VSMAX vs. VBTLX
VSMAX (Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VBTLX (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VSMAX is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Small Cap Index, while VBTLX is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VSMAX returned 11.29%/yr vs 1.56%/yr for VBTLX. At a correlation of -0.18, they often move in opposite directions. VSMAX charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VBTLX.
Performance
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSMAX achieves a 14.16% return, which is significantly higher than VBTLX's 0.21% return. Over the past 10 years, VSMAX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 11.29%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.56% annualized return.
VSMAX
- 1D
- -0.68%
- 1M
- 2.34%
- YTD
- 14.16%
- 6M
- 13.54%
- 1Y
- 28.90%
- 3Y*
- 17.04%
- 5Y*
- 7.10%
- 10Y*
- 11.29%
VBTLX
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- 0.13%
- YTD
- 0.21%
- 6M
- 0.34%
- 1Y
- 4.47%
- 3Y*
- 3.97%
- 5Y*
- 0.10%
- 10Y*
- 1.56%
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMAX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 14.16% | 8.83% | 14.23% | 18.17% | -17.61% | 17.74% | 19.06% | 27.36% | -9.33% | 16.24% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.21% | 7.17% | 1.26% | 5.74% | -13.16% | -1.81% | 7.72% | 8.73% | -0.25% | 3.56% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSMAX and VBTLX is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.24 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 13, 2001 | -0.18 |
The correlation between VSMAX and VBTLX shifts across timeframes, from -0.18 (all time) to 0.27 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VSMAX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VSMAX
VBTLX
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). 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.
| VSMAX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.48 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.59 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.23 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.22 | 1.78 | +1.44 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.89 | 5.33 | +6.57 |
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
| VSMAX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.78 | 1.30 | +0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.02 | +0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 | 0.31 | +0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.76 | -0.37 |
Drawdowns
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSMAX drawdown since its inception was -59.68%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSMAX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSMAX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.68% | -18.81% | -40.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.97% | -2.89% | -6.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.25% | -6.00% | -19.25% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.14% | -18.14% | -10.00% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.82% | -18.81% | -23.01% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.68% | -2.38% | +1.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.69% | -2.67% | -7.02% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.43% | 0.96% | +1.47% |
Volatility
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) has a higher volatility of 4.43% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 1.33%. This indicates that VSMAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBTLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSMAX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.43% | 1.33% | +3.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.72% | 2.78% | +8.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.29% | 3.96% | +12.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.71% | 6.01% | +14.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.56% | 4.98% | +16.58% |
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSMAX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than VBTLX's 0.04% 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
VSMAX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VSMAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.19%, less than VBTLX's 3.99% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.99% | 3.87% | 3.69% | 3.10% | 2.59% | 1.96% | 2.39% | 2.74% | 2.57% | 2.56% | 2.53% | 2.82% |
VSMAX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.19% | 1.33% | 1.30% | 1.56% | 1.54% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.67% | 1.35% | 1.49% | 1.48% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VSMAX and VBTLX have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VSMAX has higher volatility (4.43%) compared to VBTLX (1.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSMAX dropped -59.68% vs VBTLX's -18.81%.
VSMAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.78 vs 1.30), 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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