VTSPX vs. SEIAX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSPX) and SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund (SEIAX).

VTSPX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 17, 2012. SEIAX is managed by SEI. It was launched on Jul 28, 2011.

Performance

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSPX) and SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund (SEIAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VTSPX Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares	0.97%	6.06%	4.75%	4.61%	-2.82%	5.32%	4.99%	4.82%	0.59%	0.83%
SEIAX SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund	9.31%	8.50%	4.74%	-1.01%	9.20%	11.41%	-0.51%	6.33%	-2.93%	-1.12%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTSPX achieves a 0.97% return, which is significantly lower than SEIAX's 9.31% return. Over the past 10 years, VTSPX has underperformed SEIAX with an annualized return of 3.08%, while SEIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 4.66% annualized return.

VTSPX

• 1D: 0.28%
• 1M: 0.04%
• YTD: 0.97%
• 6M: 1.36%
• 1Y: 3.93%
• 3Y*: 4.69%
• 5Y*: 3.51%
• 10Y*: 3.08%

SEIAX

• 1D: 0.50%
• 1M: 2.66%
• YTD: 9.31%
• 6M: 11.32%
• 1Y: 11.62%
• 3Y*: 7.82%
• 5Y*: 7.61%
• 10Y*: 4.66%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VTSPX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than SEIAX's 0.21% 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%.

SEIAX

SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund

VTSPX

Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares

Return for Risk

VTSPX vs. SEIAX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VTSPX

VTSPX Risk / Return Rank: 96
VTSPX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
VTSPX Sortino Ratio Rank: 96
VTSPX Omega Ratio Rank: 95
VTSPX Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
VTSPX Martin Ratio Rank: 96

SEIAX

SEIAX Risk / Return Rank: 95
SEIAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
SEIAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 95
SEIAX Omega Ratio Rank: 93
SEIAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
SEIAX Martin Ratio Rank: 92

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSPX) and SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund (SEIAX). 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.

	VTSPX	SEIAX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.31	2.32	-0.01
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.51	3.28	+0.24
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.51	1.46	+0.05
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.69	4.07	+0.62
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	14.73	11.09	+3.64
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VTSPX Sharpe Ratio is 2.31, which is comparable to the SEIAX Sharpe Ratio of 2.32. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VTSPX and SEIAX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VTSPX	SEIAX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.31	2.32	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.32	1.38	-0.06
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.39	0.90	+0.48
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.05	0.48	+0.58

Correlation

The correlation between VTSPX and SEIAX is 0.42, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Dividend Comparison

VTSPX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.58%, more than SEIAX's 2.69% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VTSPX Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares	3.58%	3.81%	2.70%	2.86%	6.84%	4.69%	1.21%	1.96%	2.47%	1.52%	0.80%	0.00%
SEIAX SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund	2.69%	2.94%	5.16%	3.77%	13.78%	10.42%	2.34%	2.13%	3.63%	1.57%	1.73%	1.01%

Drawdowns

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTSPX drawdown since its inception was -5.35%, smaller than the maximum SEIAX drawdown of -20.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTSPX and SEIAX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VTSPX	SEIAX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-5.35%	-20.97%	+15.62%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.92%	-2.95%	+2.03%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-5.35%	-7.67%	+2.32%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-5.35%	-13.20%	+7.85%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.28%	0.00%	-0.28%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.02%	-7.17%	+6.15%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.29%	1.13%	-0.84%

Volatility

VTSPX vs. SEIAX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSPX) is 0.60%, while SEI Institutional Investments Trust Multi-Asset Real Return Fund (SEIAX) has a volatility of 2.09%. This indicates that VTSPX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SEIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VTSPX	SEIAX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.60%	2.09%	-1.49%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.96%	3.92%	-2.96%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.78%	5.24%	-3.46%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.67%	5.53%	-2.86%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.23%	5.18%	-2.95%