VMBSX vs. VICSX
VMBSX (Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VICSX (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VMBSX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VICSX is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 5–10 Year Corporate Bond Index. Over the past 10 years, VMBSX returned 1.75%/yr vs 2.66%/yr for VICSX. Their correlation of 0.82 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VMBSX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VICSX.
Performance
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VMBSX achieves a 0.30% return, which is significantly higher than VICSX's -0.51% return. Over the past 10 years, VMBSX has underperformed VICSX with an annualized return of 1.75%, while VICSX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.66% annualized return.
VMBSX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -0.65%
- 6M
- -0.18%
- YTD
- 0.30%
- 1Y
- 3.81%
- 3Y*
- 4.51%
- 5Y*
- 0.34%
- 10Y*
- 1.75%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.33%
VICSX
- 1D
- 0.14%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- 6M
- -0.68%
- YTD
- -0.51%
- 1Y
- 2.40%
- 3Y*
- 5.76%
- 5Y*
- 0.73%
- 10Y*
- 2.66%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.26%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMBSX Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.30% | 8.43% | 1.76% | 4.99% | -11.56% | -1.35% | 3.74% | 11.47% | 0.87% | 2.32% |
VICSX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.51% | 9.36% | 3.66% | 8.88% | -14.09% | -1.56% | 9.52% | 13.99% | -1.73% | 5.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between VMBSX and VICSX is 0.94, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | 0.82 |
The correlation between VMBSX and VICSX 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
VMBSX vs. VICSX — Risk / Return Rank
VMBSX
VICSX
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VMBSX) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VICSX). 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.
| VMBSX | VICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.58 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.14 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.74 | 1.09 | +0.65 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.96 | 3.04 | +1.92 |
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Drawdowns
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VMBSX drawdown since its inception was -17.44%, smaller than the maximum VICSX drawdown of -20.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VMBSX and VICSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VMBSX | VICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.44% | -20.53% | +3.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.67% | -2.98% | +0.31% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.43% | -5.22% | -1.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.08% | -20.46% | +3.38% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.44% | -20.53% | +3.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.72% | -2.02% | +0.30% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.47% | -3.14% | +0.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 1.07% | -0.14% |
Volatility
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VMBSX) has a higher volatility of 1.14% compared to Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VICSX) at 1.03%. This indicates that VMBSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VICSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VMBSX | VICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.14% | 1.03% | +0.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.03% | 3.11% | -0.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.79% | 3.90% | -0.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.44% | 6.17% | +0.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.88% | 5.34% | -0.46% |
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VMBSX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than VICSX's 0.06% 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%.
Dividends
VMBSX vs. VICSX - Dividend Comparison
VMBSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.85%, less than VICSX's 4.42% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VICSX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.42% | 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 | 3.85% | 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, VMBSX and VICSX 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 (1.14%) compared to VICSX (1.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VMBSX dropped -17.44% vs VICSX's -20.53%.
VMBSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.23 vs 0.84), 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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