VTWNX vs. VWELX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund (VTWNX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX).
VTWNX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jun 7, 2006. VWELX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 1, 1929.
Performance
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTWNX Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund | -1.57% | 12.17% | 7.57% | 12.71% | -14.17% | 8.15% | 12.05% | 17.64% | -4.23% | 11.83% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | -5.26% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTWNX achieves a -1.57% return, which is significantly higher than VWELX's -5.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VTWNX has underperformed VWELX with an annualized return of 6.31%, while VWELX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.10% annualized return.
VTWNX
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- -4.29%
- YTD
- -1.57%
- 6M
- 0.06%
- 1Y
- 9.17%
- 3Y*
- 8.51%
- 5Y*
- 4.17%
- 10Y*
- 6.31%
VWELX
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- -5.91%
- YTD
- -5.26%
- 6M
- -2.21%
- 1Y
- 12.29%
- 3Y*
- 11.90%
- 5Y*
- 7.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.10%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTWNX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than VWELX's 0.24% 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%.
Return for Risk
VTWNX vs. VWELX — Risk / Return Rank
VTWNX
VWELX
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund (VTWNX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX). 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.
| VTWNX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.48 | 1.10 | +0.39 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.11 | 1.61 | +0.49 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.24 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.98 | 1.45 | +0.54 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.25 | 6.63 | +1.62 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VTWNX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.48 | 1.10 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.67 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 | 0.80 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.52 | 0.82 | -0.30 |
Correlation
The correlation between VTWNX and VWELX is 0.95, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Dividend Comparison
VTWNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.33%, less than VWELX's 12.16% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTWNX Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund | 8.33% | 8.20% | 9.35% | 6.20% | 4.99% | 19.57% | 6.28% | 3.54% | 4.94% | 0.73% | 2.74% | 4.15% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 12.16% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
Drawdowns
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTWNX drawdown since its inception was -42.16%, which is greater than VWELX's maximum drawdown of -36.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTWNX and VWELX.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VTWNX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -42.16% | -36.12% | -6.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.50% | -8.03% | +3.53% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.38% | -20.88% | +1.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.38% | -25.33% | +5.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.32% | -6.78% | +2.46% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.83% | -3.93% | -0.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.08% | 1.75% | -0.67% |
Volatility
VTWNX vs. VWELX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund (VTWNX) is 2.40%, while Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) has a volatility of 3.37%. This indicates that VTWNX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWELX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VTWNX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.40% | 3.37% | -0.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.81% | 6.36% | -2.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.31% | 11.74% | -5.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.37% | 11.08% | -3.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.26% | 11.48% | -3.22% |