VWELX vs. VBTLX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX).
VWELX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 1, 1929. VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VWELX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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VWELX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | -2.83% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.28% | 7.17% | 1.26% | 5.74% | -13.16% | -1.81% | 7.72% | 8.73% | -0.25% | 3.56% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWELX achieves a -2.83% return, which is significantly lower than VBTLX's -0.28% return. Over the past 10 years, VWELX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 9.38%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.62% annualized return.
VWELX
- 1D
- 0.54%
- 1M
- -2.74%
- YTD
- -2.83%
- 6M
- 0.05%
- 1Y
- 14.29%
- 3Y*
- 12.85%
- 5Y*
- 7.69%
- 10Y*
- 9.38%
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -1.53%
- YTD
- -0.28%
- 6M
- 0.29%
- 1Y
- 3.77%
- 3Y*
- 3.51%
- 5Y*
- 0.19%
- 10Y*
- 1.62%
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VWELX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWELX has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is higher than VBTLX's 0.05% 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
VWELX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VWELX
VBTLX
VWELX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) 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.
| VWELX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.25 | 0.85 | +0.40 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.83 | 1.23 | +0.60 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.15 | +0.13 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.89 | 1.46 | +0.43 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.42 | 4.08 | +4.33 |
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
| VWELX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.25 | 0.85 | +0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 | 0.03 | +0.66 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.82 | 0.33 | +0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.83 | 0.76 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWELX and VBTLX is -0.05. 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
VWELX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VWELX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.86%, more than VBTLX's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 11.86% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.61% | 3.87% | 3.69% | 3.10% | 2.59% | 1.96% | 2.39% | 2.74% | 2.57% | 2.56% | 2.53% | 2.82% |
Drawdowns
VWELX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWELX drawdown since its inception was -36.12%, which is greater than VBTLX's maximum drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWELX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWELX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.12% | -18.81% | -17.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.78% | -2.73% | -4.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.88% | -18.14% | -2.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.33% | -18.81% | -6.52% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.39% | -2.86% | -1.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.93% | -2.67% | -1.26% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.80% | 0.98% | +0.82% |
Volatility
VWELX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) has a higher volatility of 4.10% compared to Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) at 1.55%. This indicates that VWELX'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
| VWELX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.10% | 1.55% | +2.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.68% | 2.58% | +4.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.89% | 4.33% | +7.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.11% | 5.98% | +5.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.50% | 4.97% | +6.53% |