VFIIX vs. VFSTX
VFIIX (Vanguard GNMA Fund Investor Shares) and VFSTX (Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares) are both Total Bond Market funds from Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VFIIX returned 1.17%/yr vs 2.42%/yr for VFSTX. Their 0.71 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. VFIIX charges 0.21%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for VFSTX.
Performance
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFIIX achieves a 0.13% return, which is significantly lower than VFSTX's 0.49% return. Over the past 10 years, VFIIX has underperformed VFSTX with an annualized return of 1.17%, while VFSTX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.42% annualized return.
VFIIX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.85%
- 6M
- -0.38%
- YTD
- 0.13%
- 1Y
- 3.20%
- 3Y*
- 4.05%
- 5Y*
- 0.30%
- 10Y*
- 1.17%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.74%
VFSTX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.48%
- 6M
- 0.11%
- YTD
- 0.49%
- 1Y
- 2.70%
- 3Y*
- 5.27%
- 5Y*
- 2.18%
- 10Y*
- 2.42%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.78%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIIX Vanguard GNMA Fund Investor Shares | 0.13% | 7.73% | 1.07% | 5.17% | -10.81% | -1.24% | 3.73% | 5.84% | 0.89% | 1.88% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 0.49% | 6.75% | 4.98% | 6.06% | -5.84% | -0.70% | 5.16% | 5.75% | 0.87% | 2.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIIX and VFSTX is 0.86, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.86 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.86 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.86 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 1982 | 0.71 |
The correlation between VFIIX and VFSTX shifts across timeframes, from 0.71 (all time) to 0.86 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VFIIX vs. VFSTX — Risk / Return Rank
VFIIX
VFSTX
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard GNMA Fund Investor Shares (VFIIX) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX). 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.
| VFIIX | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.50 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.08 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.34 | -0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.53 | 2.11 | -0.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.21 | 7.83 | -3.62 |
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Drawdowns
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIIX drawdown since its inception was -25.80%, which is greater than VFSTX's maximum drawdown of -9.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIIX and VFSTX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIIX | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -25.80% | -9.35% | -16.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.83% | -1.71% | -1.12% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.02% | -1.71% | -4.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.79% | -9.35% | -6.44% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.20% | -9.35% | -6.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.02% | -0.58% | -1.44% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.97% | -1.11% | -1.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.03% | 0.46% | +0.57% |
Volatility
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard GNMA Fund Investor Shares (VFIIX) has a higher volatility of 1.07% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) at 0.48%. This indicates that VFIIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFSTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFIIX | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.07% | 0.48% | +0.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.14% | 1.75% | +1.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.94% | 2.26% | +1.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.24% | 2.99% | +3.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.71% | 2.48% | +2.23% |
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIIX has a 0.21% expense ratio, which is higher than VFSTX's 0.20% 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%.
Dividends
VFIIX vs. VFSTX - Dividend Comparison
VFIIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.41%, less than VFSTX's 4.25% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIIX Vanguard GNMA Fund Investor Shares | 3.41% | 3.62% | 3.58% | 3.23% | 2.34% | 0.63% | 1.87% | 2.76% | 2.90% | 2.64% | 3.01% | 2.84% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 4.25% | 4.48% | 4.06% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.70% | 2.24% | 2.83% | 2.68% | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.99% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VFIIX and VFSTX have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VFIIX has higher volatility (1.07%) compared to VFSTX (0.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFIIX dropped -25.80% vs VFSTX's -9.35%.
VFSTX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.60 vs 1.10), 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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