VTSPX vs. TRBFX
VTSPX (Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares) and TRBFX (T. Rowe Price Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond Fund) are both Inflation-Protected Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, VTSPX returned 3.16%/yr vs 2.93%/yr for TRBFX. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VTSPX charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.41%/yr for TRBFX.
Performance
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTSPX achieves a 2.06% return, which is significantly higher than TRBFX's 1.76% return. Over the past 10 years, VTSPX has outperformed TRBFX with an annualized return of 3.16%, while TRBFX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.93% annualized return.
VTSPX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 2.06%
- 6M
- 2.05%
- 1Y
- 4.64%
- 3Y*
- 5.26%
- 5Y*
- 3.38%
- 10Y*
- 3.16%
TRBFX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.10%
- YTD
- 1.76%
- 6M
- 1.77%
- 1Y
- 4.45%
- 3Y*
- 4.95%
- 5Y*
- 2.48%
- 10Y*
- 2.93%
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - 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 | 2.06% | 6.06% | 4.75% | 4.61% | -2.82% | 5.32% | 4.99% | 4.82% | 0.59% | 0.83% |
TRBFX T. Rowe Price Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond Fund | 1.76% | 6.34% | 4.60% | 3.01% | -5.19% | 5.77% | 5.65% | 6.53% | 0.28% | 0.80% |
Correlation
The correlation between VTSPX and TRBFX is 0.69, 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 | 0.69 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 7, 2015 | 0.77 |
The correlation between VTSPX and TRBFX shifts across timeframes, from 0.69 (1 year) to 0.81 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VTSPX vs. TRBFX — Risk / Return Rank
VTSPX
TRBFX
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - 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 T. Rowe Price Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond Fund (TRBFX). 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 | TRBFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.88 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.69 | 1.40 | +0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 6.61 | 1.38 | +5.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 26.00 | 2.79 | +23.21 |
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
| VTSPX | TRBFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.12 | 0.95 | +2.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.27 | 0.49 | +0.79 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.42 | 0.73 | +0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.08 | 0.72 | +0.36 |
Drawdowns
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTSPX drawdown since its inception was -5.35%, smaller than the maximum TRBFX drawdown of -7.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTSPX and TRBFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VTSPX | TRBFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.35% | -7.33% | +1.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.72% | -3.48% | +2.76% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.92% | -3.51% | +2.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.35% | -7.33% | +1.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.35% | -7.33% | +1.98% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.04% | -1.36% | +1.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.01% | -1.42% | +0.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.18% | 1.70% | -1.52% |
Volatility
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTSPX) is 0.56%, while T. Rowe Price Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond Fund (TRBFX) has a volatility of 0.61%. This indicates that VTSPX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than TRBFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VTSPX | TRBFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.56% | 0.61% | -0.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.12% | 4.76% | -3.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.52% | 5.06% | -3.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.67% | 5.15% | -2.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.23% | 4.01% | -1.78% |
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTSPX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than TRBFX's 0.41% expense ratio.
Dividends
VTSPX vs. TRBFX - Dividend Comparison
VTSPX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.59%, less than TRBFX's 4.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TRBFX T. Rowe Price Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond Fund | 4.79% | 4.95% | 4.48% | 3.64% | 6.11% | 4.99% | 1.38% | 3.27% | 2.34% | 1.61% | 1.10% |
VTSPX Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund Institutional Shares | 3.59% | 3.81% | 2.70% | 2.86% | 6.84% | 4.69% | 1.21% | 1.96% | 2.47% | 1.52% | 0.80% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VTSPX and TRBFX have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
TRBFX has higher volatility (0.61%) compared to VTSPX (0.56%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTSPX dropped -5.35% vs TRBFX's -7.33%.
VTSPX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.12 vs 0.95), 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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