VWAHX vs. USATX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) and USAA Tax Exempt Intermediate Term Fund (USATX).
VWAHX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 27, 1978. USATX is managed by Victory. It was launched on Mar 18, 1982.
Performance
VWAHX vs. USATX - Performance Comparison
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VWAHX vs. USATX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWAHX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | -0.65% | 4.96% | 3.98% | 8.39% | -11.76% | 3.36% | 5.39% | 9.48% | 1.31% | 7.86% |
USATX USAA Tax Exempt Intermediate Term Fund | -0.32% | 4.75% | 2.89% | 5.30% | -8.12% | 2.06% | 4.91% | 7.03% | 1.25% | 5.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWAHX achieves a -0.65% return, which is significantly lower than USATX's -0.32% return. Over the past 10 years, VWAHX has outperformed USATX with an annualized return of 2.95%, while USATX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.25% annualized return.
VWAHX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -2.87%
- YTD
- -0.65%
- 6M
- 1.03%
- 1Y
- 3.98%
- 3Y*
- 4.41%
- 5Y*
- 1.42%
- 10Y*
- 2.95%
USATX
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -2.27%
- YTD
- -0.32%
- 6M
- 1.19%
- 1Y
- 4.11%
- 3Y*
- 3.42%
- 5Y*
- 1.13%
- 10Y*
- 2.25%
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VWAHX vs. USATX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWAHX has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than USATX's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VWAHX vs. USATX — Risk / Return Rank
VWAHX
USATX
VWAHX vs. USATX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) and USAA Tax Exempt Intermediate Term Fund (USATX). 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.
| VWAHX | USATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.87 | 0.84 | +0.04 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.19 | 1.13 | +0.07 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.31 | -0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.95 | 0.96 | -0.01 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.95 | 3.90 | -0.95 |
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
| VWAHX | USATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.87 | 0.84 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 | 0.31 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.64 | 0.62 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 1.12 | -0.49 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWAHX and USATX is 0.79, 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
VWAHX vs. USATX - Dividend Comparison
VWAHX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.07%, more than USATX's 3.45% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWAHX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 4.07% | 4.95% | 4.38% | 3.53% | 3.36% | 2.98% | 3.31% | 3.94% | 3.78% | 3.68% | 3.75% | 3.67% |
USATX USAA Tax Exempt Intermediate Term Fund | 3.45% | 3.71% | 3.89% | 2.95% | 2.97% | 2.33% | 2.91% | 2.87% | 3.04% | 3.15% | 3.23% | 3.26% |
Drawdowns
VWAHX vs. USATX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWAHX drawdown since its inception was -40.26%, which is greater than USATX's maximum drawdown of -12.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWAHX and USATX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWAHX | USATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.26% | -12.72% | -27.54% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.63% | -4.92% | -0.71% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.32% | -12.52% | -4.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.32% | -12.52% | -4.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.87% | -2.27% | -0.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.95% | -1.90% | -5.05% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.82% | 1.21% | +0.61% |
Volatility
VWAHX vs. USATX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWAHX) has a higher volatility of 1.19% compared to USAA Tax Exempt Intermediate Term Fund (USATX) at 0.77%. This indicates that VWAHX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than USATX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWAHX | USATX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.19% | 0.77% | +0.42% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.96% | 1.39% | +0.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.70% | 5.59% | +0.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.75% | 3.71% | +1.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.61% | 3.66% | +0.95% |