VTBNX vs. VWAHX
VTBNX (Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund) and VWAHX (Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares) are both mutual funds - VTBNX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VWAHX is a Municipal Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VTBNX returned 1.55%/yr vs 3.06%/yr for VWAHX. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VTBNX charges 0.02%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for VWAHX.
Performance
VTBNX vs. VWAHX - 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 VWAHX's 2.30% return. Over the past 10 years, VTBNX has underperformed VWAHX with an annualized return of 1.55%, while VWAHX has yielded a comparatively higher 3.06% annualized return.
VTBNX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.45%
- YTD
- 0.33%
- 6M
- 0.25%
- 1Y
- 5.21%
- 3Y*
- 4.01%
- 5Y*
- 0.20%
- 10Y*
- 1.55%
VWAHX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- 1.01%
- YTD
- 2.30%
- 6M
- 2.65%
- 1Y
- 8.78%
- 3Y*
- 5.46%
- 5Y*
- 1.57%
- 10Y*
- 3.06%
VTBNX vs. VWAHX - 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% |
VWAHX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 2.30% | 4.96% | 3.98% | 8.39% | -11.76% | 3.36% | 5.39% | 9.48% | 1.31% | 7.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between VTBNX and VWAHX is 0.64, 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 | 0.64 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.66 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 25, 2016 | 0.56 |
The correlation between VTBNX and VWAHX shifts across timeframes, from 0.55 (10 years) to 0.66 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VTBNX vs. VWAHX — Risk / Return Rank
VTBNX
VWAHX
VTBNX vs. VWAHX - 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 High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX). 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.
| VTBNX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.38 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.70 | -0.47 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.85 | 2.89 | -1.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.53 | 10.50 | -4.97 |
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
| VTBNX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.34 | 2.72 | -1.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 | 0.33 | -0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 | 0.66 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 0.65 | -0.27 |
Drawdowns
VTBNX vs. VWAHX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTBNX drawdown since its inception was -18.71%, smaller than the maximum VWAHX drawdown of -40.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTBNX and VWAHX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VTBNX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.71% | -40.26% | +21.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.83% | -3.05% | +0.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.97% | -7.12% | +1.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.05% | -17.32% | -0.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.71% | -17.32% | -1.39% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.21% | 0.00% | -2.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.87% | -6.93% | +2.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.95% | 0.84% | +0.11% |
Volatility
VTBNX vs. VWAHX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBNX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) have volatilities of 1.33% and 1.27%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VTBNX | VWAHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.33% | 1.27% | +0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.81% | 2.40% | +0.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.93% | 3.26% | +0.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.96% | 4.80% | +1.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.93% | 4.64% | +0.29% |
VTBNX vs. VWAHX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTBNX has a 0.02% expense ratio, which is lower than VWAHX's 0.17% 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. VWAHX - Dividend Comparison
VTBNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.06%, which matches VWAHX's 4.05% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
VWAHX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 4.05% | 4.95% | 4.38% | 3.53% | 3.36% | 2.98% | 3.31% | 3.94% | 3.78% | 3.68% | 3.75% | 3.67% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VTBNX and VWAHX have a correlation of 0.64, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTBNX has higher volatility (1.33%) compared to VWAHX (1.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTBNX dropped -18.71% vs VWAHX's -40.26%.
VWAHX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.72 vs 1.34), 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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