VGAVX vs. VBTLX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VGAVX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX).
VGAVX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on May 31, 2013. VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGAVX Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -2.24% | 12.98% | 6.27% | 10.44% | -16.68% | -1.74% | 5.82% | 14.01% | -2.77% | 8.45% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.28% | 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, VGAVX achieves a -2.24% return, which is significantly lower than VBTLX's -0.28% return. Over the past 10 years, VGAVX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 3.55%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.62% annualized return.
VGAVX
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -3.35%
- YTD
- -2.24%
- 6M
- 0.38%
- 1Y
- 7.68%
- 3Y*
- 8.23%
- 5Y*
- 2.23%
- 10Y*
- 3.55%
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -1.63%
- YTD
- -0.28%
- 6M
- 0.40%
- 1Y
- 3.66%
- 3Y*
- 3.51%
- 5Y*
- 0.19%
- 10Y*
- 1.62%
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VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGAVX has a 0.20% 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
VGAVX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VGAVX
VBTLX
VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VGAVX) 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.
| VGAVX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.82 | 0.92 | +0.90 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.58 | 1.33 | +1.25 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.16 | +0.21 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.08 | 1.66 | +0.42 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.71 | 4.70 | +4.01 |
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
| VGAVX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.82 | 0.92 | +0.90 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.36 | 0.03 | +0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 0.33 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 0.76 | -0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGAVX and VBTLX is 0.47, 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
VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VGAVX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.44%, more than VBTLX's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGAVX Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.44% | 5.88% | 6.56% | 5.50% | 5.29% | 4.27% | 4.20% | 4.60% | 4.54% | 4.62% | 4.73% | 4.94% |
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
VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGAVX drawdown since its inception was -26.77%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGAVX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGAVX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.77% | -18.81% | -7.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.97% | -2.73% | -1.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.77% | -18.14% | -8.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.77% | -18.81% | -7.96% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.92% | -2.86% | -1.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.73% | -2.67% | -2.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.95% | 0.97% | -0.02% |
Volatility
VGAVX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VGAVX) has a higher volatility of 1.86% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 1.55%. This indicates that VGAVX'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
| VGAVX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.86% | 1.55% | +0.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.70% | 2.59% | +0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.52% | 4.36% | +0.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.27% | 5.98% | +0.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.35% | 4.97% | +1.38% |