VSTBX vs. BFCAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSTBX) and American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (BFCAX).
VSTBX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009. BFCAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Dec 14, 2012.
Performance
VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Performance Comparison
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VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSTBX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.10% | 6.75% | 5.37% | 6.17% | -5.73% | -0.41% | 5.07% | 9.68% | 0.92% | 2.44% |
BFCAX American Funds Corporate Bond Fund | -0.81% | 6.67% | 1.71% | 6.85% | -16.51% | -2.15% | 13.05% | 13.21% | -2.50% | 5.61% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSTBX achieves a 0.10% return, which is significantly higher than BFCAX's -0.81% return.
VSTBX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -0.68%
- YTD
- 0.10%
- 6M
- 1.15%
- 1Y
- 4.78%
- 3Y*
- 5.52%
- 5Y*
- 2.44%
- 10Y*
- 3.03%
BFCAX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -1.87%
- YTD
- -0.81%
- 6M
- -0.62%
- 1Y
- 3.25%
- 3Y*
- 3.45%
- 5Y*
- -0.33%
- 10Y*
- —
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VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSTBX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than BFCAX's 0.70% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VSTBX vs. BFCAX — Risk / Return Rank
VSTBX
BFCAX
VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSTBX) and American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (BFCAX). 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.
| VSTBX | BFCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.47 | 0.72 | +1.74 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.67 | 1.03 | +2.64 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.51 | 1.13 | +0.38 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.75 | 1.31 | +2.44 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.63 | 3.97 | +10.66 |
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
| VSTBX | BFCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.47 | 0.72 | +1.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.91 | -0.05 | +0.96 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.28 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.46 | 0.39 | +1.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSTBX and BFCAX is 0.80, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Dividend Comparison
VSTBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.04%, more than BFCAX's 3.87% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSTBX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 4.04% | 4.34% | 4.29% | 3.09% | 2.00% | 1.80% | 2.27% | 5.40% | 2.67% | 2.27% | 1.96% | 2.25% |
BFCAX American Funds Corporate Bond Fund | 3.87% | 4.20% | 4.06% | 2.82% | 1.95% | 1.50% | 4.43% | 3.44% | 2.63% | 2.68% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSTBX drawdown since its inception was -9.34%, smaller than the maximum BFCAX drawdown of -23.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSTBX and BFCAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSTBX | BFCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.34% | -23.01% | +13.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.31% | -3.11% | +1.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.34% | -22.55% | +13.21% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.34% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.86% | -6.05% | +5.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.96% | -6.48% | +5.52% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.34% | 1.03% | -0.69% |
Volatility
VSTBX vs. BFCAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSTBX) is 0.78%, while American Funds Corporate Bond Fund (BFCAX) has a volatility of 1.88%. This indicates that VSTBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BFCAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSTBX | BFCAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.78% | 1.88% | -1.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.17% | 2.93% | -1.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.98% | 4.84% | -2.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.70% | 6.69% | -3.99% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.37% | 6.01% | -3.64% |