VUSFX vs. VUSB
VUSFX (Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares) and VUSB (Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF) are both funds - VUSFX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VUSB is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Vanguard. Over the past 5 years, VUSFX returned 3.60%/yr vs 3.54%/yr for VUSB. Their 0.62 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. Both charge a 0.10% expense ratio.
Performance
VUSFX vs. VUSB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VUSFX having a 1.99% return and VUSB slightly higher at 2.01%.
VUSFX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- 6M
- 1.58%
- YTD
- 1.99%
- 1Y
- 4.07%
- 3Y*
- 5.35%
- 5Y*
- 3.60%
- 10Y*
- 2.75%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.69%
VUSB
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 1.64%
- YTD
- 2.01%
- 1Y
- 4.14%
- 3Y*
- 5.21%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 3.38%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $71.60M | $73.18M | $80.54M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VUSFX vs. VUSB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSFX Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares | 1.99% | 5.11% | 6.11% | 5.53% | -0.38% | 0.01% |
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 2.01% | 5.20% | 5.68% | 5.52% | -0.36% | 0.08% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSFX and VUSB is 0.53, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.53 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.62 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.63 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 7, 2021 | 0.62 |
The correlation between VUSFX and VUSB has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.53 to 0.63 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VUSFX vs. VUSB — Risk / Return Rank
VUSFX
VUSB
VUSFX vs. VUSB - 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 Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB). 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 | VUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.73 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 4.12 | 2.97 | +1.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 17.23 | 11.23 | +6.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 99.26 | 63.35 | +35.91 |
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Drawdowns
VUSFX vs. VUSB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSFX drawdown since its inception was -1.71%, roughly equal to the maximum VUSB drawdown of -1.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSFX and VUSB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSFX | VUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.71% | -1.79% | +0.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.25% | -0.37% | +0.12% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.35% | -0.46% | +0.11% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.71% | -1.79% | +0.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -1.71% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.15% | -0.27% | +0.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.04% | 0.07% | -0.03% |
Volatility
VUSFX vs. VUSB - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund Admiral Shares (VUSFX) has a higher volatility of 0.17% compared to Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) at 0.15%. This indicates that VUSFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VUSB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSFX | VUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.17% | 0.15% | +0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.45% | 0.56% | -0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.60% | 0.65% | -0.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.81% | 0.84% | -0.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.68% | 0.82% | -0.14% |
VUSFX vs. VUSB - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VUSFX and VUSB have an expense ratio of 0.10%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VUSFX vs. VUSB - Dividend Comparison
VUSFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.09%, less than VUSB's 4.32% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 4.32% | 4.63% | 5.16% | 4.45% | 1.56% | 0.26% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
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% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VUSFX and VUSB have a correlation of 0.53, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VUSFX has higher volatility (0.17%) compared to VUSB (0.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUSFX dropped -1.71% vs VUSB's -1.79%.
VUSFX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.12 vs 6.38), 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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