VUSUX vs. VBTLX
VUSUX (Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares) and VBTLX (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VUSUX is a Government Bonds fund managed by Vanguard, while VBTLX is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Over the past 10 years, VUSUX returned -1.70%/yr vs 1.34%/yr for VBTLX. Their correlation of 0.91 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VUSUX charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VBTLX.
Performance
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSUX achieves a -3.34% return, which is significantly lower than VBTLX's -0.70% return. Over the past 10 years, VUSUX has underperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of -1.70%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively higher 1.34% annualized return.
VUSUX
- 1D
- 0.40%
- 1M
- -3.33%
- 6M
- -2.97%
- YTD
- -3.34%
- 1Y
- -1.80%
- 3Y*
- -0.01%
- 5Y*
- -7.22%
- 10Y*
- -1.70%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.62%
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -1.25%
- 6M
- -0.83%
- YTD
- -0.70%
- 1Y
- 1.56%
- 3Y*
- 3.95%
- 5Y*
- -0.50%
- 10Y*
- 1.34%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.34%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSUX Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares | -3.34% | 5.66% | -6.30% | 3.43% | -29.51% | -4.71% | 18.10% | 14.26% | -1.80% | 8.72% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.70% | 7.17% | 1.26% | 5.74% | -13.16% | -1.81% | 7.72% | 8.73% | -0.25% | 3.56% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSUX and VBTLX is 0.91, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 12, 2001 | 0.91 |
The correlation between VUSUX and VBTLX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VUSUX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VUSUX
VBTLX
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VUSUX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). 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.
| VUSUX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.63 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.86 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.98 | 1.08 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.21 | 0.58 | -0.79 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.47 | 1.42 | -1.89 |
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Drawdowns
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSUX drawdown since its inception was -46.12%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSUX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSUX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.12% | -18.81% | -27.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.42% | -2.89% | -4.53% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.56% | -4.86% | -8.70% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -41.34% | -17.98% | -23.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.12% | -18.81% | -27.31% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -38.12% | -3.27% | -34.85% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.70% | -2.67% | -9.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.29% | 1.18% | +2.11% |
Volatility
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares (VUSUX) has a higher volatility of 2.32% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 1.00%. This indicates that VUSUX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBTLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSUX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.32% | 1.00% | +1.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.42% | 2.96% | +3.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.45% | 3.73% | +4.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.50% | 6.01% | +8.49% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.69% | 4.98% | +8.71% |
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSUX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than VBTLX's 0.04% 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
VUSUX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VUSUX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.35%, more than VBTLX's 3.72% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.72% | 3.87% | 3.69% | 3.10% | 2.59% | 1.96% | 2.39% | 2.74% | 2.57% | 2.56% | 2.53% | 2.82% |
VUSUX Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund Admiral Shares | 4.35% | 4.39% | 4.15% | 3.43% | 3.05% | 4.46% | 10.28% | 2.92% | 2.91% | 2.74% | 5.38% | 5.62% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, VUSUX and VBTLX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VUSUX has higher volatility (2.32%) compared to VBTLX (1.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUSUX dropped -46.12% vs VBTLX's -18.81%.
VBTLX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.45 vs -0.18), 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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