VGK vs. TLT
VGK (Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VGK is a Europe Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VGK returned 10.04%/yr vs -2.33%/yr for TLT. Their -0.20 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. VGK charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
VGK vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGK achieves a 10.75% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's -3.18% return. Over the past 10 years, VGK has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of 10.04%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -2.33% annualized return.
VGK
- 1D
- 0.38%
- 1M
- 1.77%
- 6M
- 4.99%
- YTD
- 10.75%
- 1Y
- 24.53%
- 3Y*
- 17.52%
- 5Y*
- 9.15%
- 10Y*
- 10.04%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.49%
TLT
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- -3.49%
- 6M
- -2.86%
- YTD
- -3.18%
- 1Y
- -2.12%
- 3Y*
- -1.15%
- 5Y*
- -8.33%
- 10Y*
- -2.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.48%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.39B | $2.06B | $2.20B | |
| $216.43M | $182.63M | $227.46M |
VGK vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 10.75% | 35.83% | 1.88% | 20.19% | -15.98% | 16.89% | 5.43% | 24.85% | -14.89% | 26.98% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -3.18% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGK and TLT is 0.37, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.37 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.28 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.16 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | -0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 10, 2005 | -0.20 |
The correlation between VGK and TLT shifts across timeframes, from -0.20 (all time) to 0.37 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VGK vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
VGK
TLT
VGK vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VGK | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.79 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.51 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 0.97 | +0.30 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.04 | -0.28 | +2.31 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.76 | -0.59 | +8.35 |
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Drawdowns
VGK vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGK drawdown since its inception was -63.61%, which is greater than TLT's maximum drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGK and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGK | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.61% | -48.35% | -15.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.09% | -7.74% | -4.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.31% | -14.79% | +0.48% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.74% | -43.70% | +10.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.24% | -48.35% | +11.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.07% | -42.17% | +42.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.25% | -14.00% | +0.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.17% | 3.60% | -0.43% |
Volatility
VGK vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) has a higher volatility of 4.11% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.51%. This indicates that VGK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGK | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.11% | 2.51% | +1.60% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.73% | 6.84% | +6.89% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.88% | 9.24% | +6.64% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.98% | 15.74% | +2.24% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.49% | 14.83% | +3.66% |
VGK vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGK has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than TLT's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VGK vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
VGK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.82%, less than TLT's 4.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.75% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 2.82% | 2.86% | 3.61% | 3.15% | 3.25% | 3.05% | 2.11% | 3.27% | 3.95% | 2.70% | 3.52% | 3.25% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGK and TLT have a correlation of 0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VGK has higher volatility (4.11%) compared to TLT (2.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGK dropped -63.61% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 10-year performance, VGK leads with 10.04% vs -2.33% for TLT. On fees, VGK is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, TLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VGK has performed better with a 10.04% return vs -2.33%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGK is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.
TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.75%, compared with 2.82% for VGK.
VGK is categorized as Europe Equities, while TLT is Government Bonds. VGK tracks FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index, while TLT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for VGK and 0.15% for TLT.
VGK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs -0.23), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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