VTBNX vs. VTABX
VTBNX (Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund) and VTABX (Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VTBNX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VTABX is a Global Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index Hedged. Over the past 10 years, VTBNX returned 1.51%/yr vs 1.77%/yr for VTABX. A 0.73 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VTBNX charges 0.02%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for VTABX.
Performance
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTBNX achieves a 0.33% return, which is significantly lower than VTABX's 0.56% return. Over the past 10 years, VTBNX has underperformed VTABX with an annualized return of 1.51%, while VTABX has yielded a comparatively higher 1.77% annualized return.
VTBNX
- 1D
- 0.53%
- 1M
- 0.56%
- YTD
- 0.33%
- 6M
- 0.98%
- 1Y
- 4.88%
- 3Y*
- 4.05%
- 5Y*
- 0.04%
- 10Y*
- 1.51%
VTABX
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- 0.76%
- YTD
- 0.56%
- 6M
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 1.74%
- 3Y*
- 4.15%
- 5Y*
- 0.30%
- 10Y*
- 1.77%
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTBNX Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund | 0.33% | 7.18% | 1.32% | 5.68% | -13.12% | -1.82% | 7.39% | 8.71% | -0.27% | 3.62% |
VTABX Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.56% | 2.96% | 3.92% | 8.77% | -12.92% | -2.22% | 4.54% | 8.83% | 2.97% | 2.39% |
Correlation
The correlation between VTBNX and VTABX is 0.68, 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 | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 22, 2016 | 0.73 |
The correlation between VTBNX and VTABX shifts across timeframes, from 0.68 (1 year) to 0.78 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VTBNX vs. VTABX — Risk / Return Rank
VTBNX
VTABX
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBNX) and Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX). 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.
| VTBNX | VTABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.11 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.73 | 0.67 | +1.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.97 | 1.84 | +3.12 |
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Drawdowns
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTBNX drawdown since its inception was -18.71%, which is greater than VTABX's maximum drawdown of -16.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTBNX and VTABX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VTBNX | VTABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.71% | -16.16% | -2.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.83% | -2.90% | +0.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.97% | -2.90% | -3.07% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.05% | -15.81% | -2.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.71% | -16.16% | -2.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.21% | -1.30% | -0.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.86% | -3.04% | -1.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.98% | 1.06% | -0.08% |
Volatility
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBNX) has a higher volatility of 1.35% compared to Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTABX) at 1.27%. This indicates that VTBNX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTABX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VTBNX | VTABX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.35% | 1.27% | +0.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.85% | 2.61% | +0.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.90% | 3.08% | +0.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.96% | 4.45% | +1.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.93% | 3.62% | +1.31% |
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTBNX has a 0.02% expense ratio, which is lower than VTABX's 0.10% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VTBNX vs. VTABX - Dividend Comparison
VTBNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.06%, less than VTABX's 4.46% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTABX Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.46% | 4.36% | 4.33% | 4.39% | 1.48% | 3.70% | 1.08% | 4.28% | 3.00% | 2.23% | 1.80% | 1.64% |
VTBNX Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund | 4.06% | 3.95% | 3.77% | 3.13% | 2.54% | 1.82% | 3.12% | 2.79% | 2.56% | 2.52% | 2.55% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VTBNX and VTABX have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTBNX has higher volatility (1.35%) compared to VTABX (1.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTBNX dropped -18.71% vs VTABX's -16.16%.
VTBNX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.26 vs 0.64), 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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