VTABX vs. BNDX
VTABX (Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and BNDX (Vanguard Total International Bond ETF) are both Global Bonds funds from Vanguard - VTABX tracks the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index Hedged while BNDX tracks the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index (USD Hedged). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VTABX returned 1.78%/yr vs 1.72%/yr for BNDX. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VTABX charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for BNDX.
Performance
VTABX vs. BNDX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTABX achieves a 0.72% return, which is significantly lower than BNDX's 1.04% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VTABX having a 1.78% annualized return and BNDX not far behind at 1.72%.
VTABX
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- 1.50%
- YTD
- 0.72%
- 6M
- 0.96%
- 1Y
- 2.21%
- 3Y*
- 4.34%
- 5Y*
- 0.33%
- 10Y*
- 1.78%
BNDX
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 1.71%
- YTD
- 1.04%
- 6M
- 1.14%
- 1Y
- 2.29%
- 3Y*
- 4.28%
- 5Y*
- 0.43%
- 10Y*
- 1.72%
VTABX vs. BNDX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTABX Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.72% | 2.96% | 3.92% | 8.77% | -12.92% | -2.22% | 4.54% | 8.83% | 2.97% | 2.39% |
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | 1.04% | 2.86% | 3.57% | 8.77% | -12.76% | -2.29% | 4.65% | 7.87% | 2.81% | 2.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between VTABX and BNDX is 0.85, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 4, 2013 | 0.84 |
The correlation between VTABX and BNDX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.84 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VTABX vs. BNDX — Risk / Return Rank
VTABX
BNDX
VTABX vs. BNDX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX) and Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX). 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.
| VTABX | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.12 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.66 | 0.78 | -0.13 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.79 | 2.18 | -0.38 |
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Drawdowns
VTABX vs. BNDX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTABX drawdown since its inception was -16.16%, roughly equal to the maximum BNDX drawdown of -16.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTABX and BNDX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VTABX | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.16% | -16.23% | +0.07% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.90% | -2.93% | +0.03% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.90% | -2.93% | +0.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.81% | -15.86% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.16% | -16.23% | +0.07% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.15% | -1.00% | -0.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.04% | -3.10% | +0.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.06% | 1.05% | +0.01% |
Volatility
VTABX vs. BNDX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX) is 1.27%, while Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) has a volatility of 1.49%. This indicates that VTABX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BNDX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VTABX | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.27% | 1.49% | -0.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.61% | 2.96% | -0.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.08% | 3.46% | -0.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.45% | 4.89% | -0.44% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.62% | 4.10% | -0.48% |
VTABX vs. BNDX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTABX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than BNDX's 0.07% 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
VTABX vs. BNDX - Dividend Comparison
VTABX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.45%, which matches BNDX's 4.47% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | 4.47% | 4.39% | 4.18% | 4.42% | 1.51% | 3.74% | 1.11% | 3.40% | 3.01% | 2.23% | 1.89% | 1.63% |
VTABX Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.45% | 4.36% | 4.33% | 4.39% | 1.48% | 3.70% | 1.08% | 4.28% | 3.00% | 2.23% | 1.80% | 1.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VTABX and BNDX have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BNDX has higher volatility (1.49%) compared to VTABX (1.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTABX dropped -16.16% vs BNDX's -16.23%.
BNDX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.67 vs 0.62), 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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