VNLA vs. DBC
VNLA (Janus Henderson Short Duration Income ETF) and DBC (Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - VNLA is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the FTSE 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while DBC is a Commodities fund tracking the DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VNLA returned 3.83%/yr vs 11.29%/yr for DBC. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions. VNLA charges 0.23%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for DBC.
Performance
VNLA vs. DBC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VNLA achieves a 1.59% return, which is significantly lower than DBC's 27.68% return.
VNLA
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.39%
- YTD
- 1.59%
- 6M
- 1.85%
- 1Y
- 4.77%
- 3Y*
- 5.79%
- 5Y*
- 3.83%
- 10Y*
- —
DBC
- 1D
- -1.04%
- 1M
- -8.35%
- YTD
- 27.68%
- 6M
- 28.76%
- 1Y
- 30.29%
- 3Y*
- 12.92%
- 5Y*
- 11.29%
- 10Y*
- 8.27%
VNLA vs. DBC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VNLA Janus Henderson Short Duration Income ETF | 1.59% | 5.45% | 6.41% | 6.09% | -0.17% | -0.18% | 3.01% | 4.43% | 0.02% | 2.11% |
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 27.68% | 8.10% | 2.18% | -6.19% | 19.34% | 41.36% | -7.84% | 11.84% | -11.63% | 4.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between VNLA and DBC is -0.28, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 17, 2016 | -0.02 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between VNLA and DBC has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.02 to -0.28, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
VNLA vs. DBC — Risk / Return Rank
VNLA
DBC
VNLA vs. DBC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Janus Henderson Short Duration Income ETF (VNLA) and Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC). 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.
| VNLA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +5.72 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +13.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 3.56 | 1.32 | +2.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 11.10 | 3.48 | +7.62 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 57.09 | 9.64 | +47.44 |
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Drawdowns
VNLA vs. DBC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VNLA drawdown since its inception was -4.49%, smaller than the maximum DBC drawdown of -76.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VNLA and DBC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VNLA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -4.49% | -76.36% | +71.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.43% | -9.91% | +9.48% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.49% | -13.82% | +13.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.76% | -27.34% | +25.58% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.71% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -26.14% | +26.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.23% | -46.19% | +45.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.08% | 3.57% | -3.49% |
Volatility
VNLA vs. DBC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Janus Henderson Short Duration Income ETF (VNLA) is 0.15%, while Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) has a volatility of 5.20%. This indicates that VNLA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DBC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VNLA | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.15% | 5.20% | -5.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.46% | 16.11% | -15.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.63% | 18.94% | -18.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.04% | 19.22% | -18.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.42% | 17.82% | -16.40% |
VNLA vs. DBC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VNLA has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is lower than DBC's 0.85% expense ratio.
Dividends
VNLA vs. DBC - Dividend Comparison
VNLA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.77%, more than DBC's 2.61% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 2.61% | 3.33% | 5.22% | 4.94% | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.59% | 1.30% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VNLA Janus Henderson Short Duration Income ETF | 4.77% | 4.84% | 4.97% | 3.95% | 4.35% | 1.67% | 1.21% | 3.13% | 2.43% | 1.79% | 0.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VNLA and DBC have a correlation of -0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DBC has higher volatility (5.20%) compared to VNLA (0.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VNLA dropped -4.49% vs DBC's -76.36%.
On 5-year performance, DBC leads with 11.29% vs 3.83% for VNLA. On fees, VNLA is cheaper at 0.23% per year. On volatility, VNLA has been the lower-risk option at 0.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, DBC has performed better with a 11.29% return vs 3.83%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VNLA is cheaper with a 0.23% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for DBC.
VNLA has the higher dividend yield at 4.77%, compared with 2.61% for DBC.
VNLA is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while DBC is Commodities. VNLA tracks FTSE 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while DBC tracks DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. They also come from different issuers: Janus Henderson and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.23% for VNLA and 0.85% for DBC.
VNLA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.54 vs 1.82), 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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