VWIAX vs. VWELX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Admiral Shares (VWIAX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX).
VWIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on May 14, 2001. VWELX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 1, 1929.
Performance
VWIAX vs. VWELX - Performance Comparison
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VWIAX vs. VWELX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWIAX Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Admiral Shares | 0.28% | 11.08% | 5.92% | 7.07% | -9.04% | 8.55% | 8.52% | 16.47% | -2.49% | 9.37% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | -3.35% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWIAX achieves a 0.28% return, which is significantly higher than VWELX's -3.35% return. Over the past 10 years, VWIAX has underperformed VWELX with an annualized return of 5.75%, while VWELX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.32% annualized return.
VWIAX
- 1D
- 0.72%
- 1M
- -2.79%
- YTD
- 0.28%
- 6M
- 1.95%
- 1Y
- 8.21%
- 3Y*
- 7.63%
- 5Y*
- 4.20%
- 10Y*
- 5.75%
VWELX
- 1D
- 2.02%
- 1M
- -3.95%
- YTD
- -3.35%
- 6M
- -0.44%
- 1Y
- 14.14%
- 3Y*
- 12.65%
- 5Y*
- 7.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.32%
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VWIAX vs. VWELX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWIAX has a 0.16% expense ratio, which is lower than VWELX's 0.24% expense ratio. Despite the difference, 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
VWIAX vs. VWELX — Risk / Return Rank
VWIAX
VWELX
VWIAX vs. VWELX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Admiral Shares (VWIAX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX). 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.
| VWIAX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.24 | 1.23 | +0.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.75 | 1.81 | -0.06 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.27 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.75 | 1.88 | -0.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.90 | 8.47 | -1.57 |
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
| VWIAX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.23 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.61 | 0.69 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 | 0.81 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.92 | 0.82 | +0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWIAX and VWELX is 0.84, 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
VWIAX vs. VWELX - Dividend Comparison
VWIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.01%, less than VWELX's 11.92% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWIAX Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Admiral Shares | 8.01% | 7.93% | 6.69% | 4.80% | 7.75% | 6.11% | 4.37% | 4.00% | 7.64% | 3.25% | 4.07% | 5.66% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 11.92% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
Drawdowns
VWIAX vs. VWELX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWIAX drawdown since its inception was -21.64%, smaller than the maximum VWELX drawdown of -36.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWIAX and VWELX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWIAX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -21.64% | -36.12% | +14.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.00% | -8.03% | +3.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.26% | -20.88% | +5.62% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.41% | -25.33% | +7.92% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.11% | -4.90% | +1.79% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.23% | -3.93% | +1.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.27% | 1.78% | -0.51% |
Volatility
VWIAX vs. VWELX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Admiral Shares (VWIAX) is 2.26%, while Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) has a volatility of 4.07%. This indicates that VWIAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWELX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWIAX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.26% | 4.07% | -1.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.75% | 6.66% | -2.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.71% | 11.88% | -5.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.96% | 11.12% | -4.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.90% | 11.50% | -4.60% |