VPALX vs. DFABX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Pennsylvania Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VPALX) and DFA Short-Term Selective State Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFABX).
VPALX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on May 14, 2001. DFABX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Apr 11, 2022.
Performance
VPALX vs. DFABX - Performance Comparison
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VPALX vs. DFABX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPALX Vanguard Pennsylvania Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | -0.87% | 5.34% | 2.69% | 6.99% | -2.64% |
DFABX DFA Short-Term Selective State Municipal Bond Portfolio | 0.58% | 2.46% | 2.90% | 2.87% | 0.55% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VPALX achieves a -0.87% return, which is significantly lower than DFABX's 0.58% return.
VPALX
- 1D
- 0.28%
- 1M
- -2.82%
- YTD
- -0.87%
- 6M
- 1.37%
- 1Y
- 4.42%
- 3Y*
- 3.68%
- 5Y*
- 1.10%
- 10Y*
- 2.65%
DFABX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -0.05%
- YTD
- 0.58%
- 6M
- 1.12%
- 1Y
- 2.73%
- 3Y*
- 2.60%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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VPALX vs. DFABX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VPALX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than DFABX's 0.25% 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
VPALX vs. DFABX — Risk / Return Rank
VPALX
DFABX
VPALX vs. DFABX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Pennsylvania Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VPALX) and DFA Short-Term Selective State Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFABX). 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.
| VPALX | DFABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.99 | 3.90 | -2.91 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.37 | 7.13 | -5.77 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 3.50 | -2.22 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.09 | 4.84 | -3.75 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.38 | 26.76 | -23.38 |
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
| VPALX | DFABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.99 | 3.90 | -2.91 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.25 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.61 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.02 | 2.44 | -1.42 |
Correlation
The correlation between VPALX and DFABX is 0.41, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VPALX vs. DFABX - Dividend Comparison
VPALX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.74%, more than DFABX's 2.70% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPALX Vanguard Pennsylvania Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.74% | 4.54% | 4.14% | 3.03% | 3.21% | 2.30% | 3.24% | 3.79% | 3.99% | 4.02% | 4.20% | 4.00% |
DFABX DFA Short-Term Selective State Municipal Bond Portfolio | 2.70% | 2.33% | 2.86% | 2.52% | 1.25% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VPALX vs. DFABX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VPALX drawdown since its inception was -15.87%, which is greater than DFABX's maximum drawdown of -2.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VPALX and DFABX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VPALX | DFABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.87% | -2.46% | -13.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.20% | -0.50% | -4.70% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.87% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.87% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.82% | -0.06% | -2.76% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.97% | -0.25% | -1.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.67% | 0.09% | +1.58% |
Volatility
VPALX vs. DFABX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Pennsylvania Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VPALX) has a higher volatility of 1.17% compared to DFA Short-Term Selective State Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFABX) at 0.18%. This indicates that VPALX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFABX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VPALX | DFABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.17% | 0.18% | +0.99% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.83% | 0.40% | +1.43% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.33% | 0.71% | +4.62% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.45% | 0.97% | +3.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.39% | 0.97% | +3.42% |