VWSTX vs. VBTLX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX).
VWSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 1, 1977. VBTLX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSTX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 0.22% | 4.79% | 3.68% | 3.87% | -0.81% | 0.17% | 1.82% | 2.50% | 1.59% | 1.00% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.49% | 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, VWSTX achieves a 0.22% return, which is significantly higher than VBTLX's -0.49% return. Over the past 10 years, VWSTX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 1.87%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.60% annualized return.
VWSTX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.69%
- YTD
- 0.22%
- 6M
- 0.88%
- 1Y
- 3.49%
- 3Y*
- 3.83%
- 5Y*
- 2.35%
- 10Y*
- 1.87%
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- -2.23%
- YTD
- -0.49%
- 6M
- 0.50%
- 1Y
- 3.77%
- 3Y*
- 3.44%
- 5Y*
- 0.23%
- 10Y*
- 1.60%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWSTX has a 0.17% 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
VWSTX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
VWSTX
VBTLX
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) 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.
| VWSTX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.74 | 1.00 | +1.74 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 5.45 | 1.44 | +4.01 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.30 | 1.18 | +1.13 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.12 | 1.78 | +2.34 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.74 | 5.08 | +13.66 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VWSTX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.74 | 1.00 | +1.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.99 | 0.04 | +1.95 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.71 | 0.32 | +1.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 2.03 | 0.76 | +1.27 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWSTX and VBTLX is 0.39, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
VWSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.11%, less than VBTLX's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSTX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.11% | 3.90% | 3.73% | 2.42% | 1.16% | 0.61% | 1.17% | 1.71% | 1.45% | 1.06% | 0.87% | 0.70% |
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
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWSTX drawdown since its inception was -3.09%, smaller than the maximum VBTLX drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWSTX and VBTLX.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| VWSTX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -3.09% | -18.81% | +15.72% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.01% | -2.73% | +1.72% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -2.32% | -18.14% | +15.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -3.08% | -18.81% | +15.73% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.69% | -3.06% | +2.37% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.32% | -2.67% | +2.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.22% | 0.96% | -0.74% |
Volatility
VWSTX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) is 0.28%, while Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) has a volatility of 1.55%. This indicates that VWSTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VBTLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| VWSTX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.28% | 1.55% | -1.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.75% | 2.59% | -1.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.51% | 4.37% | -2.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.19% | 5.98% | -4.79% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.10% | 4.97% | -3.87% |