VSB.TO vs. VSBIX

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VSB.TO (Vanguard Canadian Short Term Bond) and VSBIX (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares) are both funds - VSB.TO is a Canadian Government Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada Short Term Government Bond Index, while VSBIX is a Government Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VSB.TO returned 1.94%/yr vs 2.46%/yr for VSBIX. At a 0.17 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VSB.TO charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for VSBIX.

Performance

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard Canadian Short Term Bond (VSB.TO) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSBIX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

VSB.TO is traded in CAD, while VSBIX is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the VSBIX values have been converted to CAD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VSB.TO achieves a 0.97% return, which is significantly lower than VSBIX's 1.39% return. Over the past 10 years, VSB.TO has underperformed VSBIX with an annualized return of 1.94%, while VSBIX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.46% annualized return.

VSB.TO

• 1D: -0.04%
• 1M: 0.92%
• YTD: 0.97%
• 6M: 0.78%
• 1Y: 2.90%
• 3Y*: 4.65%
• 5Y*: 2.02%
• 10Y*: 1.94%

VSBIX

• 1D: 0.31%
• 1M: 1.69%
• YTD: 1.39%
• 6M: 0.01%
• 1Y: 4.39%
• 3Y*: 5.36%
• 5Y*: 4.65%
• 10Y*: 2.46%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VSB.TO Vanguard Canadian Short Term Bond	0.97%	3.66%	5.54%	4.92%	-3.93%	-1.15%	5.29%	3.06%	1.67%	-0.36%
VSBIX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares	1.39%	0.29%	13.34%	1.99%	2.98%	-1.57%	1.37%	-1.56%	10.12%	-6.00%

Correlation

The correlation between VSB.TO and VSBIX is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.11
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.18
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.17
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.18
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 7, 2011	0.17

Return for Risk

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VSB.TO

VSB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 43
VSB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 43
VSB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
VSB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 47
VSB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
VSB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 42

VSBIX

VSBIX Risk / Return Rank: 88
VSBIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 84
VSBIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
VSBIX Omega Ratio Rank: 85
VSBIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
VSBIX Martin Ratio Rank: 89

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Canadian Short Term Bond (VSB.TO) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSBIX). 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.

	VSB.TO	VSBIX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.53	0.98	+0.55
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.12	1.39	+0.73
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.18	+0.12
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.04	1.13	+0.92
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.78	2.86	+3.92
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VSB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.53, which is higher than the VSBIX Sharpe Ratio of 0.98. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VSB.TO and VSBIX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VSB.TO	VSBIX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.53	0.98	+0.55
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.79	0.74	+0.05
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.56	0.37	+0.19
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.64	0.40	+0.24

Drawdowns

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VSB.TO drawdown since its inception was -8.38%, smaller than the maximum VSBIX drawdown of -16.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSB.TO and VSBIX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VSB.TO	VSBIX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-8.38%	-16.42%	+8.04%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.43%	-3.92%	+2.49%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.43%	-5.36%	+3.93%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-6.88%	-6.33%	-0.55%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-8.38%	-16.42%	+8.04%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.13%	-1.03%	+0.90%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.95%	-6.24%	+5.29%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.43%	1.54%	-1.11%

Volatility

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Canadian Short Term Bond (VSB.TO) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSBIX) have volatilities of 0.71% and 0.70%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VSB.TO	VSBIX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.71%	0.70%	+0.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.57%	3.40%	-1.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.90%	4.50%	-2.60%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.57%	6.30%	-3.73%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.48%	6.77%	-3.29%

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VSB.TO has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VSBIX's 0.05% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VSB.TO vs. VSBIX - Dividend Comparison

VSB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.00%, less than VSBIX's 3.87% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VSB.TO Vanguard Canadian Short Term Bond	3.00%	3.04%	3.04%	2.66%	2.24%	2.02%	2.24%	2.31%	2.29%	2.34%	2.45%	2.38%
VSBIX Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund Institutional Shares	3.87%	3.99%	4.52%	3.31%	1.14%	0.65%	1.74%	2.28%	1.81%	1.11%	0.80%	0.74%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VSB.TO and VSBIX in my portfolio?

VSB.TO and VSBIX have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.