VWLTX vs. VWALX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWLTX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX).
VWLTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 1, 1977. VWALX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VWLTX vs. VWALX - Performance Comparison
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VWLTX vs. VWALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWLTX Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | -0.41% | 4.80% | 2.44% | 7.56% | -10.43% | 1.83% | 6.21% | 8.77% | 0.89% | 6.45% |
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | -0.26% | 5.06% | 4.08% | 8.45% | -11.69% | 3.42% | 5.49% | 9.58% | 1.38% | 7.96% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWLTX achieves a -0.41% return, which is significantly lower than VWALX's -0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VWLTX has underperformed VWALX with an annualized return of 2.53%, while VWALX has yielded a comparatively higher 3.08% annualized return.
VWLTX
- 1D
- 0.37%
- 1M
- -2.28%
- YTD
- -0.41%
- 6M
- 1.18%
- 1Y
- 4.00%
- 3Y*
- 3.72%
- 5Y*
- 1.10%
- 10Y*
- 2.53%
VWALX
- 1D
- 0.38%
- 1M
- -2.23%
- YTD
- -0.26%
- 6M
- 1.36%
- 1Y
- 4.06%
- 3Y*
- 4.63%
- 5Y*
- 1.55%
- 10Y*
- 3.08%
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VWLTX vs. VWALX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWLTX has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is higher than VWALX's 0.09% 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
VWLTX vs. VWALX — Risk / Return Rank
VWLTX
VWALX
VWLTX vs. VWALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWLTX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX). 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.
| VWLTX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.82 | 0.79 | +0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.12 | 1.08 | +0.04 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.22 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.99 | 0.97 | +0.02 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.09 | 3.01 | +0.08 |
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
| VWLTX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.82 | 0.79 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.24 | 0.33 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 | 0.67 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.53 | 1.07 | -0.54 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWLTX and VWALX is 0.92, 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
VWLTX vs. VWALX - Dividend Comparison
VWLTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.70%, less than VWALX's 4.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWLTX Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.70% | 4.51% | 3.98% | 3.09% | 2.91% | 2.65% | 3.24% | 3.82% | 3.49% | 3.70% | 3.98% | 3.79% |
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 4.14% | 5.04% | 4.47% | 3.59% | 3.44% | 3.04% | 3.40% | 4.03% | 3.85% | 3.77% | 3.86% | 3.75% |
Drawdowns
VWLTX vs. VWALX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWLTX drawdown since its inception was -49.97%, which is greater than VWALX's maximum drawdown of -17.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWLTX and VWALX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWLTX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.97% | -17.24% | -32.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.36% | -5.63% | +0.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.01% | -17.24% | +1.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.01% | -17.24% | +1.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.54% | -2.50% | -0.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.21% | -2.18% | -8.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.72% | 1.81% | -0.09% |
Volatility
VWLTX vs. VWALX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWLTX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) have volatilities of 1.24% and 1.29%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWLTX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.24% | 1.29% | -0.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.90% | 2.00% | -0.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.43% | 5.71% | -0.28% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.55% | 4.76% | -0.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.49% | 4.62% | -0.13% |