VSGBX vs. TLT

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

VSGBX (Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both funds - VSGBX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Over the past 10 years, VSGBX returned 1.81%/yr vs -1.62%/yr for TLT. A 0.62 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VSGBX charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.

Performance

VSGBX vs. TLT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares (VSGBX) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VSGBX achieves a 0.60% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's 0.13% return. Over the past 10 years, VSGBX has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of 1.81%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -1.62% annualized return.

VSGBX

• 1D: -0.10%
• 1M: 0.02%
• YTD: 0.60%
• 6M: 0.92%
• 1Y: 3.91%
• 3Y*: 4.43%
• 5Y*: 1.59%
• 10Y*: 1.81%

TLT

• 1D: 0.21%
• 1M: 0.44%
• YTD: 0.13%
• 6M: -1.35%
• 1Y: 5.16%
• 3Y*: -1.67%
• 5Y*: -5.98%
• 10Y*: -1.62%

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

VSGBX vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VSGBX Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares	0.60%	5.83%	4.17%	3.82%	-5.31%	-0.66%	4.36%	4.10%	1.27%	0.69%
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	0.13%	4.25%	-8.05%	2.77%	-31.23%	-4.60%	18.15%	14.12%	-1.61%	9.18%

Correlation

The correlation between VSGBX and TLT is 0.60, 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	0.60
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.64
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.65
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.61
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 29, 2002	0.62

The correlation between VSGBX and TLT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.60 to 0.65 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

VSGBX vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank

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

VSGBX

VSGBX Risk / Return Rank: 52
VSGBX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
VSGBX Sortino Ratio Rank: 54
VSGBX Omega Ratio Rank: 47
VSGBX Calmar Ratio Rank: 66
VSGBX Martin Ratio Rank: 55

TLT

TLT Risk / Return Rank: 16
TLT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 17
TLT Sortino Ratio Rank: 17
TLT Omega Ratio Rank: 16
TLT Calmar Ratio Rank: 15
TLT Martin Ratio Rank: 15

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.

VSGBX vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares (VSGBX) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.

	VSGBX	TLT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.79	0.53	+1.26
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.09	0.83	+2.25
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.37	1.09	+0.28
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.14	0.55	+2.59
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	11.21	1.38	+9.83
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VSGBX vs. TLT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VSGBX Sharpe Ratio is 1.79, which is higher than the TLT Sharpe Ratio of 0.53. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VSGBX and TLT, 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

	VSGBX	TLT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.79	0.53	+1.26
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.60	-0.38	+0.98
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.84	-0.11	+0.95
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.64	0.26	+1.39

Drawdowns

VSGBX vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VSGBX drawdown since its inception was -7.42%, smaller than the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSGBX and TLT.

Drawdown Indicators

	VSGBX	TLT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-7.42%	-48.35%	+40.93%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.35%	-7.58%	+6.23%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.35%	-19.18%	+17.83%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-7.42%	-43.70%	+36.28%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-7.42%	-48.35%	+40.93%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.40%	-40.20%	+39.80%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.73%	-13.81%	+13.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.38%	3.02%	-2.64%

Volatility

VSGBX vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares (VSGBX) is 0.71%, while iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) has a volatility of 2.84%. This indicates that VSGBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VSGBX	TLT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.71%	2.84%	-2.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.57%	6.60%	-5.03%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.14%	9.81%	-7.67%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.67%	15.87%	-13.20%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.16%	14.91%	-12.75%

VSGBX vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison

VSGBX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than TLT's 0.15% 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

VSGBX vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison

VSGBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.85%, less than TLT's 4.57% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	4.57%	4.43%	4.30%	3.38%	2.67%	1.50%	1.50%	2.27%	2.63%	2.43%	2.60%	2.61%
VSGBX Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund Investor Shares	3.85%	3.69%	3.47%	3.32%	1.67%	1.37%	1.68%	2.32%	1.92%	1.35%	1.33%	1.20%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VSGBX and TLT in my portfolio?

VSGBX and TLT have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VSGBX or TLT?

TLT has higher volatility (2.84%) compared to VSGBX (0.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSGBX dropped -7.42% vs TLT's -48.35%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VSGBX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.79 vs 0.53), 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.