VMLTX vs. VWITX
VMLTX (Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares) and VWITX (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares) are both Municipal Bonds funds from Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VMLTX returned 2.13%/yr vs 2.39%/yr for VWITX. A 0.74 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.17% expense ratio.
Performance
VMLTX vs. VWITX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VMLTX achieves a 1.01% return, which is significantly lower than VWITX's 1.30% return. Over the past 10 years, VMLTX has underperformed VWITX with an annualized return of 2.13%, while VWITX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.39% annualized return.
VMLTX
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- 0.35%
- YTD
- 1.01%
- 6M
- 1.37%
- 1Y
- 4.36%
- 3Y*
- 4.24%
- 5Y*
- 2.12%
- 10Y*
- 2.13%
VWITX
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 0.64%
- YTD
- 1.30%
- 6M
- 1.72%
- 1Y
- 6.90%
- 3Y*
- 4.46%
- 5Y*
- 1.63%
- 10Y*
- 2.39%
VMLTX vs. VWITX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMLTX Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 1.01% | 5.39% | 3.14% | 4.19% | -2.98% | 0.83% | 3.30% | 4.11% | 1.56% | 2.02% |
VWITX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 1.30% | 5.89% | 2.23% | 5.82% | -6.90% | 0.74% | 5.14% | 7.01% | 1.26% | 4.54% |
Correlation
The correlation between VMLTX and VWITX is 0.74, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 1, 1987 | 0.74 |
The correlation between VMLTX and VWITX shifts across timeframes, from 0.74 (1 year) to 0.84 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VMLTX vs. VWITX — Risk / Return Rank
VMLTX
VWITX
VMLTX vs. VWITX - 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 Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWITX). 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 | VWITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.03 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.64 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.96 | 1.80 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.86 | 2.31 | +0.55 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.49 | 7.69 | +1.81 |
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 | VWITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.93 | 2.97 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.14 | 0.50 | +0.64 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.10 | 0.70 | +0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.93 | 0.77 | +1.16 |
Drawdowns
VMLTX vs. VWITX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VMLTX drawdown since its inception was -6.41%, smaller than the maximum VWITX drawdown of -29.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VMLTX and VWITX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VMLTX | VWITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.41% | -29.13% | +22.72% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.53% | -2.99% | +1.46% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.02% | -4.42% | +2.40% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.69% | -11.46% | +5.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -6.41% | -11.46% | +5.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.40% | -0.89% | +0.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.48% | -3.58% | +3.10% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.46% | 0.90% | -0.44% |
Volatility
VMLTX vs. VWITX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VMLTX) is 0.46%, while Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWITX) has a volatility of 0.88%. This indicates that VMLTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWITX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VMLTX | VWITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.46% | 0.88% | -0.42% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.14% | 1.86% | -0.72% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.49% | 2.34% | -0.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.86% | 3.26% | -1.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.93% | 3.42% | -1.49% |
VMLTX vs. VWITX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VMLTX and VWITX have an expense ratio of 0.17%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VMLTX vs. VWITX - Dividend Comparison
VMLTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.07%, less than VWITX's 3.25% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMLTX Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.07% | 3.75% | 3.27% | 2.30% | 1.56% | 1.64% | 1.62% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 1.55% | 1.52% | 1.50% |
VWITX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.25% | 3.96% | 3.53% | 2.70% | 2.43% | 1.83% | 2.32% | 2.80% | 2.80% | 2.72% | 2.80% | 2.88% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VMLTX and VWITX have a correlation of 0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VWITX has higher volatility (0.88%) compared to VMLTX (0.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VMLTX dropped -6.41% vs VWITX's -29.13%.
VWITX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.97 vs 2.93), 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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