VMLTX vs. DFCMX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VMLTX) and DFA California Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFCMX).
VMLTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Aug 31, 1987. DFCMX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Apr 1, 2007.
Performance
VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Performance Comparison
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VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMLTX Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | -0.14% | 5.39% | 3.14% | 4.19% | -2.98% | 0.83% | 3.30% | 4.11% | 1.56% | 2.02% |
DFCMX DFA California Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio | 0.44% | 2.55% | 2.84% | 2.53% | -0.76% | -0.13% | 0.67% | 1.84% | 1.24% | 1.07% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VMLTX achieves a -0.14% return, which is significantly lower than DFCMX's 0.44% return. Over the past 10 years, VMLTX has outperformed DFCMX with an annualized return of 2.03%, while DFCMX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.17% annualized return.
VMLTX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -1.53%
- YTD
- -0.14%
- 6M
- 0.55%
- 1Y
- 3.78%
- 3Y*
- 3.68%
- 5Y*
- 1.96%
- 10Y*
- 2.03%
DFCMX
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- -0.15%
- YTD
- 0.44%
- 6M
- 0.96%
- 1Y
- 2.70%
- 3Y*
- 2.46%
- 5Y*
- 1.47%
- 10Y*
- 1.17%
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VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VMLTX has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than DFCMX's 0.19% 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
VMLTX vs. DFCMX — Risk / Return Rank
VMLTX
DFCMX
VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VMLTX) and DFA California Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFCMX). 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.
| VMLTX | DFCMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.94 | 3.45 | -1.51 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.89 | 6.05 | -3.16 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.64 | 2.84 | -1.20 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.27 | 4.25 | -1.98 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.90 | 23.72 | -13.82 |
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
| VMLTX | DFCMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.94 | 3.45 | -1.51 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.07 | 1.65 | -0.57 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.06 | 1.33 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.92 | 1.28 | +0.64 |
Correlation
The correlation between VMLTX and DFCMX is 0.36, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Dividend Comparison
VMLTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.06%, more than DFCMX's 2.57% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMLTX Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.06% | 3.75% | 3.27% | 2.30% | 1.56% | 1.64% | 1.62% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 1.55% | 1.52% | 1.50% |
DFCMX DFA California Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio | 2.57% | 2.23% | 2.61% | 1.70% | 0.71% | 0.36% | 0.87% | 1.43% | 1.04% | 0.87% | 0.86% | 0.82% |
Drawdowns
VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VMLTX drawdown since its inception was -6.41%, which is greater than DFCMX's maximum drawdown of -2.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VMLTX and DFCMX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VMLTX | DFCMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.41% | -2.20% | -4.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.02% | -0.59% | -1.43% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.69% | -2.20% | -3.49% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -6.41% | -2.20% | -4.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.53% | -0.16% | -1.37% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.48% | -0.26% | -0.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.46% | 0.11% | +0.35% |
Volatility
VMLTX vs. DFCMX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VMLTX) has a higher volatility of 0.50% compared to DFA California Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFCMX) at 0.20%. This indicates that VMLTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFCMX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VMLTX | DFCMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.50% | 0.20% | +0.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.02% | 0.41% | +0.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.33% | 0.79% | +1.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.84% | 0.90% | +0.94% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.92% | 0.88% | +1.04% |