VRNIX vs. VBIAX
VRNIX (Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares) and VBIAX (Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VRNIX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VBIAX is a Diversified Portfolio fund tracking the 60% CRSP US Total Market Index / 40% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Over the past 10 years, VRNIX returned 15.51%/yr vs 9.83%/yr for VBIAX. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. Both charge a 0.07% expense ratio.
Performance
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRNIX achieves a 11.37% return, which is significantly higher than VBIAX's 7.35% return. Over the past 10 years, VRNIX has outperformed VBIAX with an annualized return of 15.51%, while VBIAX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.83% annualized return.
VRNIX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- 5.72%
- YTD
- 11.37%
- 6M
- 11.32%
- 1Y
- 28.06%
- 3Y*
- 22.29%
- 5Y*
- 13.78%
- 10Y*
- 15.51%
VBIAX
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 3.71%
- YTD
- 7.35%
- 6M
- 7.26%
- 1Y
- 19.35%
- 3Y*
- 15.04%
- 5Y*
- 8.01%
- 10Y*
- 9.83%
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRNIX Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 11.37% | 16.94% | 24.44% | 26.49% | -19.19% | 28.64% | 20.90% | 31.36% | -4.84% | 21.58% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 7.35% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 17.54% | -16.90% | 14.21% | 16.40% | 21.78% | -2.86% | 13.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between VRNIX and VBIAX is 0.98 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 23, 2010 | 0.98 |
The correlation between VRNIX and VBIAX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.97 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VRNIX vs. VBIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VRNIX
VBIAX
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRNIX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX). 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.
| VRNIX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.29 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.47 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.27 | 3.42 | -0.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.13 | 15.60 | -0.47 |
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
| VRNIX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42 | 2.52 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.80 | 0.73 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 | 0.88 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | 0.64 | +0.22 |
Drawdowns
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRNIX drawdown since its inception was -34.57%, roughly equal to the maximum VBIAX drawdown of -35.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRNIX and VBIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VRNIX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.57% | -35.90% | +1.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.85% | -5.83% | -3.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.40% | -11.70% | -7.70% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.14% | -21.53% | -3.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.57% | -22.78% | -11.79% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.90% | -4.44% | +0.54% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.91% | 1.27% | +0.64% |
Volatility
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRNIX) has a higher volatility of 2.85% compared to Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) at 2.26%. This indicates that VRNIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VRNIX | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.85% | 2.26% | +0.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.03% | 6.11% | +2.92% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.97% | 7.90% | +4.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.24% | 11.05% | +6.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.28% | 11.21% | +7.07% |
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VRNIX and VBIAX have an expense ratio of 0.07%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VRNIX vs. VBIAX - Dividend Comparison
VRNIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.99%, less than VBIAX's 5.21% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.21% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
VRNIX Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.99% | 0.82% | 1.21% | 1.41% | 1.59% | 2.86% | 1.46% | 1.65% | 2.00% | 1.73% | 1.93% | 1.92% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.98, VRNIX and VBIAX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VRNIX has higher volatility (2.85%) compared to VBIAX (2.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VRNIX dropped -34.57% vs VBIAX's -35.90%.
VBIAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.52 vs 2.42), 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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