VGWAX vs. VBIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VGWAX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX).
VGWAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 2, 2017. VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Performance Comparison
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VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGWAX Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares | 1.04% | 17.48% | 6.27% | 12.54% | -7.07% | 13.51% | 7.51% | 22.16% | -5.05% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.19% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 17.54% | -16.90% | 14.21% | 16.40% | 21.78% | -4.08% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGWAX achieves a 1.04% return, which is significantly higher than VBIAX's -4.19% return.
VGWAX
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -6.46%
- YTD
- 1.04%
- 6M
- 5.86%
- 1Y
- 13.97%
- 3Y*
- 11.30%
- 5Y*
- 7.50%
- 10Y*
- —
VBIAX
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- -5.43%
- YTD
- -4.19%
- 6M
- -2.40%
- 1Y
- 10.89%
- 3Y*
- 11.56%
- 5Y*
- 6.33%
- 10Y*
- 8.77%
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VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGWAX has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is higher than VBIAX's 0.07% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VGWAX vs. VBIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VGWAX
VBIAX
VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VGWAX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX). 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.
| VGWAX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.50 | 1.01 | +0.49 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.05 | 1.51 | +0.55 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.22 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.95 | 1.31 | +0.64 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.80 | 6.22 | +1.59 |
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
| VGWAX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.50 | 1.01 | +0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.83 | 0.58 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.79 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.74 | 0.60 | +0.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between VGWAX and VBIAX is 0.86, 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
VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Dividend Comparison
VGWAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.69%, more than VBIAX's 5.84% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGWAX Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares | 6.69% | 6.78% | 7.47% | 2.66% | 4.50% | 3.36% | 1.64% | 2.08% | 2.62% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.84% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
Drawdowns
VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGWAX drawdown since its inception was -25.28%, smaller than the maximum VBIAX drawdown of -35.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGWAX and VBIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGWAX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -25.28% | -35.90% | +10.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.04% | -7.78% | +0.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.46% | -21.53% | +4.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -22.78% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.46% | -5.83% | -0.63% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.94% | -4.47% | +1.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.76% | 1.64% | +0.12% |
Volatility
VGWAX vs. VBIAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Global Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VGWAX) has a higher volatility of 3.38% compared to Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) at 3.07%. This indicates that VGWAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGWAX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.38% | 3.07% | +0.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.80% | 5.93% | -0.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.58% | 11.27% | -1.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 9.09% | 11.02% | -1.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.99% | 11.17% | -0.18% |