX and BND is 0.47, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VCLAX vs. BND - Dividend Comparison
VCLAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.63%, less than BND's 3.91% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLAX Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.63% | 4.41% | 3.95% | 3.07% | 2.74% | 2.60% | 3.28% | 3.24% | 3.41% | 3.32% | 3.56% | 3.58% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 3.91% | 3.86% | 3.67% | 3.09% | 2.60% | 2.12% | 2.38% | 2.72% | 2.81% | 2.54% | 2.51% | 2.57% |
Drawdowns
VCLAX vs. BND - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLAX drawdown since its inception was -15.72%, smaller than the maximum BND drawdown of -18.58%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLAX and BND.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCLAX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.72% | -18.58% | +2.86% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.34% | -2.44% | -2.90% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.72% | -17.91% | +2.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.72% | -18.58% | +2.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.17% | -2.58% | -0.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.19% | -3.07% | +0.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.75% | 0.89% | +0.86% |
Volatility
VCLAX vs. BND - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) is 1.26%, while Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) has a volatility of 1.63%. This indicates that VCLAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BND based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCLAX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.26% | 1.63% | -0.37% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.96% | 2.52% | -0.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.44% | 4.30% | +1.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.52% | 6.00% | -1.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.54% | 5.52% | -0.98% |