VFSTX vs. VTIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX).
VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982. VTIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 29, 2010.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VTIAX - Performance Comparison
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VFSTX vs. VTIAX - 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% |
VTIAX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares | -1.02% | 32.18% | 5.34% | 15.28% | -16.02% | 8.59% | 11.27% | 21.52% | -14.46% | 27.54% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSTX achieves a -0.40% return, which is significantly higher than VTIAX's -1.02% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has underperformed VTIAX with an annualized return of 2.49%, while VTIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.51% 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%
VTIAX
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- -11.11%
- YTD
- -1.02%
- 6M
- 3.45%
- 1Y
- 24.00%
- 3Y*
- 14.20%
- 5Y*
- 6.87%
- 10Y*
- 8.51%
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VFSTX vs. VTIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VTIAX's 0.11% 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. VTIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VFSTX
VTIAX
VFSTX vs. VTIAX - 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 International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX). 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 | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.90 | 1.50 | +0.40 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.11 | 1.99 | +1.12 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.30 | +0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.90 | 1.92 | +0.98 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.78 | 7.64 | +4.14 |
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 | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.90 | 1.50 | +0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 | 0.47 | +0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.02 | 0.54 | +0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.51 | 0.38 | +1.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VTIAX is 0.03, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VFSTX vs. VTIAX - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.20%, more than VTIAX's 3.03% 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% |
VTIAX Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.03% | 3.15% | 3.33% | 3.22% | 3.04% | 3.05% | 2.10% | 3.04% | 3.16% | 2.73% | 2.93% | 2.84% |
Drawdowns
VFSTX vs. VTIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSTX drawdown since its inception was -9.35%, smaller than the maximum VTIAX drawdown of -35.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSTX and VTIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSTX | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.35% | -35.83% | +26.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -11.28% | +9.57% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.35% | -29.56% | +20.21% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.35% | -35.83% | +26.48% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.42% | -11.28% | +9.86% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.12% | -8.15% | +7.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 2.84% | -2.42% |
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VTIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) is 0.75%, while Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) has a volatility of 6.80%. This indicates that VFSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSTX | VTIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.75% | 6.80% | -6.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 10.50% | -9.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.51% | 15.53% | -13.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 14.80% | -11.86% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.46% | 15.83% | -13.37% |