VUBFX vs. ICSH
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Shares (VUBFX) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH).
VUBFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 24, 2015. ICSH is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the ICE BofA US 6-Month Treasury Bill Index (USD). It was launched on Dec 11, 2013.
Performance
VUBFX vs. ICSH - Performance Comparison
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VUBFX vs. ICSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUBFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Shares | 0.59% | 5.04% | 5.99% | 5.43% | -0.53% | 0.03% | 1.95% | 3.34% | 1.94% | 1.23% |
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 0.79% | 4.96% | 5.52% | 5.58% | 0.97% | 0.16% | 1.61% | 3.17% | 2.25% | 1.63% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUBFX achieves a 0.59% return, which is significantly lower than ICSH's 0.79% return. Over the past 10 years, VUBFX has underperformed ICSH with an annualized return of 2.56%, while ICSH has yielded a comparatively higher 2.71% annualized return.
VUBFX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.10%
- YTD
- 0.59%
- 6M
- 1.62%
- 1Y
- 4.31%
- 3Y*
- 5.24%
- 5Y*
- 3.26%
- 10Y*
- 2.56%
ICSH
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- YTD
- 0.79%
- 6M
- 1.90%
- 1Y
- 4.42%
- 3Y*
- 5.23%
- 5Y*
- 3.56%
- 10Y*
- 2.71%
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VUBFX vs. ICSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUBFX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than ICSH's 0.08% expense ratio. However, 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
VUBFX vs. ICSH — Risk / Return Rank
VUBFX
ICSH
VUBFX vs. ICSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Shares (VUBFX) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH). 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.
| VUBFX | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 5.18 | 10.89 | -5.72 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 10.17 | 25.73 | -15.56 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 3.60 | 6.44 | -2.84 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 14.46 | 44.98 | -30.52 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 65.22 | 281.70 | -216.48 |
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
| VUBFX | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.18 | 10.89 | -5.72 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 3.34 | 7.42 | -4.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 3.07 | 2.56 | +0.51 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 3.06 | 1.90 | +1.15 |
Correlation
The correlation between VUBFX and ICSH is 0.26, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VUBFX vs. ICSH - Dividend Comparison
VUBFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.12%, less than ICSH's 4.42% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUBFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Shares | 4.12% | 4.62% | 5.42% | 4.06% | 1.28% | 0.43% | 1.52% | 2.58% | 2.13% | 1.43% | 0.98% | 0.00% |
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 4.42% | 4.55% | 5.24% | 4.78% | 1.66% | 0.42% | 1.21% | 2.61% | 2.20% | 1.36% | 0.88% | 0.54% |
Drawdowns
VUBFX vs. ICSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUBFX drawdown since its inception was -1.86%, smaller than the maximum ICSH drawdown of -3.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUBFX and ICSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUBFX | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.86% | -3.94% | +2.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.30% | -0.10% | -0.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.86% | -0.73% | -1.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -1.86% | -3.94% | +2.08% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.10% | 0.00% | -0.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.17% | -0.08% | -0.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.07% | 0.02% | +0.05% |
Volatility
VUBFX vs. ICSH - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Shares (VUBFX) has a higher volatility of 0.34% compared to iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) at 0.16%. This indicates that VUBFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ICSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUBFX | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.34% | 0.16% | +0.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.55% | 0.27% | +0.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.84% | 0.41% | +0.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.98% | 0.48% | +0.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.84% | 1.06% | -0.22% |