VFIRX vs. BND
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND).
VFIRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 13, 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
VFIRX vs. BND - Performance Comparison
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VFIRX vs. BND - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIRX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares | -0.01% | 5.47% | 3.85% | 3.66% | -4.61% | -0.80% | 4.06% | 3.71% | 1.47% | 0.40% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.09% | 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, VFIRX achieves a -0.01% return, which is significantly lower than BND's 0.09% return. Over a longer period, both investments have demonstrated similar performance, with their 10-year annualized returns being quite close: VFIRX at 1.68% and BND at 1.68%.
VFIRX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -0.70%
- YTD
- -0.01%
- 6M
- 0.94%
- 1Y
- 3.42%
- 3Y*
- 3.83%
- 5Y*
- 1.48%
- 10Y*
- 1.68%
BND
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- -1.30%
- YTD
- 0.09%
- 6M
- 0.74%
- 1Y
- 3.96%
- 3Y*
- 3.60%
- 5Y*
- 0.25%
- 10Y*
- 1.68%
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VFIRX vs. BND - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIRX has a 0.10% 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
VFIRX vs. BND — Risk / Return Rank
VFIRX
BND
VFIRX vs. BND - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) 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.
| VFIRX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 0.93 | +0.67 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.63 | 1.32 | +1.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.16 | +0.17 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.78 | 1.75 | +1.02 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.85 | 4.78 | +5.06 |
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
| VFIRX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 0.93 | +0.67 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.56 | 0.04 | +0.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 | 0.30 | +0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.16 | 0.59 | +0.57 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIRX and BND is 0.69, 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
VFIRX vs. BND - Dividend Comparison
VFIRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.57%, less than BND's 3.93% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIRX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares | 3.57% | 3.99% | 4.49% | 4.07% | 2.03% | 0.60% | 2.30% | 2.49% | 2.21% | 1.25% | 1.28% | 0.93% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 3.93% | 3.86% | 3.67% | 3.09% | 2.60% | 2.12% | 2.38% | 2.72% | 2.81% | 2.54% | 2.51% | 2.57% |
Drawdowns
VFIRX vs. BND - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIRX drawdown since its inception was -6.73%, smaller than the maximum BND drawdown of -18.58%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIRX and BND.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIRX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.73% | -18.58% | +11.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.40% | -2.44% | +1.04% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.73% | -17.91% | +11.18% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -6.73% | -18.58% | +11.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.00% | -2.54% | +1.54% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.71% | -3.07% | +2.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.40% | 0.90% | -0.50% |
Volatility
VFIRX vs. BND - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VFIRX) is 0.66%, while Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) has a volatility of 1.63%. This indicates that VFIRX 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
| VFIRX | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.66% | 1.63% | -0.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.42% | 2.52% | -1.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.25% | 4.30% | -2.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.65% | 6.00% | -3.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.11% | 5.52% | -3.41% |