VGLT vs. VBTLX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX).
VGLT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Long Treasury Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009. VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VGLT vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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VGLT vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGLT Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF | -0.14% | 5.35% | -6.28% | 3.27% | -29.34% | -4.98% | 17.57% | 14.30% | -1.54% | 8.64% |
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, VGLT achieves a -0.14% return, which is significantly higher than VBTLX's -0.28% return. Over the past 10 years, VGLT has underperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of -0.87%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively higher 1.62% annualized return.
VGLT
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- -3.18%
- YTD
- -0.14%
- 6M
- -0.79%
- 1Y
- -0.40%
- 3Y*
- -1.59%
- 5Y*
- -4.89%
- 10Y*
- -0.87%
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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VGLT vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGLT has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than VBTLX's 0.05% 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%.
Return for Risk
VGLT vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VGLT
VBTLX
VGLT vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) 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.
| VGLT | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.04 | 0.92 | -0.96 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.02 | 1.33 | -1.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.16 | -0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.04 | 1.66 | -1.62 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.09 | 4.70 | -4.60 |
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
| VGLT | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.04 | 0.92 | -0.96 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.34 | 0.03 | -0.37 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.06 | 0.33 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.19 | 0.76 | -0.57 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGLT and VBTLX is 0.89, 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
VGLT vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VGLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.54%, more than VBTLX's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGLT Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF | 4.54% | 4.44% | 4.33% | 3.33% | 2.84% | 1.82% | 2.15% | 2.46% | 2.71% | 2.55% | 2.69% | 3.21% |
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
VGLT vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGLT drawdown since its inception was -46.18%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGLT and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGLT | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.18% | -18.81% | -27.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.48% | -2.73% | -5.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.98% | -18.14% | -22.84% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.18% | -18.81% | -27.37% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -36.66% | -2.86% | -33.80% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.83% | -2.67% | -12.16% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.86% | 0.97% | +2.89% |
Volatility
VGLT vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) has a higher volatility of 3.45% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 1.55%. This indicates that VGLT'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
| VGLT | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.45% | 1.55% | +1.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.00% | 2.59% | +3.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.32% | 4.36% | +5.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.59% | 5.98% | +8.61% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.84% | 4.97% | +8.87% |