VFSTX vs. VTBNX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBNX).
VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982. VTBNX is managed by Vanguard.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Performance Comparison
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VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | -0.40% | 6.75% | 4.98% | 6.06% | -5.84% | -0.70% | 5.16% | 5.75% | 0.87% | 2.02% |
VTBNX Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund | -0.60% | 7.18% | 1.32% | 5.68% | -13.12% | -1.82% | 7.39% | 8.71% | -0.27% | 3.62% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSTX achieves a -0.40% return, which is significantly higher than VTBNX's -0.60% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has outperformed VTBNX with an annualized return of 2.49%, while VTBNX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.56% annualized return.
VFSTX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -1.42%
- YTD
- -0.40%
- 6M
- 0.73%
- 1Y
- 4.26%
- 3Y*
- 5.14%
- 5Y*
- 2.21%
- 10Y*
- 2.49%
VTBNX
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -2.26%
- YTD
- -0.60%
- 6M
- 0.40%
- 1Y
- 3.62%
- 3Y*
- 3.40%
- 5Y*
- 0.22%
- 10Y*
- 1.56%
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VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VTBNX's 0.02% 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
VFSTX vs. VTBNX — Risk / Return Rank
VFSTX
VTBNX
VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBNX). 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.
| VFSTX | VTBNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.90 | 0.98 | +0.92 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.11 | 1.41 | +1.70 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.17 | +0.25 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.90 | 1.77 | +1.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.78 | 5.02 | +6.75 |
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
| VFSTX | VTBNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.90 | 0.98 | +0.92 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 | 0.04 | +0.72 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.02 | 0.32 | +0.70 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.51 | 0.36 | +1.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VTBNX is 0.81, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.20%, more than VTBNX's 3.68% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 4.20% | 4.48% | 4.06% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.70% | 2.24% | 2.83% | 2.68% | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.99% |
VTBNX Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund | 3.68% | 3.95% | 3.77% | 3.13% | 2.54% | 1.82% | 3.12% | 2.79% | 2.56% | 2.52% | 2.55% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSTX drawdown since its inception was -9.35%, smaller than the maximum VTBNX drawdown of -18.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSTX and VTBNX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSTX | VTBNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.35% | -18.71% | +9.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -2.67% | +0.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.35% | -18.05% | +8.70% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.35% | -18.71% | +9.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.42% | -3.11% | +1.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.12% | -4.91% | +3.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.94% | -0.52% |
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VTBNX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) is 0.75%, while Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBNX) has a volatility of 1.52%. This indicates that VFSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTBNX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSTX | VTBNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.75% | 1.52% | -0.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 2.54% | -1.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.51% | 4.32% | -1.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 5.92% | -2.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.46% | 4.91% | -2.45% |