VWSUX vs. VWALX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWSUX) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX).
VWSUX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 12, 2001. VWALX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
VWSUX vs. VWALX - Performance Comparison
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VWSUX vs. VWALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSUX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 0.30% | 4.90% | 3.77% | 3.70% | -0.73% | 0.19% | 1.91% | 2.59% | 1.67% | 1.10% |
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, VWSUX achieves a 0.30% return, which is significantly higher than VWALX's -0.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VWSUX has underperformed VWALX with an annualized return of 1.94%, while VWALX has yielded a comparatively higher 3.08% annualized return.
VWSUX
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- -0.50%
- YTD
- 0.30%
- 6M
- 0.98%
- 1Y
- 3.57%
- 3Y*
- 3.86%
- 5Y*
- 2.40%
- 10Y*
- 1.94%
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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VWSUX vs. VWALX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VWSUX and VWALX have an expense ratio of 0.09%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VWSUX vs. VWALX — Risk / Return Rank
VWSUX
VWALX
VWSUX vs. VWALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWSUX) 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.
| VWSUX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.59 | 0.79 | +1.80 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 4.85 | 1.08 | +3.77 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.16 | 1.22 | +0.94 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.22 | 0.97 | +3.25 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.88 | 3.01 | +15.88 |
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
| VWSUX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.59 | 0.79 | +1.80 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 2.01 | 0.33 | +1.68 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.75 | 0.67 | +1.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 2.04 | 1.07 | +0.97 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWSUX and VWALX is 0.60, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VWSUX vs. VWALX - Dividend Comparison
VWSUX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.19%, less than VWALX's 4.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSUX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.19% | 4.00% | 3.82% | 2.27% | 1.24% | 0.63% | 1.26% | 1.79% | 1.53% | 1.16% | 0.97% | 0.78% |
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
VWSUX vs. VWALX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWSUX drawdown since its inception was -3.08%, smaller than the maximum VWALX drawdown of -17.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWSUX and VWALX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWSUX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -3.08% | -17.24% | +14.16% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.01% | -5.63% | +4.62% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -2.23% | -17.24% | +15.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -3.08% | -17.24% | +14.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.63% | -2.50% | +1.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.15% | -2.18% | +2.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.23% | 1.81% | -1.58% |
Volatility
VWSUX vs. VWALX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWSUX) is 0.28%, while Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) has a volatility of 1.29%. This indicates that VWSUX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWALX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWSUX | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.28% | 1.29% | -1.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.76% | 2.00% | -1.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.53% | 5.71% | -4.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.20% | 4.76% | -3.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.11% | 4.62% | -3.51% |