VWALX vs. VTSAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX).
VWALX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. VTSAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
VWALX vs. VTSAX - Performance Comparison
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VWALX vs. VTSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | -0.64% | 5.06% | 4.08% | 8.45% | -11.69% | 3.42% | 5.49% | 9.58% | 1.38% | 7.96% |
VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -6.75% | 17.12% | 23.23% | 26.51% | -19.52% | 25.72% | 20.98% | 30.79% | -5.18% | 21.16% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWALX achieves a -0.64% return, which is significantly higher than VTSAX's -6.75% return. Over the past 10 years, VWALX has underperformed VTSAX with an annualized return of 3.04%, while VTSAX has yielded a comparatively higher 13.27% annualized return.
VWALX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -2.87%
- YTD
- -0.64%
- 6M
- 1.07%
- 1Y
- 4.06%
- 3Y*
- 4.50%
- 5Y*
- 1.49%
- 10Y*
- 3.04%
VTSAX
- 1D
- -0.46%
- 1M
- -7.71%
- YTD
- -6.75%
- 6M
- -4.47%
- 1Y
- 14.76%
- 3Y*
- 16.69%
- 5Y*
- 10.11%
- 10Y*
- 13.27%
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VWALX vs. VTSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWALX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than VTSAX'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%.
Return for Risk
VWALX vs. VTSAX — Risk / Return Rank
VWALX
VTSAX
VWALX vs. VTSAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX). 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.
| VWALX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.89 | 0.84 | +0.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.22 | 1.29 | -0.08 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.20 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.97 | 1.05 | -0.08 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.02 | 5.08 | -2.06 |
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
| VWALX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.89 | 0.84 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.32 | 0.59 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.66 | 0.72 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.06 | 0.43 | +0.63 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWALX and VTSAX is -0.09. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
VWALX vs. VTSAX - Dividend Comparison
VWALX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.15%, more than VTSAX's 1.20% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 4.15% | 5.04% | 4.47% | 3.59% | 3.44% | 3.04% | 3.40% | 4.03% | 3.85% | 3.77% | 3.86% | 3.75% |
VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.20% | 1.11% | 1.26% | 1.42% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.41% | 1.76% | 2.03% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
Drawdowns
VWALX vs. VTSAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWALX drawdown since its inception was -17.24%, smaller than the maximum VTSAX drawdown of -55.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWALX and VTSAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWALX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.24% | -55.33% | +38.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.63% | -12.41% | +6.78% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.24% | -25.36% | +8.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.24% | -34.97% | +17.73% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.87% | -8.92% | +6.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.18% | -9.06% | +6.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.81% | 2.56% | -0.75% |
Volatility
VWALX vs. VTSAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) is 1.19%, while Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) has a volatility of 4.39%. This indicates that VWALX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTSAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWALX | VTSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.19% | 4.39% | -3.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.96% | 9.33% | -7.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.71% | 18.42% | -12.71% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.76% | 17.32% | -12.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.62% | 18.37% | -13.75% |