VUSFX vs. VGLT
VUSFX (Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares) and VGLT (Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF) are both funds - VUSFX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VGLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Long Treasury Index. Over the past 10 years, VUSFX returned 2.74%/yr vs -1.80%/yr for VGLT. Their 0.36 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. VUSFX charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VGLT.
Performance
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSFX achieves a 1.99% return, which is significantly higher than VGLT's -3.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VUSFX has outperformed VGLT with an annualized return of 2.74%, while VGLT has yielded a comparatively lower -1.80% annualized return.
VUSFX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- 6M
- 1.59%
- YTD
- 1.99%
- 1Y
- 4.07%
- 3Y*
- 5.35%
- 5Y*
- 3.60%
- 10Y*
- 2.74%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.69%
VGLT
- 1D
- -0.62%
- 1M
- -3.51%
- 6M
- -3.14%
- YTD
- -3.26%
- 1Y
- -1.67%
- 3Y*
- -0.62%
- 5Y*
- -7.07%
- 10Y*
- -1.80%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.27%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $95.69M | $98.86M | $108.97M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 1.99% | 5.11% | 6.11% | 5.53% | -0.38% | 0.08% | 2.10% | 3.39% | 2.10% | 1.37% |
VGLT Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF | -3.26% | 5.35% | -6.28% | 3.27% | -29.34% | -4.98% | 17.57% | 14.30% | -1.54% | 8.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSFX and VGLT is 0.44, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.48 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.36 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 4, 2016 | 0.36 |
The correlation between VUSFX and VGLT shifts across timeframes, from 0.36 (10 years) to 0.48 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VUSFX vs. VGLT — Risk / Return Rank
VUSFX
VGLT
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VUSFX) and Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VUSFX | VGLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +7.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +13.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 4.11 | 1.00 | +3.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 17.22 | -0.05 | +17.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 99.18 | -0.12 | +99.30 |
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Drawdowns
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSFX drawdown since its inception was -1.71%, smaller than the maximum VGLT drawdown of -46.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSFX and VGLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSFX | VGLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.71% | -46.18% | +44.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.25% | -7.03% | +6.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.35% | -13.38% | +13.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.71% | -40.98% | +39.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -1.71% | -46.18% | +44.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -38.64% | +38.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.15% | -15.26% | +15.11% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.04% | 3.19% | -3.15% |
Volatility
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VUSFX) is 0.17%, while Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) has a volatility of 2.24%. This indicates that VUSFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VGLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSFX | VGLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.17% | 2.24% | -2.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.45% | 6.31% | -5.86% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.60% | 8.47% | -7.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.81% | 14.45% | -13.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.68% | 13.75% | -13.07% |
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSFX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than VGLT's 0.03% 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%.
Dividends
VUSFX vs. VGLT - Dividend Comparison
VUSFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.09%, less than VGLT's 4.77% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGLT Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF | 4.37% | 4.44% | 4.33% | 3.33% | 2.84% | 1.82% | 2.15% | 2.46% | 2.71% | 2.55% | 2.69% | 3.21% |
VUSFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 4.09% | 4.73% | 5.52% | 4.15% | 1.38% | 0.53% | 1.62% | 2.68% | 2.23% | 1.52% | 1.07% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VUSFX and VGLT have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VGLT has higher volatility (2.24%) compared to VUSFX (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUSFX dropped -1.71% vs VGLT's -46.18%.
VUSFX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.11 vs -0.04), 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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