VFSTX vs. VUSFX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) and Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VUSFX).
VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982. VUSFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 24, 2015.
Performance
VFSTX vs. VUSFX - Performance Comparison
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VFSTX vs. VUSFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | -0.21% | 6.75% | 4.98% | 6.06% | -5.84% | -0.70% | 5.16% | 5.75% | 0.87% | 2.02% |
VUSFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 0.66% | 5.11% | 6.11% | 5.53% | -0.38% | 0.08% | 2.10% | 3.39% | 2.10% | 1.37% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSTX achieves a -0.21% return, which is significantly lower than VUSFX's 0.66% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSTX has underperformed VUSFX with an annualized return of 2.51%, while VUSFX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.67% annualized return.
VFSTX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- YTD
- -0.21%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 4.46%
- 3Y*
- 5.21%
- 5Y*
- 2.23%
- 10Y*
- 2.51%
VUSFX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -0.05%
- YTD
- 0.66%
- 6M
- 1.71%
- 1Y
- 4.41%
- 3Y*
- 5.36%
- 5Y*
- 3.37%
- 10Y*
- 2.67%
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VFSTX vs. VUSFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VUSFX's 0.10% 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. VUSFX — Risk / Return Rank
VFSTX
VUSFX
VFSTX vs. VUSFX - 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 Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VUSFX). 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 | VUSFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.81 | 6.66 | -4.85 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.93 | 11.92 | -8.99 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 3.66 | -2.26 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.90 | 12.88 | -9.98 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.58 | 74.29 | -62.72 |
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 | VUSFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.81 | 6.66 | -4.85 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.76 | 4.21 | -3.45 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.02 | 3.93 | -2.91 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.51 | 3.94 | -2.43 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSTX and VUSFX is 0.57, 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
VFSTX vs. VUSFX - Dividend Comparison
VFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.19%, which matches VUSFX's 4.22% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 4.19% | 4.48% | 4.06% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.70% | 2.24% | 2.83% | 2.68% | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.99% |
VUSFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 4.22% | 4.73% | 5.52% | 4.15% | 1.38% | 0.53% | 1.62% | 2.68% | 2.23% | 1.52% | 1.07% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VFSTX vs. VUSFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSTX drawdown since its inception was -9.35%, which is greater than VUSFX's maximum drawdown of -1.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSTX and VUSFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSTX | VUSFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.35% | -1.71% | -7.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -0.35% | -1.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.35% | -1.71% | -7.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.35% | -1.71% | -7.64% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.23% | -0.05% | -1.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.12% | -0.15% | -0.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.43% | 0.06% | +0.37% |
Volatility
VFSTX vs. VUSFX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) has a higher volatility of 0.78% compared to Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VUSFX) at 0.28%. This indicates that VFSTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VUSFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSTX | VUSFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.78% | 0.28% | +0.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 0.43% | +1.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.51% | 0.67% | +1.84% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 0.81% | +2.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.46% | 0.68% | +1.78% |