VICSX vs. VMBSX
VICSX (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VMBSX (Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VICSX is a Corporate Bonds fund managed by Vanguard, while VMBSX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VICSX returned 2.98%/yr vs 1.87%/yr for VMBSX. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.07% expense ratio.
Performance
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VICSX achieves a 0.31% return, which is significantly lower than VMBSX's 0.81% return. Over the past 10 years, VICSX has outperformed VMBSX with an annualized return of 2.98%, while VMBSX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.87% annualized return.
VICSX
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- 0.23%
- YTD
- 0.31%
- 6M
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 6.45%
- 3Y*
- 6.23%
- 5Y*
- 1.34%
- 10Y*
- 2.98%
VMBSX
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.81%
- 6M
- 1.16%
- 1Y
- 6.98%
- 3Y*
- 4.69%
- 5Y*
- 0.53%
- 10Y*
- 1.87%
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VICSX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.31% | 9.36% | 3.66% | 8.88% | -14.09% | -1.56% | 9.52% | 13.99% | -1.73% | 5.47% |
VMBSX Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.81% | 8.43% | 1.76% | 4.99% | -11.56% | -1.35% | 3.74% | 11.47% | 0.87% | 2.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between VICSX and VMBSX is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009 | 0.82 |
The correlation between VICSX and VMBSX shifts across timeframes, from 0.82 (all time) to 0.94 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VICSX vs. VMBSX — Risk / Return Rank
VICSX
VMBSX
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VICSX) and Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VMBSX). 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.
| VICSX | VMBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.59 | 1.74 | -0.15 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.34 | 2.59 | -0.26 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.32 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.18 | 2.60 | -0.43 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.29 | 8.83 | -1.55 |
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
| VICSX | VMBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.59 | 1.74 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | 0.08 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 0.39 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.85 | 0.59 | +0.27 |
Drawdowns
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VICSX drawdown since its inception was -20.53%, which is greater than VMBSX's maximum drawdown of -17.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VICSX and VMBSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VICSX | VMBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.53% | -17.44% | -3.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.98% | -2.67% | -0.31% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.02% | -7.53% | +1.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.53% | -17.12% | -3.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.53% | -17.44% | -3.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.21% | -1.22% | +0.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.16% | -2.48% | -0.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.89% | 0.79% | +0.10% |
Volatility
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VICSX) is 1.37%, while Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VMBSX) has a volatility of 1.46%. This indicates that VICSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VMBSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VICSX | VMBSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.37% | 1.46% | -0.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.90% | 2.74% | +0.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.94% | 3.83% | +0.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.17% | 6.40% | -0.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.34% | 4.86% | +0.48% |
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VICSX and VMBSX have an expense ratio of 0.07%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VICSX vs. VMBSX - Dividend Comparison
VICSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.77%, more than VMBSX's 4.16% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VICSX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.77% | 4.59% | 4.77% | 3.70% | 3.00% | 2.76% | 2.77% | 3.35% | 3.62% | 3.22% | 3.03% | 3.36% |
VMBSX Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.16% | 4.18% | 4.24% | 3.28% | 2.31% | 0.99% | 2.00% | 7.48% | 2.72% | 2.16% | 1.98% | 2.01% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, VICSX and VMBSX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VMBSX has higher volatility (1.46%) compared to VICSX (1.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VICSX dropped -20.53% vs VMBSX's -17.44%.
VMBSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.74 vs 1.59), 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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