VMBSX vs. VTSAX
VMBSX (Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VMBSX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VTSAX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VMBSX returned 1.85%/yr vs 15.03%/yr for VTSAX. At a correlation of -0.05, they often move in opposite directions. VMBSX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VTSAX.
Performance
VMBSX vs. VTSAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VMBSX achieves a 0.60% return, which is significantly lower than VTSAX's 11.13% return. Over the past 10 years, VMBSX has underperformed VTSAX with an annualized return of 1.85%, while VTSAX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.03% annualized return.
VMBSX
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.60%
- 6M
- 0.94%
- 1Y
- 6.11%
- 3Y*
- 4.62%
- 5Y*
- 0.47%
- 10Y*
- 1.85%
VTSAX
- 1D
- -0.75%
- 1M
- 4.07%
- YTD
- 11.13%
- 6M
- 10.86%
- 1Y
- 28.10%
- 3Y*
- 22.03%
- 5Y*
- 12.68%
- 10Y*
- 15.03%
VMBSX vs. VTSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMBSX Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.60% | 8.43% | 1.76% | 4.99% | -11.56% | -1.35% | 3.74% | 11.47% | 0.87% | 2.32% |
VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 11.13% | 17.12% | 23.23% | 26.51% | -19.52% | 25.72% | 20.98% | 30.79% | -5.18% | 21.16% |
Correlation
The correlation between VMBSX and VTSAX is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009 | -0.05 |
The correlation between VMBSX and VTSAX shifts across timeframes, from -0.05 (all time) to 0.31 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VMBSX vs. VTSAX — Risk / Return Rank
VMBSX
VTSAX
VMBSX vs. VTSAX - 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 Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX). 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.
| VMBSX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.54 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.52 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.42 | -0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.54 | 3.17 | -0.62 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.52 | 14.61 | -6.09 |
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
| VMBSX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.78 | 2.31 | -0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.07 | 0.73 | -0.66 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 | 0.82 | -0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.58 | 0.47 | +0.11 |
Drawdowns
VMBSX vs. VTSAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VMBSX drawdown since its inception was -17.44%, smaller than the maximum VTSAX drawdown of -55.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VMBSX and VTSAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VMBSX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.44% | -55.33% | +37.89% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.67% | -8.92% | +6.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -7.53% | -19.36% | +11.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.12% | -25.36% | +8.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.44% | -34.97% | +17.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.43% | -0.75% | -0.68% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.48% | -9.00% | +6.52% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.79% | 1.93% | -1.14% |
Volatility
VMBSX vs. VTSAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VMBSX) is 1.43%, while Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) has a volatility of 3.05%. This indicates that VMBSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTSAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VMBSX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.43% | 3.05% | -1.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.72% | 9.20% | -6.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.82% | 12.22% | -8.40% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.40% | 17.36% | -10.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.86% | 18.41% | -13.55% |
VMBSX vs. VTSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VMBSX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than VTSAX's 0.04% 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. VTSAX - Dividend Comparison
VMBSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.17%, more than VTSAX's 1.01% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMBSX Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.17% | 4.18% | 4.24% | 3.28% | 2.31% | 0.99% | 2.00% | 7.48% | 2.72% | 2.16% | 1.98% | 2.01% |
VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.01% | 1.11% | 1.26% | 1.42% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.41% | 1.76% | 2.03% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VMBSX and VTSAX have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTSAX has higher volatility (3.05%) compared to VMBSX (1.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VMBSX dropped -17.44% vs VTSAX's -55.33%.
VTSAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.31 vs 1.78), 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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