VCOBX vs. VTABX
VCOBX (Vanguard Core Bond Fund Admiral Shares) and VTABX (Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VCOBX is a Intermediate Core Bond fund actively managed by Vanguard, while VTABX is a Global Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index Hedged. VCOBX is actively managed, while VTABX is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VCOBX returned 2.17%/yr vs 1.83%/yr for VTABX. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.10% expense ratio.
Performance
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCOBX achieves a 1.10% return, which is significantly lower than VTABX's 1.39% return. Over the past 10 years, VCOBX has outperformed VTABX with an annualized return of 2.17%, while VTABX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.83% annualized return.
VCOBX
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- 0.84%
- YTD
- 1.10%
- 6M
- 1.04%
- 1Y
- 4.73%
- 3Y*
- 5.00%
- 5Y*
- 0.65%
- 10Y*
- 2.17%
VTABX
- 1D
- 0.31%
- 1M
- 0.91%
- YTD
- 1.39%
- 6M
- 1.55%
- 1Y
- 2.59%
- 3Y*
- 4.40%
- 5Y*
- 0.56%
- 10Y*
- 1.83%
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCOBX Vanguard Core Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 1.10% | 7.73% | 2.21% | 6.39% | -13.13% | -1.51% | 10.41% | 9.64% | -0.85% | 3.89% |
VTABX Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.39% | 2.96% | 3.92% | 8.77% | -12.92% | -2.22% | 4.54% | 8.83% | 2.97% | 2.39% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCOBX and VTABX is 0.72, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 30, 2016 | 0.76 |
The correlation between VCOBX and VTABX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.72 to 0.79 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VCOBX vs. VTABX — Risk / Return Rank
VCOBX
VTABX
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Core Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VCOBX) and Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VCOBX | VTABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.51 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.15 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.86 | 0.88 | +0.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.23 | 2.38 | +2.85 |
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Drawdowns
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCOBX drawdown since its inception was -18.14%, which is greater than VTABX's maximum drawdown of -16.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCOBX and VTABX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCOBX | VTABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.14% | -16.16% | -1.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.62% | -2.90% | +0.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.63% | -2.90% | -2.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.03% | -15.81% | -2.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.14% | -16.16% | -1.98% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.75% | -0.48% | -0.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.16% | -3.04% | -1.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 1.07% | -0.14% |
Volatility
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Core Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VCOBX) has a higher volatility of 1.12% compared to Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX) at 0.93%. This indicates that VCOBX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTABX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCOBX | VTABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.12% | 0.93% | +0.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.76% | 2.63% | +0.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.65% | 3.09% | +0.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.79% | 4.46% | +1.33% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.76% | 3.61% | +1.15% |
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VCOBX and VTABX have an expense ratio of 0.10%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VCOBX vs. VTABX - Dividend Comparison
VCOBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.71%, more than VTABX's 4.42% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCOBX Vanguard Core Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 4.71% | 4.80% | 5.04% | 4.44% | 3.01% | 1.23% | 3.09% | 3.08% | 3.10% | 2.20% | 2.29% | 0.00% |
VTABX Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.42% | 4.36% | 4.33% | 4.39% | 1.48% | 3.70% | 1.08% | 4.28% | 3.00% | 2.23% | 1.80% | 1.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCOBX and VTABX have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCOBX has higher volatility (1.12%) compared to VTABX (0.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCOBX dropped -18.14% vs VTABX's -16.16%.
VCOBX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.34 vs 0.82), 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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