VUSTX vs. TLT
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares (VUSTX) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT).
VUSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on May 19, 1986. TLT is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. It was launched on Jul 22, 2002.
Performance
VUSTX vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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VUSTX vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSTX Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares | -0.56% | 5.55% | -6.41% | 3.33% | -29.58% | -4.93% | 18.20% | 14.14% | -1.89% | 8.60% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.17% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSTX achieves a -0.56% return, which is significantly lower than TLT's 0.17% return. Over the past 10 years, VUSTX has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of -0.93%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -1.38% annualized return.
VUSTX
- 1D
- 1.29%
- 1M
- -4.37%
- YTD
- -0.56%
- 6M
- -0.74%
- 1Y
- 0.22%
- 3Y*
- -1.62%
- 5Y*
- -4.71%
- 10Y*
- -0.93%
TLT
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- -4.23%
- YTD
- 0.17%
- 6M
- -0.87%
- 1Y
- -0.49%
- 3Y*
- -2.78%
- 5Y*
- -5.85%
- 10Y*
- -1.38%
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VUSTX vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSTX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than TLT's 0.15% 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
VUSTX vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
VUSTX
TLT
VUSTX vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares (VUSTX) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.
| VUSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.13 | -0.04 | +0.17 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.24 | 0.02 | +0.22 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.00 | +0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.31 | 0.05 | +0.25 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.69 | 0.11 | +0.57 |
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
| VUSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.13 | -0.04 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.32 | -0.37 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.07 | -0.09 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.26 | +0.18 |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSTX and TLT is 0.98, 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
VUSTX vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
VUSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.02%, less than TLT's 4.49% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSTX Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares | 4.02% | 4.29% | 4.03% | 3.33% | 2.93% | 4.21% | 10.38% | 2.82% | 2.82% | 2.64% | 5.27% | 5.52% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.49% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Drawdowns
VUSTX vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSTX drawdown since its inception was -46.37%, roughly equal to the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSTX and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.37% | -48.35% | +1.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.77% | -9.23% | +0.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -41.45% | -43.70% | +2.25% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.37% | -48.35% | +1.98% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -36.78% | -40.17% | +3.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.22% | -13.62% | +4.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.94% | 4.38% | -0.44% |
Volatility
VUSTX vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Investor Shares (VUSTX) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) have volatilities of 3.68% and 3.71%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.68% | 3.71% | -0.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.10% | 6.61% | -0.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.51% | 11.44% | -0.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.64% | 15.90% | -1.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.78% | 14.93% | -1.15% |