VSTBX vs. SMARX
VSTBX (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares) and SMARX (Brandes Separately Managed Account Reserve Trust) are both Corporate Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, VSTBX returned 2.96%/yr vs 2.86%/yr for SMARX. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VSTBX charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.00%/yr for SMARX.
Performance
VSTBX vs. SMARX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
As of year-to-date, both investments have demonstrated similar returns, with VSTBX at 0.91% and SMARX at 0.91%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VSTBX having a 2.96% annualized return and SMARX not far behind at 2.86%.
VSTBX
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- 6M
- 0.87%
- YTD
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 4.07%
- 3Y*
- 5.80%
- 5Y*
- 2.43%
- 10Y*
- 2.96%
SMARX
- 1D
- 0.13%
- 1M
- 0.17%
- 6M
- 0.78%
- YTD
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 4.60%
- 3Y*
- 5.74%
- 5Y*
- 1.61%
- 10Y*
- 2.86%
VSTBX vs. SMARX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSTBX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.91% | 6.75% | 5.37% | 6.17% | -5.73% | -0.41% | 5.07% | 9.68% | 0.92% | 2.48% |
SMARX Brandes Separately Managed Account Reserve Trust | 0.91% | 6.91% | 3.73% | 9.76% | -11.77% | 0.76% | 6.55% | 7.77% | -1.13% | 4.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSTBX and SMARX is 0.77, 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 | 0.77 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 19, 2009 | 0.66 |
The correlation between VSTBX and SMARX shifts across timeframes, from 0.66 (all time) to 0.80 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VSTBX vs. SMARX — Risk / Return Rank
VSTBX
SMARX
VSTBX vs. SMARX - 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 Brandes Separately Managed Account Reserve Trust (SMARX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VSTBX | SMARX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.09 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.69 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.20 | +0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.02 | 1.62 | +1.40 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.87 | 5.64 | +6.22 |
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Drawdowns
VSTBX vs. SMARX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSTBX drawdown since its inception was -9.34%, smaller than the maximum SMARX drawdown of -47.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSTBX and SMARX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSTBX | SMARX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.34% | -47.07% | +37.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.31% | -2.61% | +1.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.31% | -5.19% | +3.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.34% | -16.20% | +6.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.34% | -16.20% | +6.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.19% | -0.50% | +0.31% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.95% | -6.94% | +5.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.33% | 0.75% | -0.42% |
Volatility
VSTBX vs. SMARX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSTBX) is 0.63%, while Brandes Separately Managed Account Reserve Trust (SMARX) has a volatility of 1.11%. This indicates that VSTBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMARX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSTBX | SMARX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.63% | 1.11% | -0.48% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.37% | 2.96% | -1.59% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.78% | 3.71% | -1.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.72% | 5.16% | -2.44% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.38% | 4.39% | -2.01% |
VSTBX vs. SMARX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSTBX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than SMARX's 0.00% 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
VSTBX vs. SMARX - Dividend Comparison
VSTBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.45%, less than SMARX's 4.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMARX Brandes Separately Managed Account Reserve Trust | 4.79% | 5.02% | 4.07% | 3.85% | 3.53% | 2.57% | 3.35% | 4.19% | 4.55% | 4.20% | 4.87% | 5.24% |
VSTBX Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares | 4.45% | 4.34% | 4.29% | 3.09% | 2.00% | 1.80% | 2.27% | 5.40% | 2.67% | 2.27% | 1.96% | 2.25% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VSTBX and SMARX have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SMARX has higher volatility (1.11%) compared to VSTBX (0.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VSTBX dropped -9.34% vs SMARX's -47.07%.
VSTBX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.24 vs 1.14), 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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