VFORX vs. VBTLX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund (VFORX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX).
VFORX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jun 7, 2006. VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VFORX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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VFORX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFORX Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund | -3.32% | 18.77% | 12.90% | 18.56% | -17.00% | 14.55% | 15.48% | 23.86% | -7.32% | 18.45% |
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% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFORX achieves a -3.32% return, which is significantly lower than VBTLX's -0.49% return. Over the past 10 years, VFORX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 9.48%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.60% annualized return.
VFORX
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -7.37%
- YTD
- -3.32%
- 6M
- -0.71%
- 1Y
- 15.06%
- 3Y*
- 13.11%
- 5Y*
- 7.08%
- 10Y*
- 9.48%
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%
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VFORX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFORX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than VBTLX's 0.05% 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
VFORX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VFORX
VBTLX
VFORX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund (VFORX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). 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.
| VFORX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.22 | 1.00 | +0.23 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.76 | 1.44 | +0.31 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.18 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.55 | 1.78 | -0.23 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.04 | 5.08 | +1.96 |
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
| VFORX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.22 | 1.00 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.04 | +0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.70 | 0.32 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 0.76 | -0.29 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFORX and VBTLX is -0.14. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
VFORX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VFORX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.86%, less than VBTLX's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFORX Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund | 2.86% | 2.77% | 2.86% | 2.38% | 2.60% | 20.68% | 2.06% | 2.28% | 2.58% | 0.04% | 2.40% | 2.99% |
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% |
Drawdowns
VFORX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFORX drawdown since its inception was -51.63%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFORX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFORX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.63% | -18.81% | -32.82% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.88% | -2.73% | -6.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.32% | -18.14% | -6.18% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.35% | -18.81% | -10.54% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.70% | -3.06% | -4.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.82% | -2.67% | -4.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.96% | 0.96% | +1.00% |
Volatility
VFORX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund (VFORX) has a higher volatility of 4.11% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 1.55%. This indicates that VFORX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBTLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFORX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.11% | 1.55% | +2.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.24% | 2.59% | +4.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.42% | 4.37% | +8.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.35% | 5.98% | +6.37% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.64% | 4.97% | +8.67% |